As the RIAA ( Recording Industry Association of America ) is finding out, CD's are difficult if not impossible to copy protect. DVD's can be. This is why I predict a shift from CD's to DVD's for music. When you can download a song for 99 cents - why would you buy the CD for 16.00? I predict the music industry starts including music videos and more to justify their cost to consumers. What a predicament they are in.

Imagine yourself as the President of Columbia Records talking to one of your
biggest customers like Tower Records. "OK we will sell you the ABC bands new
CD for $8.00, you sell them for $16.00, and oh and by the way we are putting
the same song on iTunes for 99-cents." Clearly the RIAA will do something to
protect their monopoly ( 5 companies control 98% of all popular music)

Their industry is not the only one being cannibalized by advancements in
digital technology. I predict with in the next five to ten years the Lands
End, JC Penny and Sears catalog will be sent in DVD form, rather than
something the size of a big city phone book. The reason is simple. COST. For
what it cost in postage alone to mail you the Christmas catalog they could
produce it on a DVD and send it to you with models that actually move. Easy
search features and more. So the printing industry will also see a paradigm
shift in the not too distant future.

I am often asked by customers what is the difference between DVD-R, DVD+R
or DVD/Rw etc... In doing my research to answer this question, it is no
wonder everybody is so confused. I am going to attempt to explain it all. If
you are confused now, you will probably be more confused by the time you
finish this article. But in short order, blatantly speaking. 

Most compatibility issues are created or engineered by the various corporations
fighting to have their format prevail over their competitors. DVD is and has
been an evolutionary process. But today US household DVD penetration stands
in the high 80's percentile. VHS tape will soon go the way of 8 track tapes.
The major motivation comes from Hollywood, as they want to be able to sell
or rent you a video that you can't copy. Something not feasible with VHS
tapes originally developed by JVC.

What are today's DVD flavors?

Six types of DVD- ROM recordable are available today, but a single universal
standard has not officially been determined yet. The six types are as follows: DVD-R for General, DVD-R for Authoring, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+R. 

DVD-R was introduced in September of 1997. DVD-R and DVD+R can record data
once, like CD-R, while DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW can be rewritten
thousands of times, like CD-RW. DVD-RAM followed in summer 1998. DVD-RW
came out in Japan in December 1999, but was not available in the U.S. until
spring 2001. DVD+RW became available in fall 2001. DVD+R was released in mid
2002. So yes, this is all new technology folks - and we are going to have
issues initially.

Recordable DVD was first available for use on computers only. Home DVD video
recorders appeared worldwide in 2000. The terms "drive" and "video recorder"
are used to distinguish between recordable computer drives and home set-top
recorders. 

DVD-RAM is more of a removable storage device for computers than a video
recording format, although it has become widely used in DVD video recorders
because of the flexibility it provides in editing a recording. The other
two recordable format families (DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW) are essentially in
competition with each other. The market will determine which of them
succeeds or they will end up merging. There are many claims that one or the
other format is better, but they are actually very similar. In 2003 many
companies began making drives that could record in both "dash" and "plus"
format. It is similar to the streaming video wars, in that a universal standard will
be adopted with the loser kicking and screaming - claiming standards stifle
innovation and eliminates competition. 

News flash - consumers don't care!. They just want it to work 100%. Corporations care more about profits then making things easy for consumers. So don't expect any compromises, or a single solution anytime soon. The money here is too huge.

DVD-R , pronounced "dash R" not "minus R" uses a organic dye technology,
like CD-R, and is compatible with most DVD drives and players.
First-generation capacity was 3.95 billion bytes, later extended to 4.7
billion bytes. Matching the 4.7G capacity of DVD-ROM was crucial for
desktop DVD production. In early 2000 the format was split into an
"authoring" version and a "general" version. 

The general version, intended for home use, writes with a cheaper 650-nm laser, the same as DVD-RAM. DVD-R(A) is intended for professional development and uses a 635-nm laser. DVD-R(A) discs are not writable in DVD-R(G) recorders, and vice-versa, but both kinds of discs can be read in most DVD players and drives. The main
differences, in addition to recording wavelength, are that DVD-R(G) uses
decrementing pre-pit addresses, a pre-stamped (version 1.0) or pre-recorded
(version 1.1) control area, CPRM, and allows double-sided discs. 

A third version for "special authoring," allows protected movie content to be
recorded on DVD-R media, was considered but will probably not happen. The
difference between a DVD coming out of Hollywood is they use a stamping
process for fast mass replication. The DVD's you "Burn" on your computer use
a laser to etch the data into the emulsion layer. This is why computer
burned DVD's are often said to be less compatible, then the latest Hollywood
block buster release.

A little history on DVD-R / cost reductions.

