A global format for DVD creation??

[Mark_Strahan]

I recently purchased a Sony-DRU510A drive and wanted to know what the BEST format of DVD media to use for distribution of stuff (home made) to my friends was.

By this I mean if I make DVD-R media discs is this going to be universally acceptable to all their DVD drives and players or will I stand a better chance using DVD+R media instead.

I've noticed that the +RW media doesn't load up on my set top Toshiba SD110 player too well and neither does the +R media.

Comments appreciated.

Mark S.

[lgmayka]

My conclusions from reading all sides of the story:

1) The very best compatibility might well be obtained from a DVD+R that has a booktype (self-identification) of DVD-ROM instead of DVD+R. Unfortunately, this is contrary to the DVD+R spec (meaning that such a disk is legally not a DVD+R at all), and only certain models of DVD writers support such spoofing. Indeed, theoretically such a DVD writer might have to forego the RW logo of the DVD+R/RW organization.

2) On brand-new, brand-name DVD players, DVD+R might have (slightly) better compatibility than DVD-R. This is fine if all your relatives and friends are wealthy enough to buy a new DVD player every year, or if you are wealthy enough to buy new ones for them all.

3) On the ordinary, years-old DVD players that ordinary people actually own, DVD-R is more compatible. In a way, this is almost obvious: DVD+R is a fairly recent standard and booktype, and so a high-quality older DVD player would naturally reject a disk with a booktype unknown at the time of its manufacture. If you're looking for the very highest level of compatibility, though, you also need to consider software choices. For example, many people (including myself) use MPEG Layer 2 to encode the audio on a DVD, but theoretically a DVD player does not have to support this audio encoding at all. (LPCM is the most compatible choice, or AC-3 if your authoring software supports it.)

[burninfool]

There are too many variables with DVD authoring(media,burn software,writer,player) but in my experience I would:
1.Use Ritek or Optodisc DVD-R
2.Keep menus to a minimum
2b.Keep max.video bitrate under 9600kbps
3.Keep the VIDEO_TS folder under 4GB(problems writing on the edge)
4.Add a AUDIO_TS folder(empty)
5.Use IFOEDIT(search Google) to Get VTS sectors(corrects authoring errors)
6.Burn UDF 1.02 or create an image and burn ISO

BTW...All PAL DVD players support MP2 audio and most can play NTSC disks.

[Mark_Strahan]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

From what you say its probably better to ASK the intended receipient of my work as to WHICH media they'd prefer it on. (+R / -R)

That way I can't get blamed if it doesn't work

As I can now write to any type of media it won't be a problem providing the correct stuff!

Mark S.

[aviationwiz]

Or, ask them what player they have and look on the list:

http://www.dvdrhelp.com/dvdplayers

[VEFF]

There are too many variables with DVD authoring(media,burn software,writer,player) but in my experience I would:
1.Use Ritek or Optodisc DVD-R
2.Keep menus to a minimum
2b.Keep max.video bitrate under 9600kbps
3.Keep the VIDEO_TS folder under 4GB(problems writing on the edge)
4.Add a AUDIO_TS folder(empty)
5.Use IFOEDIT(search Google) to Get VTS sectors(corrects authoring errors)
6.Burn UDF 1.02 or create an image and burn ISO

BTW...All PAL DVD players support MP2 audio and most can play NTSC disks.

RE 3) With decent quality discs there should be no problem burning over 4 gigs.
DVD-+R discs are supposed to go to 4.37 GB, and discs that don't burn properly to the end are of inferior quality.
I do infact, out of paranoia, often use 4.29 GB out of 4.37 GB, just not to go all the way to the very end of the recordable space, but setting a 4 gig limit seems like overkill.
Then again, I have often gone to a full 4.37 GB and had no problems.

In fact, although I don't recommend inferior media and never buy anything but Verbatim, Fuji, TDK, Memorex (+R only), Philips etc., I have even burned some less-than-stellar media from DVDPro (after it was recommended by a user, but before I found out it was Princo) a year ago, and they work to the end...


RE 1) Optodisc was the only brand that my Panasonic 311 (at the time) wouldn't burn properly. The discs didn't play, even though my other discs burned with the exact same files and software played fine.
Luckily newegg was good about the return.
This was about a year ago, and Optodisc may have improved.

As I was about to post, I just checked the last two user reviews of Optodisc -R media at dvdrhelp.com, and they both had problems with unreadable discs or coasters that failed before the burn process was up.
It may be something to do with the burners used, but considering that about 7 or so other brands worked fine in my 311, I would be careful...