Different DVD Formats

Digital versatile disks abbreviated as DVD, have proven their versatility by becoming available in several different formats. Let us look at each of the different DVD formats.

Recordable DVD Formats

• DVD-R: It has the capacity of recording up to 4.7 GB of data. Most of the DVD players can play these DVDs. Do you want to know all about portable DVD players? DVD-R for Authoring is a special-purpose DVD-R format used for recording DVD masters. They require a special type of DVD recorder.
• DVD-RW: It is a rewritable format that can record up to 4.7 GB of data.
• DVD-R DL: It is a double layer DVD-R, which can record up to 8.5 GB of data.
• DVD-RAM: They come in varying capacities like 2.6 GB, 4.7 GB and 9.4 GB. Double-sided discs have storage capacities of 9.4 GB. They can be rewritten for more number of times than other rewritable DVD formats.
• DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD+R DL are some of the other recordable DVD formats that are supported by the DVD+RW Alliance. DVD+R and DVD+RW can record 4.7 GB of data. DVD+R can record only once, while the DVD+RW is a rewritable DVD format. DVD+R DL are dual layer recordable DVDs with storage capacities of 8.5 GB.

Non-recordable Formats

• DVD-ROM: Their reflective surface is colored golden or silver. They can be single or double sided and single or double layered.
• DVD-D: It is a disposable DVD format. This disk format begins to destroy itself by means of oxidation after a certain number of hours.
• DVD Plus: The unique characteristic of this DVD format is that it provides a CD layer and a DVD layer. They thus combine both CD and DVD technologies.

Application Formats

• VR Mode: This DVD format allows the editing and deleting of disk data and supports complete recovery of the space of deleted titles.
• Video Mode: This application format can be used on DVD-R and DVD-RW disks. The data on the disk cannot be edited and deleting a title does not free the space unless the disk is completely erased. This format does not support defect management.
• +VR: Philips came up with this DVD format for DVD-RW disks. They intended to keep this format compatible with the DVD Video format while supporting some new features. However, the drawbacks associated with the DVD Video format could not be removed. Thus, making +VR format, less reliable.

Before closing any discussion on DVDs, we cannot escape having a look at how to copy DVD content onto a hard disk. The process of copying the content on removable media streams onto a hard disk is known as ripping. It is often used to shift formats and to edit, supplicate or backup content. Know all about DVD ripping software.