Which format is most compatible to play on other players?

[csmith]

Which format and brand of DVD recordable disks will work best on other machines, and game consoles? Thank you.

[Frobozz]

Format is a non-issue any more for single-layer discs. A finalized DVD-R or DVD+R disc should be playable in most any player made in the past several years. A few years ago it was said that DVD-R had greater compatibility than DVD+R but I doubt if that is the case today. Also, many DVD recorders let you record to either media.

For dual-layer discs I recommend Verbatim DVD+R DL. Avoid Memorex DL media.

On the left of this page there is a DVD Media link where you can see user reports about using different brands of discs.

[ntscuser]

From personal experience, Verbatim DVD-R and CD-R are most compatible but there are many factors other than disc brand. A decent burner will work with almost any brand but nothing can compensate for a poor file structure.

[oldandinthe way]

If you want to work with any DVD player including older players from manufacturers like SONY, you may have an impossible task.

The older players really don't like burned media. The old conventional wisdom was to use DVD-R and "quality" media manufacturers like TY. But booktyping DVD+R in some cases yields better results than DVD-R because some players bypasses some checks.

There are also players (not quite as old but not current) which will not read burned DL media.

If this is a business need and you need the widest compatibility then the solution is pressed media. But you need significant volume to justify the manufacture.

[csmith]

Thanks so much to all; very helpful

[lordsmurf]

Verbatim DVD-R or Taiyo Yuden DVD+R

[Richard_G]

Verbatim DVD-R or Taiyo Yuden DVD+R

Shouldn't that be the other way round?? TY DVD-R and Verbatim DVD+R

[bevills1]

I have older Toshiba that would play only -R until I obtained book type capability and burned +R with book type set to DVD-ROM. However, I have a Mintek portable player that's less than 6 months old which will not play Verbatim -R 8X or MCC004 +R 16X even when burned as DVD-ROM. Only media I find that plays flawlessly on the Mintek is Sony D21 +R 16X burned as DVD-ROM. There's no simple answer to the question, but DVD +R with book type set to DVD-ROM seems to be most widely compatible in my experience.

[obs]

(delete me, please)

[ntscuser]

Regardless of media used:

Open in PGCedit
Test with Trace Mode
Save with gaps between .ifo and .bup
Burn with anything but Nero