dvd-r and dual layers question

[mazinz]

hey whats up? im new to this particular forum, so im not sure if this was covered before, but can the PC dvd-r/rw burners write a dual layer disc? Would it be just the burner deck that can do this, or does it have to be a special type of dvd-r disc in addition to the burner? thanks

[jeex]

as of now, the only dvd writers available to end users are only capable of burning single layer (4.7gb). but single layer dual side is available (flippy flippy like laserdisc)

if you had the cashish you could probably pay all the fee's and such and get professional dvd mastering equipment, but thats quite a bit of money for regular folks.

i think single sided dual layer burners/media is a couple of years away, and the price for blank dvd-r media is still too high.

and then again, they may limit us to single layer burning to stop us from easily copying dvd's..

[kinneera]

Commercially produced multi-layer DVDs I think are most likely a series of layers pressed individually and then fused into one disc. When your replication process is based on pressing discs rather than laser-burning, you can produce discs much faster and with fewer technical difficulties. Creating drives with write lasers that can penetrate to different layers without damaging other layers are probably very technically challenging (and extremely expensive), so you'll most likely be waiting a long time if you hold out for multi-layer burners.

[jeex]

multi-layer laser burners are already available.. but its a cd-rw drive.. the dual layer sony cd-rw drive.. so i guess "Creating drives with write lasers that can penetrate to different layers without damaging other layers are probably very technically challenging" (and extremely expensive)" is possible, it just needs to be migrated to the dvd format.

[mazinz]

thanks for the info. i wll be getting a homnedeck or a PC burner whichever i can afford first(more likely a PC). And when/if they do make a commercial dual layer burner down the road im sure i will pick that up as well. thanks again--

[kinneera]

CD-RWs are still only one layer, it's just that instead of using a dye layer it uses a special chemical compound that becomes either amorphous or crystalline based on the intensity of the laser focused onto it. The laser has to be modulated in a more complex way than for standard CD-Rs, but it doesn't really have to deal with any extra layers any more than for a regular CD-R.

[AntnyMD]

Have you checked out the cost of one double-density CD-RW on the Sony web site? US$4.59. Per disc! Outrageous! Take two of Circuit City's most expensive CD-RWs and you're still at US$2! Come on, Sony. You're just being ridiculous. Even Apple sells freakin' DVD-R General discs for US$5 per disc in bulk.

[kinneera]

Yeah, and double density discs reportedly have huge compatibility problems.

[alkieman]

This shows up one of the main reasons why DVD+RW is likely to fall by the wayside in the future. Philips (who invented the +RW format) have said they have no intention of inventing dual layer burners for home use because they feel the quality of recordings may be affected.

Pioneer on the other hand are working on a dual layer recording format for its DVD-RW standard but its several years away.

At the moment it doesn't really matter which of the two main formats you eventually invest in as, once the discs are authored and finalised, they can both be played on the majority of DVD players.