Do you want to know about the different DVD formats available today? This article explains them to you and tells you about the differences between them.
Digital versatile discs, abbreviated as DVDs have proven their versatility. They are sometimes referred to as digital video disks. They come in different formats that support various operations on data like writing, editing, rewriting with or without formatting, reallocating space for previously deleted data, etc.
Recordable DVD Formats
- DVD-R: It has the capacity of recording up to 4.7 GB data. Most DVD players can play these DVDs. DVD-R for Authoring is a special-purpose DVD-R format used for recording DVD masters. They require a special type of DVD recorder.
- DVD-RW: It is a rewritable format that can record up to 4.7 GB data.
- DVD-R DL: It is a double-layer DVD-R, which can record up to 8.5 GB data.
- DVD-RAM: They come in varying capacities like 2.6 GB, 4.7 GB, and 9.4 GB. Double-sided discs have storage capacities of 9.4 GB. They can be rewritten more number of times than other rewritable formats.
- DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL are some other recordable formats that are supported by the DVD+RW Alliance. DVD+R and DVD+RW can record 4.7 GB data. DVD+R can record only once, while the DVD+RW is rewritable. DVD+R DL are dual-layer recordable DVDs with storage capacities of 8.5 GB.
Non-recordable DVD Formats
- DVD-ROM: Their reflective surface is colored golden or silver. They can be single or double-sided and single or double-layered.
- DVD-D: It is a disposable DVD format. It begins to destroy itself by oxidation after a certain span of time.
- DVD Plus: The unique characteristic of this format is that it provides a CD layer and a DVD layer. They thus combine both CD and DVD technologies.
Application Formats
- VR Mode: This format allows editing and deleting of disc data and supports reuse of the space allocated to files that were deleted.
- Video Mode: This application format can be used on DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. The data on the disc cannot be edited, and deleting a title does not free space unless the disc is erased. This format does not support defect management.
- +VR: Philips came up with this format for DVD-RW discs. They aimed at keeping this format compatible with the DVD Video format while supporting some new features. However, the drawbacks in the DVD Video format could not be removed, thus making +VR format less reliable.
One thing you would want to know is, how to copy DVD content onto a hard disc. The process of copying content from removable media streams to a hard disc is known as ripping. It is often used to shift formats and to edit, duplicate, or back up data.
Storage formats like Blu-ray disc (BD), high-definition DVD (HD-DVD), and advanced optical disc (AOD) have succeeded the DVD format. But the popularity of DVDs is almost the same. They are a popular choice of permanent data storage media.
The popularity of CDs and DVDs was surpassed by memory sticks as users found them to be handy. Cloud-based back-up systems are becoming increasingly popular and may soon replace the older data storage formats.