Pioneer released 3.95G DVD-R(A) 1.0 drives in October 1997 for $17,000. New
4.7G DVD-R(A) 1.9 drives appeared in limited quantities in May 1999 for
$5,400. Version 2.0 drives became available in fall 2000. Version 1.9 drives
can be upgraded to 2.0 via downloaded software. New 2.0 [4.7G] media (with
newer copy protection features), can only be written in 2.0 drives. 1.9
media (and old 1.0 [3.95G] media) can still be written in 2.0 drives.
Version 1.0 (3.95G) discs are still available, and can be recorded in
Pioneer DVD-R(A) drives. Although 3.95G discs hold less data, they are more
compatible with existing players and drives.

Pioneer's DVR-A03 DVD-R(G) drive was released in May 2001 for under $1000. A
huge price drop from $17,000. By August it was available for under $700, and
by February 2002 it was under $400. The same drive (model DVR-103) was built
into certain Apple Macs and Compaq PCs. Today DVD-RW drives are selling for
under $200. Most DVD-RAM drives also write DVD-R discs, some also write
DVD-RW discs. A few new drives write both DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW.

Pioneer released a professional DVD video recorder in 2002. It originally
sold for about $3000 and provides component video (YPbPr) and 1394 (DV)
inputs (along with s-video and composite). It has 1-hour (10 Mbps) and
2-hour (5 Mbps) recording modes, and includes a 2-channel Dolby Digital
audio encoder. Today a newer improved version is selling for about 700.00
retail. 

Price for blank DVD-R discs started at $50.00 then as demand increased to
$25.00 each, In 2001 the cost dropped to $10.00 then by years end $5.00
each. Today the cost in 25 packs can be found under $1.00 although cheaper
discs seem to have more compatibility problems. The best deal is not always
the best deal. My advice, find what brand works best for your burning
machine and stick with it. A fair price today for blank DVD-R(G) discs is $1
to $5 Blank DVD-R media is made by CMC Magnetics, Fuji, Hitachi, Maxell,
Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Pioneer, Ricoh, Ritek, Taiyo Yuden, Sony, TDK, Verbatim,
Victor, and others. The DVD-R 1.0 format is standardized in ECMA-279.

Replication:

It's possible to submit DVD-R(A) and DVD-R(G) discs for replication, with
some exceptions. First, not all replicators will accept submissions on
DVD-R. Second, there can be problems with compatibility and data loss when
using DVD-R. For stamped production a "glass master" will be required. Some
companies are using this as a way to sucker an extra $500.00 out of you.
CAUTION! A glass Master only costs about 30.00, be aware of ridiculous
rip-off pricing gimmicks. This is a high quality DVD also known as DVD-R (
G) Third, DVD-R does not directly support CSS, regions, and Macrovision.
Support for this is being added to DVD-R(A) with the cutting master format
(CMF), which stores DDP information in the control area, but it will take a
while before most authoring software and replicators support CMF.

to get the best prices on DVD Burners and Recorders

DVD-RW Media 

DVD-RW (formerly DVD-R/W and also briefly known as DVD-ER) is a
phase-change erasable format. Developed by Pioneer based on DVD-R, using
similar track pitch, mark length, and rotation control, DVD-RW is playable
in many DVD drives and players. Some drives and players are confused by
DVD-RW media's lower reflectivity into thinking it is a dual-layer disc. In
other cases the drive or player doesn't recognize the disc format code and
doesn't even try to read the disc. Simple firmware upgrades could solve both
problems. DVD-RW uses groove recording with address info on land areas for
synchronization at write time. Capacity is 4.7 billion bytes. DVD-RW discs
can be rewritten at least 500 times.

Computer DVD-RW drives write DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R, and CD-RW discs. DVD-RW
disc prices are around $5-$10 today, down from the original price of $30.00
each. There are three kinds of DVD-RW discs. All are 4.7G capacity. Version
1.0 discs, rarely found outside of Japan, have an embossed lead-in (to
prevent copying of CSS information), which causes compatibility problems.
Version 1.1 discs have a pre-recorded lead-in that improves compatibility.
Version 1.1 discs also come in a "B" version that carries a unique ID in the
BCA for use with CPRM. B-type discs are required when copying certain kinds
of protected video.

*Note: The Apple SuperDrive (even with older 1.22 firmware) can write to
DVD-RW discs, but not from the iDVD application. You must use a different
software utility, such as Toast, or DVD Studio Pro to write to DVD-RW discs.

DVD+RW and DVD+R Media

DVD+RW is an erasable format based on CD-RW technology. It became available
in late 2001. DVD+RW is supported by Philips, Sony, Hewlett-Packard, Dell,
Ricoh, Yamaha, and others. It is not supported by the DVD Forum ( Which
incidentally does NOT set standards contrary to popular belief or
assumption.) Most of the DVD+RW companies are members, Go figure? DVD+RW
drives read DVD-ROMs and CDs, and usually read DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs, but do
not read or write DVD-RAM discs. DVD+RW drives also write CD-Rs and CD-RWs.
DVD+RW discs, which hold 4.7 billion bytes per side, are readable in many
existing DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives. They run into the same
reflectivity and disc format recognition problems as DVD-RW.

