Dual Layer DVD Burners?

[rudeboy]

I'm sure this issue has been addressed before but I looked all over the message boards and I still don't know the answer. I have a Mac and I was recently going to purchase the PIONEER DVR-A03, which anyone familiar with the SuperDrive that comes with the newest Mac G4s knows, they are pretty much the same thing. Well being the impulse sucker that I am seconds away from buying it and I realize the only reason I want this drive is to make backup DVDs, but as we all know the major DVD production companies use dual-layer dvds. I guess my real question is does anybody know if their is an affordable dual-layer burner coming out soon, because honestly it's just not the same movie if you remove the extras, DTS, subtitles, etc. I think buying these dvd-r drives are a waste of money now, if they can't even hold up to the industry standards.

[alkieman]

Actually the current crop of writers are holding up to industry standards. There is no such thing, even in professional Hollywood studios, as a dual layer DVD burner. To create a dual layer disc the studio creates an image of the first layer on DLT tape, then creates an image of the second layer on another DLT tape. These tapes are then encoded by the production house onto two seperate layers. The first layer is slightly more transparent than the second layer. Both of these seperate layers (in effect, think of them as seperate discs) are then bonded together to a reflective layer to create the dual layer disc. Finally a protective plastic coating is applied to the play side to create the finished disc.

Dual layer recorders are at the very least a number of years away because of all the inherant problems. If you ant to get into creating your own DVDs you have no choice but to buy a single layer burner. Both the DVD-R/RW and the DVD+RW camps have said they will be realising dual sided DVD blanks though but you will still have to burn each side one at a time and they will work fine in the current crop of recorders.

Pioneer have said they are investigating the possibility of a dual layer recorder but its many years away as current technology would make it too difficult and expensive.