What's the deal with DVD-R DL

[meganann]

So I did a Google search the other day and discovered that these are available now, although in limited supply. Since I was pretty sure more people than me had been waiting for them for a long time, I was curious about the lack of fanfare and the fact that major retailers still don't carry them. Anyway, I bought a few online to try out, but though my dvd drive is equipped to burn them, it appears that none of my burning programs are. What's up with this? As far as I know, -R is the only format that plays universally on regular dvd players, and since most DVD content takes up more space than a single layer, this format seems like common sense. What am I missing? Is there any gossip on the future of this format? Is there any program that burns it?

[Gen-An]

So far, DVD-R DL has proven to be less compatible than its +R counterpart (when +RDL is bitset to DVD-ROM). If a burning software supports +RDL it should support -RDL as well.

[aedipuss]

make sure your drive has the latest firmware update. the blanks you bought may not be in the drives eprom table so it can't figure out what they are.

[CrayonEater]

Your software may just not be up-to-date. Nero, as of 6.6.0.8 supports DVD-R DL, though you really need 6.6.0.14 or later. I am told recent versions of Clonedvd2 and a number of other packages also are DVD-R DL-aware. As aedipuss said, you also should be sure that you have the latest firmware for your burner, but also be sure to check the manufacturer's media list, to be sure your drive is really recognizing the discs properly.

As far as acceptance, well, it comes down to price, and +R DL is typically cheaper. Until -R DL can come down to a comparable price as +R DL, and until manufacturers start trying to get it onto shelves of retail and big-box stores, you won't see or hear much about it.

[meganann]

So far, DVD-R DL has proven to be less compatible than its +R counterpart (when +RDL is bitset to DVD-ROM). If a burning software supports +RDL it should support -RDL as well.

Do you mean +R is more compatible with dvd players, or with dvd-rom drives in computers? I want disks that play like normal movies on my tv screen or anyone else's. I guess I don't know what bitset means...

Thanks to others for the advice about firmware, I'll check it out, although if it turned out I could successfully complete my projects on +R disks that would be easier in every respect.

[LT9000]

So far, DVD-R DL has proven to be less compatible than its +R counterpart (when +RDL is bitset to DVD-ROM). If a burning software supports +RDL it should support -RDL as well.

Do you mean +R is more compatible with dvd players, or with dvd-rom drives in computers? I want disks that play like normal movies on my tv screen or anyone else's. I guess I don't know what bitset means...

Thanks to others for the advice about firmware, I'll check it out, although if it turned out I could successfully complete my projects on +R disks that would be easier in every respect.

I've got an old Panny DVD player and it plays Verbatim DVD+R DL discs set to dvd-rom with no problems.

I use DVDD to rip in iso mode, and imgburn [set to dvd-rom there] to write using the mds file [not the iso]. It's easy and has worked well.

For SL, -R probly has a minor compatability advantage for playback in stand alone units.