Newbie to DVD Video Backup

[CrazyPortuguese]

I'm a complete newbie to dvd authoring.
Right now I've a prety reasonable collection of dvd movies ( original ) but I always like to have backups so till now I've been using svcd's (usualy two cd's), but there are 3 huge inconveniences, the fact that I have to change the cd ( very boring ), the fact that you dont have 5.1 sound and finaly you cant copy the menus and addons exacly has they are.

So my question is if I buy a dvd-r, wich format should I choose and is it possible to copy de dvd exacly has the original with menu's and 5.1 sound. I know that original dvd movies have almost the doble size of dvd-r but I dont mind reduzing the quality ( with svcd is almost perfect for me and it has a lot less tham half the one of dvd-r) what I need is 5.1 sound, total dvd standalone compatibility and finaly the menu's ( has they are in the original)

Thanks in advance for any sugestions and help

[Artur]

Hello, in my case i have a Pioneer A04/104 dvd-r and you can copy all the dvd with the guide http://www.doom9.org/mpg/maestro2.htm;)

[klona]

pioneer A03 & A04 are the reference for DVD-R. But you can do the choice of DVD+R technology also.

After that, it's more a media problem. Noproblem with apple and pioneer disks, but expensive.
Not a lot of problems reported with TDK, Verbatim and other well know brand. Less expensive, but some people still have problem with that brands.
Then cheap media, frompure crap like cdrecordable(bankrupted now) to good quality like Ritek.
Last point, your standalone player. cheap reader like Apex seems to read everything or nearly, brand name gives various result depending of the model and the media used.
Last point, software and options used to burn the media also have an impact on the compatibility.

First, read about 100 posts here ont he subject -:) and make your opinion. As always, there is not only one solution.

[atreides93]

Before you choose between DVD-R or DVD+R check the price of media and make sure you can get decent prized media from decent brands like Ritek, TDK, Verbatim and Pioneer.

[CrazyPortuguese]

Well for me Cd-r's from leadtek cost almost half that others cost, I can get one for about 3USD. So I think i'm gonna choose this kind of media. The problem had to do with compatibility and making exact dvd copies.