DVD+RW backers claimed in 1997 that the format would be used only for
computer data, not home video, but this was apparently a smokescreen
intended to placate the DVD Forum and competitors. The original 1.0 format,
which held 3 billion bytes (2.8 gigabytes) per side was not compatible with
any existing players and drives, was abandoned in late 1999.

The DVD+RW format uses phase-change media with a high-frequency wobbled
groove that allows it to eliminate linking sectors. This, plus the option of
no defect management, allows DVD+RW discs to be written in a way that is
compatible with many existing DVD readers. The DVD+RW specification allows
for either CLV format for sequential video access (read at CAV speeds by the
drive) or CAV format forrandom access, but CAV recording is not supported by
any current hardware. DVD+R discs can only be recorded in CLV mode. Only
CLV-formatted discs can be read in standard DVD drives and players. DVD+RW
media can be rewritten at least 500 times.

DVD+R is a write-once variation of DVD+RW, which appeared in mid 2002. It's
a dye-based medium, like DVD-R, so it has similar compatibility as DVD-R.
Original DVD+RW drives did not fulfill the promise of a simple upgrade to
add DVD+R writing support, so they have to be replaced with newer models.


DVD-RAM Media 

DVD-RAM, with an initial storage capacity of 2.58 billion bytes, later
increased to 4.7, uses phase-change dual (PD) technology with some
magneto-optic (MO) features mixed in. DVD-RAM is the best suited writable
DVD formats for use in computers, because of its defect management and zoned
CLV format for rapid access. Bad news though , as it is not compatible with
most drives and players (because of defective management, reflectivity
differences, and minor format differences). A wobbly groove is used to
provide clocking data, with marks written in both the groove and the land
between grooves. The grooves of pre-embossed sector headers are molded into
the disc during manufacturing.

Single-sided DVD-RAM discs come with or without cartridges. There are two
types of cartridges: type 1 is sealed, type 2 allows the disc to be
removed. Discs can only be written while in the cartridge. Double-sided
DVD-RAM discs were initially available in sealed cartridges only, but now
come in removable versions as well. Cartridge dimensions are 124.6 mm x
135.5 mm x 8.0 mm. DVD-RAM can be rewritten infinitely. The discs are
expected to last at least 30 years, with no loss of quality.

DVD-RAM 1.0 drives appeared in June 1998 for $500 to $800, with blank discs
at about $30 for single-sided and $45 for double-sided. The first DVD-ROM
drive to read DVD-RAM discs was released by Panasonic in 1999 (SR-8583, 5x
DVD-ROM, 32x CD). Hitachi's GD-5000 drive, released in late 1999, also reads
DVD-RAM discs. 

Is it true there are compatibility problems with recordable DVD formats?

Yes. A big problem is that none of the writable formats are fully compatible
with each other or even with existing drives and players. In other words, a
DVD+R/RW drive can't write a DVD-R or DVD-RW disc, and vice versa (unless
it's a combo drive that writes both formats). As time goes by the different
formats are becoming more compatible and more intermixed. A player with the
DVD Forum's DVD multi guarantees to read DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM discs,
and a DVD Multi recorder can record using all three formats. Some new
"Super Multi" drives can write to DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW, but not
DVD-RAM. 

In addition, not all players and drives can read recorded discs. The basic
problem is that recordable discs have different reflectivity than pressed
discs (the pre-recorded kind you buy in a store), and not all players have
been correctly designed to read them. Very roughly, DVD-R and DVD+R discs
work in about 85% of existing drives and players, while DVD-RW and DVD+RW
discs work in around 70%. The situation is steadily improving. In another
few years compatibility problems will mostly be behind us, just as with
CD-R (did you know that early CD-Rs had all kinds of compatibility
problems?). 

Note - check www.dvdrhelp.com for info about which DVD players will play which DVD formats.

How long does DVD recording take?

The time it takes to burn a DVD depends on the speed of the recorder and
the amount of data. Playing time of the video may have little to do with
recording time, since a half hour at high data rates can take more space
than an hour at low data rates. A 2x recorder, running at 22 Mbps, can write
a full 4.7G DVD in about 30 minutes. A 4x recorder can do it in about 15
minutes. Note that the -R/RW format often writes a full lead-out to the
diameter required by the DVD spec, so small amounts of data (like a very
short video clip) may take the same amount of time as large amounts.
Remember when buying DVD media that the low price is often because the discs
are 1X speed. If you have a 4X burner - why buy 1X speed?

Sweet Streams....4Video

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