DVD(ISO) v. DVD(UDF)

[mickey sabbath]

Can someone give me a real quick explanation of the difference between the DVD(ISO) and the DVD(UDF) options Nero provides for the authoring of DVDs.

I've found that my DVD player will not consistently play DVDs created in the ISO format. I haven't authored a sufficient number of UDF formatted DVDs to ascertain their reliability.

What about the other two options DVD-Video and DVD(UDF/ISO): should I use either one of those two instead?

[petesimon]

UDF = Universal Disc Format
Generally, it was made so that very large files could be written and more quickly accessed on an optical disc. Several versions of the UDF spec exist. I think one is mainly for DVD/DVD-R and the others are for incremental/packet data writing (like Nero InCD software). I think UDF allows more directory entries (files, dirs) per directory and a deeper directory tree. Basicly, UDF can offer more features for high capacity discs and large files, unlike ISO.
According to the OSTA spec, UDF is required for DVD video/movies.

ISO = Industry Standardization Organization (I guess.)
The letters ISO is the abbreviation of the ISO9660 standard, which was primaryly designed (in the 1980's ?) for MS-DOS 8.3 like file names and smaller files on CD's, and of course without DVD in mind. Ah, remember those PC/DOS games on CD. The ISO9660 standard is one of several "book" types for CD's--whitebook, orangebook, redbook, etc.

UDF/ISO together? Yes. that is good. Most commercial DVD movies, both dual-layer and single-layer, are made with UDF as the "first" filesystem and ISO as the "second" filesystem. Use Nero or IsoBuster to view the disc info and you should see both. I suppose the DVD reader hardware and/or software can choose which filesystem to use.

The home website of the UDF specifications: http://www.osta.org
Check http://www.cdfreaks.com and http://www.cdmediaworld.com for CD/ISO9660 info.
See the glossary: https://www.videohelp.com/glossary

I have read more information before than what is reflected here, so if I think of or see something then I may post again.

Huh hah speed racer huh hah!

[mickey sabbath]

Wow, thank you for the very informative primer.

[petesimon]

You can use IsoBuster software to view the UDF and ISO data/directory structures of a CD, DVD, or disc image file.

IsoBuster http://www.smart-projects.net/isobuster

More websites:

CD-R Info http://www.cdrinfo.com
UDF definition
ISO 9660 definition

[Mark_nzht]

If you are using UDF make sure it is version 1.02 rather than 1.5. The older 1.02 is more compatible. My Toshiba DVD player will only play back 1.02

Mark