How to tell the difference between a DVD-5 and DVD-9 disc?

[lazyturbo]

If I want to copy a DVD, how do I know if its a DVD-5 (single layer) or DVD-9 (dual layer) disc?

[Tommyknocker]

Open it with DVD Shrink and check the size. If more 4.5GB, it's a DVD-9.

[louv68]

The size of the files on your computer will determine it.

DVD-5, holds around 4 700 000 000 bytes and that is 4.37 computer GB where 1 kbyte is 1024 bytes*

DVD-9, holds around 8 540 000 000 bytes and that is 7.95 computer GB.

If you mean how can you tell by looking at the disc, I don't know. I'd be curious to know how though.

[yoda313]

Hello,

louv68-If you mean how can you tell by looking at the disc, I don't know. I'd be curious to know how though.

Well, it's not constant but many do say dual layer on the disc if it is one. I know that the Galaxy Quest dvd said dual layer on it (I believe). Many will say so either on the disc itself or on the dvd box.

Like I said not everyone will but some do. Your best bet is to pop it in the pc and find out. Like they said earlier if its over 4.7gb its a dual layer.
Kevin

[Treebeard]

dvd decrypter tells you. sometime the actual disc or covers say if it is a dual layer disc.

[lazyturbo]

Oh, alrite...So when you want to burn a DVD-9 disc to DVD-5, does it have to compress the video?, or can you split the movie up into 2 DVD-5 discs?

[yoda313]

Hello,
You need a transcoder like dvdshrink to compress the dual layer disc to dvd5. You can get the whole disc or just the movie (whole disc will be higher compression - some say looks worse but I don't notice it much).

Kevin

[lazyturbo]

Hmm...i dont trust compression (LOL), especially when it comes to music and video.

I should really get a dual-layer burner so I can just copy from the source DVD.

[louv68]

You can split a DVD-9 to two DVD-5 discs by reauthoring the movie in DVDShrink. This way you have no loss of quality.

[lazyturbo]

Can Nero Recode 2 do the same things as DVD Shrink? because they were made my the same creator.

[onewaypockets]

Often if you get rid of the subtitles, french sountrack, spanish soundtrack, movie trailers, deleted scenes, title screens, FBI warning.....blah blah blah you can get it to come out to 100% (no compression).

There is so much crap in there it is amazing. I just want to put my DVD in the player and the movie plays! I just leave the english 5.1 in....that's it.

I have only run into one DVD I decided to split into two discs. All the rest I could get to 100%....a few to 95% (and they looked perfect).

[yoda313]

Hello,

onewaypockets-All the rest I could get to 100%....a few to 95% (and they looked perfect).

Well, I don't think I've gotten movies that high but yes, they turn out very well. If you do movie only and one soundtrack the picture quality is usually VERY good. I've never had any issues with my backups. Give it a try if you haven't already.

Besides, shrinking to one disc is still cheaper than 2 even with today's low prices on single layer discs (not to mention a lot easier to store - 2 discs a movie can take up a LOT of space)

Kevin

[anubis13]

I've been using intervideo's dvdcopy 2 platinum to backup most of my discs. i do the whole dual layer on one 4.7 disc and see no difference in picture quality. I have done A/B comparisons on my computer and on tv and see no difference.
i think the program gets rid of extra overhead bit rate to make it smaller. try their demo, or buy it. its worth the price