Should I use DVD-R or DVD+R???

[rdefino]

What are the differences? I have a Sony 500 that will burn any type. I've been using -R and they work great. Any benefit to using +R and would there be any problems?

[Video Dude]

This should have been posted in the DVD Burning section of the forum.

Someone asked this same question yesterday there, so your question was answered even before you asked it :).

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=86645

[writersblock29]

There's also a bit of info on this thread:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=85966

Basically, with DVD+R -- if set with a DVD-ROM booktype (there's a link inside the above-linked thread that'll give information about this) gets you as close as you're going to get to an original, studio, disk. The recording layer has the same reflectivity as a dual-layer studio disk, and it's formatted in a way that all set tops can recognize. Does it give you 100% compatibility? ...I've yet to find a definative answer, but I can only say that my +R disks play absolutely everywhere I try them. The only variable I can think of would be that +R disks are burned, whereas dual layer studio disks are pressed.

I'd recommend +R, with a DVD-ROM bitsetting. On the other hand, so long as your -R disks play wherever you need them to, why worry? Most newer set top boxes play recordable media now, so if your current machine breaks down on you... and you replace it with a new player... you should still be alright when playing your copies.

[3ncrypted]

Like writersblock29, I use DVD+R with bitsetting to DVD-ROM. That's my preferred media. But like he said.. if your -R is working for you, then stick with it.

[riggits]

I've found that my Philips DVP-642 will play any DVD+R burned with Nero 6.3 or prior, while it barfs frequently on DVD-R or ANYthing burned with Nero 6.6.
My backups are mainly XviD encodes, so I can't speak for MPEG2 backups.
Also burn at a nice low speed like 2.4x for max. compatibility.

[Malcolm]

Here is an interesting article with a lot of technical background:
Why DVD+R(W) is superior to DVD-R(W) (http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/113)

greetings,
Malcolm

[valnar]

I prefer DVD-R only for movie backups. For data on computers, DVD+R probably has the edge.

While I understand the technical advantages of DVD+R and possibly DVD+R media for PC's, the fact is DVD players are made to work with DVD Video. DVD-R media more closely resembles that.

Sure most DVD+R media works in most DVD players today, but that is by chance, not necessarily design. DVD-R IS the standard and that's why most media & duplicating houses use DVD-R media.

-Robert

[riggits]

If you want to use the DVD-ROM booktype, (http://www.signvideo.com/btst-d.htm) you will probably need a bitsetting utility. Nero is totally inadequate, it won't write the proper booktype IME. AFAIK the only bitsetting utilities are for DVD+R.
The only advantage of DVD-R is higher write speed. However none of my burns @ 4x or higher work on all my machines, so I burn @ 2.4x anyways so DVD-R doesn't seem as compelling.
I only use BenQ, LG and Pioneer burners, so that can be a factor in my tests. I've tested both -R and +R media in three different standalones, with bitsetting and without (for +R burns on the BenQ only), and the -R work fine except on my Philips DVP-642 DivX player. The +R work everywhere.

See HERE for more. (http://www.signvideo.com/btst-d.htm)

[darkangle73]

I like to loan out movies to co workers and friends of mine.

I use +r media and every now and then somebody would say that it didn't work in there player.

so I tried dvd-r media for them, and they worked great.
now all I use is dvd-r media I havent had any complaints yet.

[theReal]

DVD-R IS the standard and that's why most media & duplicating houses use DVD-R media. That's true - our media department has burnt thousands of DVDs over the years (they don't burn DVDs mainly, it's just that every tv spot or image film they produce is usually requested as a DVD copy as well, sometimes 10-50 copies, sometimes even more than a hundred).
They chose -R in the first place because of better video compatibility and they say they never had a problem with the minus discs so far.

Maybe using +R for computer data is better - the engineers seem to say "yes". However my DVD drive reads and writes both -R and +R equally well, so I really can't say that any one format is better.

[riggits]

Originally posted by theReal
That's true - our media department has burnt thousands of DVDs over the years (they don't burn DVDs mainly, it's just that every tv spot or image film they produce is usually requested as a DVD copy as well, sometimes 10-50 copies, sometimes even more than a hundred).
They chose -R in the first place because of better video compatibility and they say they never had a problem with the minus discs so far.

Maybe using +R for computer data is better - the engineers seem to say "yes". However my DVD drive reads and writes both -R and +R equally well, so I really can't say that any one format is better.

I've always assumed that media duplicators prefer DVD-R because there's a high quality (typically much more expensive) media available specifically for authoring. However no consumer DVD-R approaches that level. Today the normal DVD+/-R media costs 24 cents, while DVD-R Authoring Media costs $9-13 each.
Also not every DVD burner will burn onto authoring media.

[theReal]

I've always assumed that media duplicators prefer DVD-R because there's a high quality (typically much more expensive) media available specifically for authoring. I think you only need authoring DVD-R if you want to make masters for industrial reproduction (pressing real DVDs, not burning them). Maybe my colleagues have made such a master DVD on authoring media once in a while, I don't really know - usually they send out master copies on Beta SP, DVCAM or DV, the DVDs are just some additional copies and you don't need expensive authoring media for that (I'm talking about regional tv spots and smaller image film stuff, nothing that needs to pressed on thousands of DVDs)