Dumb Question

[robcg]

the movie DVD's that you buy at the store, what format are those? for example, say "The Matrix."

are they dvd-r, dvd-rw, etc, etc.

i'm wondering what format they are in because they will play in no matter what type of DVD player you have. whereas, if we burn our own DVD's for distribution we have to decide in which format to burn it in to try to make them compatible with as many players as possible. is it a matter of equipment that costs thousands and thousands of dollars??

i don't understand this point???

thanks!

robert

[lattedfw]

Store-bought DVD movies are pressed in much the same way as audio CDs, not burned. There can also be two data layers.

DVD-writable is single-layer only, plus the DVD-R General and DVD+ formats don't have provisions for copy protection like commercial DVDs.

[robcg]

so, because they are "pressed" that makes the difference?

robcg

[lattedfw]

The reflectivity of pressed discs is higher than writable media. More reflected laserlight means the DVD player can detect the signal better. DVD players that read DVD writable media better are just more tolerant of a weaker signal or designed to read the weaker signal.

It's just like the situation with older CD-ROM drives not being able to read CD-RW (or CD-R in some cases). Newer computer drives can read anything, but in home and car audio, there are still a few CD-audio players which can't handle CD-R/RW. In a year or two, I would assume most DVD-ROM drives will read all writable media, most set-top DVD players will read it, but there will be some that cannot.

I'm in no way a technical expert, so this is the best explanation I can give you.

[robcg]

yes, that makes sense.

i guess it all boils down to the quality of the disk like you were saying. a pressed disc will be of better quality because it reflects more light - therefore has a higher compatability among DVD players.

until we switch our DVD burners to a machine of some sort that presses our DVDs will we see the same quality.

i think i understand

robcg

[lattedfw]

There won't ever be a home DVD writer that presses the discs the same way commercial DVDs and CDs are manufactured by the thousands and millions. The pressing process is a sophisticated manufacturing process where all the component layers of a DVD are brought together. This may involve ultra-clean rooms, hazardous chemicals, curing ovens, etc.

[robcg]

good point.

robcg