Disc formats explained
Seven disc formats
There are seven formats of DVD recordable discs available. Each format offers different features and functionality.
Always check your hardwares manual to see what DVD media is suitable.
DVD-R
This is one of the most widely available formats. The DVD discs can be used for recording in either standalone DVD recorders or computer DVD drives. The discs are cheap, write-once-only discs – so you cannot re-record on them. However, new recordings can be added later to the remaining blank section.
Recordings cannot be erased, though unwanted titles can be hidden by deleting them from the listings in the table of contents.
To play the disc in other DVD players, that is, not in the one you recorded with, the recorded disc has to be ‘finalised’. This means no further recordings can be made to that disc.
DVD-R Format - Pros & Cons
can record on 4.7GB and 9.4GB DVD-R discs
can be accessed in set top DVD players and computers
can only be written to once by the user
DVD-RW
These are rerecordable versions of the DVD-R discs – you can overwrite existing recordings with new ones. The DVD discs can be used for recording in either these standalone DVD recorders or in DVD drives on computers. DVD-RW has two different modes of recording:
DVD-RW video mode
In ‘DVD-RW video mode’, programmes are saved in the order you record them and new recordings can be added later to the remaining blank section.
Individual recordings (titles) can be deleted and replaced with new recordings. But, if subsequent recordings are put in the space left by an erased title, care must be taken to ensure the recording is no longer than the space available, so it doesn't continue copying over the next recording.
In this sense, they’re similar to replacing a recording on a cassette tape. However, it’s not possible to erase and replace part of a recording. It’s possible, though, for the whole disc to be erased and re-used.
As with DVD-R discs, the blank disc has to be formatted before use and the recorded disc has to be ‘finalised’ to be able to play in DVD players other than the one it was recorded in.
DVD-RW VR mode
If you record DVD-RW discs in ‘VR mode’, there’s greater versatility for replacing and adding new recordings.
If one recording is deleted and replaced with a new recording, the new recording will use the available space as normal but, if the recording is longer than this gap, the recorder jumps to the next available blank space – rather than overwriting the next recording.
This format also allows more editing, such as joining recordings, cropping recordings and playlists. The discs can be finalised so they’ll play in other DVD players.
VR mode also allows the disc to be ‘read’ at the same time as it is recording, so you can start watching a programme before it’s actually finished recording.
However, the drawback is that VR mode recorded discs aren’t compatible with as many other DVD players as disc recorded in Video mode.
DVD-RW Format Pros & Cons
can be written to up to 1,000 times
can be accessed in set top DVD players and computers
DVD-RW discs may not play back on some older or entry-level DVD systems
DVD+R
The DVD+R disc capabilities are very similar to the DVD-R discs. They can be used for recording in either standalone DVD recorders or computer DVD drives on computers.
The discs are write-once-only discs and programmes are recorded in the order you record them, and new recordings can be added later to the remaining blank section.
Recordings can’t be erased, though unwanted titles can be hidden by deleting them from the listings in the table of contents. Once again, the recorded disc has to be ‘finalised’ before it’ll play in other DVD players.
DVD+R Format Pros & Cons
can record on 4.7GB DVD+R discs
can be accessed in set top DVD players and computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives
DVD+RW
These are re-recordable versions of the DVD+R discs. They can be used for recording in either standalone DVD recorders or in DVD drives on computers.
Programmes are saved in the order you record them, and new recordings can be added later to the remaining blank section.
Individual recordings (titles) and parts of titles can be deleted and replaced with new recordings.
However, subsequent recordings cannot be longer than the space left by an erased title or A-B space. In this sense, they’re similar to replacing a recording on to cassette tape.
It is also possible for the whole disc to be erased and re-used. The recorded disc is ‘finalised’ so it’ll play in other DVD players.
DVD+RW Format Pros & Cons
can record on 4.7GB DVD+RW discs
can be accessed in set top DVD players and computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives
DVD+RW discs may not play back on some older or entry-level DVD systems
Dual layer discs
Dual layer discs in both +/-R and +/-RW formats are available, which gives them twice the recording capacity as single layer discs but not all recorders are compatible with them. Once finalised, they’ll play back on most modern DVD players.
DVD-RAM
The DVD-RAM format allows random access to the disc, which means that programmes aren’t saved in the order you record them but any available blank space is used.
This means that a recording may start off in one part of the disc and, when that’s full, it’ll skip to the next available blank space rather than needing a single space on the disc big enough to store the whole of the recording.
DVD-RAM disc compatibility is less-common than with the other formats. The discs sometimes come in a protective caddy to prevent damage to the surface of the disc, which is more delicate than other types of disc.
Some DVD players have a disc tray shaped to be able to accommodate the caddy. But discs can be removed from the caddies and put into some other DVD players too.
Being true random access discs, they offer various title-erase and edit facilities and are the most versatile type of disc in this respect. They also allow the disc to be ‘read’ at the same time as it’s recording, so you can start watching a programme before it has finished recording.
DVD-RAM Format Pros & Cons
is re-writable many times
available in capacities up to 9.4GB
can only be accessed in a DVD-RAM drive
cannot be used in set top DVD players or computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives
Compatibility Issues
The best way to ensure you do not have any compatibility issues is to check your hardwares manual to see which types of disc it supports. Updating your firmware (dvd drive driver) can also improve hardware / media compatiblity.
As a rule of thumb if your hardware is less than 12 months old it should be able to record to all DVD types except DVD-RAM. The DVD-RAM media type requires specific hardware to record to. Nearly all DVD players will not be to record to DVD-RAM media.
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