copy files to dvd-r or dvd+r

[abbarich]

I've got a few videos on my hard drive (Family wedding, etc) that I want to burn onto a disc so we can watch it on our tv rather than the laptop. I've read that more people use dvd-r these days. Can I also use dvd+r. Is there any difference? I've got a samsung notebook, and a panasonic dvd player. Thanks.

 

[10tacle]

There is no technical difference between them. They are just different format standards in how they write to the disc (and read from it). For PC DVD drives, they are always +R and -R read/writeable. However, you'll need to find out from your DVD player manual if that Panasonic can read both formats but I believe Panasonic adopted the -R format.

DVD player makers of years past only used one or the other format and you need figure out which format to burn for that Panasonic from your PC. To play from your PC or laptop, it won't matter as again both formats are supported in their DVD drives.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

For compatibility with the greatest number of standalone DVD players (around 95%) you should use DVD-R media.

That may be important if for example you make copies of the discs for friends & family who may all have different models of DVD players at home.

 

[abbarich]

Thanks for the replies. I would like to make a few copies of the wedding video so that's a good point about different dvd players. I'll definitely be getting the dvd-r discs. I think the one video is over 2 hours long. Do you know if it's possible to fit approx 3 hours onto one disc, or is it best to only fit 2 hours of video onto one dvd-r. Thank you.

 

[10tacle]

You can compress the DVD video copying like in the old days of VHS that had SP, LP, and EP speeds (2hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs). But just like those modes, the longer the recording mode, the lower the quality as the video is compressing more data into the same regular SP 2hr space.

The same is with a standard single density/sided 4.7GB DVD except they are modes are different. Depending on media and DVD burner, you can have 1hr, 2hr, 3hr, 4hr, and 6hr for audio only. I haven't done it in years but I used to experiment with quality settings a lot recording from old VHS tapes to DVD. These times are all at standard 480p 4:3 DVD format video originally taken of course. If your burner has double density (layer) DVD burn capability, you can buy double density DVD media and double those times.

 

[abbarich]

That's great. Thanks for that. It does seem that 2 hours is the max for better quality. I might have to experiment a bit. I know my longest video is approx 3 hours and 20 minutes long, so I'm guessing it won't look so good compressed onto one disc. I may have to do it in 2 parts on 2 discs. Is verbatim the best for dvd-r by the way? Many thanks for your help.

 

[10tacle]

Is verbatim the best for dvd-r by the way? Many thanks for your help.

I've bought Verbatim, Memorex, Maxell, and several other brands. I find Verbatim the best for Blu-Ray burning and they are the only media I use for that (best meaning least errors causing coasters). I haven't bought blank DVDs in years but would stick with Verbatim as they seem to have the most blank media options out there...always a good sign.

Also FYI I used to do my experimenting with DVD-RW meaning you could write over and over instead of burning R only media and wasting it on experiments. And if you have an inkjet printer that's capable of printing an image on a DVD, that makes things real fun so you'd need to buy printable DVDs.