Dual Layer DVD-R or DVD+R?

[Cobra281]

which is better to play dvd movies? i'm new to dual layered movie burning, which is why i'm gonna buy this DL burner. which brand of media is recommended here as well? ritek ridata has good prices, and they made decent media with no coasters when i was using their cd-rs and dvd-rs

[redwudz]

Most members recommend only Verbatim DL + media and using ImgBurn to burn. Most other DL media seems to be marginal at times. The Riteks will save you about $ .40US per disc over the Verbatims, but a few coasters will make the Verbatims cheaper.

I would also check Rima or SuperMediaStore or Meritline for better media deals.

The Pioneer drive seems a good choice.

[tinker]

ImgBurn is only one for DVD/DL.
If you are looking for a drive brand, than Lite-On, BenQ would be one I would pick since they have more options in ImgBurn setup.
There is also Plextor and Samsung there, but I do not know about those.
Definitely no saving on DL media, it does not pay at the end.
First two drives are also compatible with all tests in Nero Drive Speed (free disc checking software).
As for +R or -R. Verbatim is +R and you book type to DVD-ROM while burning, that go for all +R media.

[lordsmurf]

Samsung (Sony) and Pioneer are the current drives of choice for burning.

[Cobra281]

Verbatim is +R and you book type to DVD-ROM while burning, that go for all +R media.

do you mean burn it as a book type to dvd-r? this option is only available in ImgBurn?

[jman98]

Book type is a way that SOME (heavy emphasis on that word) burners support that basically flags a consumer burned disc as looking like a pressed DVD. Older piece of crap DVD players won't play some DVD+R discs unless this is done. However this is becoming less and less necessary. I sometimes make DVDs for my family and I don't worry about this and the discs work fine for them. Then again, their DVD players aren't 5 years old.

I think I read somewhere that by default DVD+R DL gets book typed to DVD-ROM, so you may not have to explicitly set this. ImgBurn will let you set the booktype but only if the burner allows it and some do and some don't. I don't worry about it, but if your burner lets you set it it's not wrong to do so, it just may not be necessary. But if you want to do it just to not take chances, that's OK.

I don't know if I would say that this option is ONLY available in ImgBurn, but it is available there - if your burner supports it.

[victoriabears]

Only use + R DL discs by verbatim, I did get some TDK from Costco that are working well, but if you can use 4.7 GB discs do that as the cost can be a barrier.

[Cobra281]

Book type is a way that SOME (heavy emphasis on that word) burners support that basically flags a consumer burned disc as looking like a pressed DVD. Older piece of crap DVD players won't play some DVD+R discs unless this is done. However this is becoming less and less necessary. I sometimes make DVDs for my family and I don't worry about this and the discs work fine for them. Then again, their DVD players aren't 5 years old.

I think I read somewhere that by default DVD+R DL gets book typed to DVD-ROM, so you may not have to explicitly set this. ImgBurn will let you set the booktype but only if the burner allows it and some do and some don't. I don't worry about it, but if your burner lets you set it it's not wrong to do so, it just may not be necessary. But if you want to do it just to not take chances, that's OK.

I don't know if I would say that this option is ONLY available in ImgBurn, but it is available there - if your burner supports it.

cool, thanks!

Only use + R DL discs by verbatim, I did get some TDK from Costco that are working well, but if you can use 4.7 GB discs do that as the cost can be a barrier.

the way i see it, you're better off with dual layered anyhow. even if the price is more(and i don't think it's twice as much) versus single layered, it still holds twice as much data, so it evens out in the end.

[lordsmurf]

Longevity of DL media is still suspect compared to SL media, so I would not be so quick to abandon SL media. More layers, more possible problems.

[victoriabears]

That's sort of what I was getting at, don;t use DL just because you want to store more data, only use them when you want best quality rather than splitting a project.

Not burning to full capacity will see media last longer , I feel.

[Cobra281]

ahh yes, good points. i guess i'll use DL for movies, and SL for data backup. btw, DVD-R is better for data, or is DVD+R SL?

[victoriabears]

This is what I think is an urban legend, wasn;t DVD+R supposed to be for data when it first came out?

I believe its all same now?

[MOVIEGEEK]

Here is a good article that explains the differances:
http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Why-DVDRW-is-superior-to-DVD-RW/