Why can I use my DVD-5 disc as DVD-9?

[locutus85]

I'm using WinX DVD Author. I have Maxell DVD+RW discs. It says "4.7GB - 2 Hrs SP mode" nice and big on the discs. The WinX DVD default is to assume discs are DVD-5 but I can set it to treat discs as DVD-9. I can then burn twice as much without errors. The discs play fine. I don't understand why they're acting like dual layer discs. Thanks

[Bwaak]

It probably halves the bitrate. Although to me such a behaviour seems wrong.

[DB83]

There are several burning 'modes' to increase the run time on a disk. All are a trade-off between run time and quality.

For example, as stated above, the program could simple half the bitrate. Considering that 2-hour mode is 4,000 kbps, 2,000 kbps full-D1 (720*480/720*576) will give poor results.


Then there is half-D1 which will reduce the bitrate to, if memory serves, to 2,500 kbps with a frame of 352*480/576 which can give better results than the above option.


Some programs also allow VCD-mode which is 352*240/288 at an even lower bit-rate.


But to call any of these 'DVD-9' is mis-leading in the extreme


The only way you can tell what is going on is to inspect a vob using tools such as mediainfo - post a text mode report here if you are unsure what you are seeing.

[Skiller]

It lowers the quality (bitrate, maybe half-D1) to make it fit.

[jagabo]

I'm using WinX DVD Author. I have Maxell DVD+RW discs. It says "4.7GB - 2 Hrs SP mode" nice and big on the discs. The WinX DVD default is to assume discs are DVD-5 but I can set it to treat discs as DVD-9. I can then burn twice as much without errors.

It's not possible to burn 9GB of data on a 4GB disc. If you add up the size of the files you'll see it's 4GB.

You can burn any length (running time) video on a DVD by using lower and lower bitrates, which leads to worse and worse quality.

[HarpMaster]

The best way to reduce the size and still keep a good quality is to re-encode the original with the free version of DVD Rebuilder. Using
the excellent HC Encoder, the results will be hard to tell the difference. If you ditch the extras - unnecessary adverts or languages,
will give more space for better quality.
You can get download DVD Rebuilder Free 0.98.2 from this site.

[lordsmurf]

I have Maxell DVD+RW discs.

Do not use RW discs for longer term storage. Those are meant for temp use, to rewrite again.

It says "4.7GB - 2 Hrs SP mode" nice and big on the discs.

That doesn't matter. Those discs hold about 4.37 GB of data. Same as how "1 TB" hard drives only hold about 930 MB of data.

default is to assume discs are DVD-5 but I can set it to treat discs as DVD-9. I can then burn twice as much without errors. The discs play fine. I don't understand why they're acting like dual layer discs. Thanks

It's compressing the data. Nothing magic is happening here.

The WinX DVD

And that program sucks, too, at least last I saw (and I highly doubt any is different now). Free tools are better quality, and $0 cost. A lot of the China-ware just adds a GUI on free tools, often removing features from the free tools because the users are low knowledge and easily confused, wanting a one-click idiot-proof option. So literally paying for inferior products.