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Thread ID: 55672 2005-03-16 20:05:00 DVD format advice Oxie (1318) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
334797 2005-03-16 20:05:00 Hi everyone

We have just purchased a DVD recorder for recording tv programmes. The recorder takes DVD-R and DVD RAM disks. I understand that these two types of disks must be used in order to record onto the disks from the machine. However, am I correct in thinking that the disks can then be used in any DVD player? Are there any DVD players that do not support these formats?

Thanks

Oxie (Lyn)
Oxie (1318)
334798 2005-03-16 20:25:00 Some dvd players MAY play DVD-R. It may depend on how OLD the DVD player is, on whether it can recognise or play burned DVD's.

Like I have burned onto DVD-R on this, but the dearer DVD player (phillips) cant play it. It can only play it, if i burn a videocd of the same video / whatever it is I burned. And if the dvd player has a PCB option, this has to be turned OFF.

Whereas, the Panasonic stereo dvd player can recognise it, and will play it.

It maybe a bit more modern and plays anything u chuck in it.

DVD-Ram isnt so easy to play. Not many dvd players can recognise / play DVD-Ram. I wouldn't record onto DVD-Ram.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
334799 2005-03-16 20:32:00 DVD-Ram isnt so easy to play. Not many dvd players can recognise / play DVD-Ram. I wouldn't record onto DVD-Ram.

Not only that, they are hugely expensive compared to +/-R/RW formats (i.e. approx. $40 for three discs), and seem to be a proprietary format supported only by Panasonic players / recorders.
D. McG (3023)
334800 2005-03-16 20:35:00 Thanks for your response Speedy. We have a Panasonic DVD recorder. The reason I ask is I plan to copy some of our videos onto DVD-R disks. I don't want to do this if in a few years time we purchase another DVD recorder and find it cannot read DVD-R disks. So my question really is .. do all of the new DVD recorders read/play DVD-R disks?

Thanks,
Lyn
Oxie (1318)
334801 2005-03-16 20:47:00 Yup I would say they will, if u are burning to the same DVD recorder Oxie.

Once it has finished / been finalised by the burner.

If it can record to DVD-R it should definitely play them as well.

Pretty pointless if it didnt!

BUT I would CHECK before u buy a new DVD recorder, to see what it supports (what it records in), and especially what formats, it can play after the DVD's have been burned.

We're talking about external DVD recorders arent we?

Not PC based DVD burners?? I guess its upto the manufacturer, on what formats the recorder supports. They may not be the same for all.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
334802 2005-03-16 20:53:00 So my question really is .. do all of the new DVD recorders read/play DVD-R disks?
Lyn

You will have no problem purchasing a DVD player that reads DVD-r, not now or in the future.
Metla (12)
334803 2005-03-16 21:07:00 Not sure how you can "protect" the ability to play the disks on recorders of the future though, you are at the mercy of the manufacturers to ensure "backwards compatability" should (when) the formats change.

Ironically I have found that the cheaper (<$100) players seem to have far greater support for recorded DVD disks than the expensive players do.

The main issue is if they will recognise a recorded disk at all, as the "reflectivity" of the dye in the media is quite different to a "pressed" original DVD disk and some players may have lasers (now or in the future) that will not reliably work with recorded media.

But somewhere at sometime it will be able to be "transferred" I guess to compatable media. I have precious family home movies from the 1950's that are now on disk. Hopefully they will survive in a readable format (though the original film still endures)
godfather (25)
334804 2005-03-16 21:28:00 Apparently some older players only recognise DVD ROM. DVD-R has a fixed ID but DVD+R can be burnt with the bit set to identify it as a DVD ROM to make it more compatible. PaulD (232)
334805 2005-03-16 23:02:00 Thanks for your comments, especially your input Godfather. I too have videos of, eg my parents wedding back in the 1950's. I no longer have the original film or a projector and had the film transferred to video tape about 20 years ago. To ensure the film survives we really must transfer it yet again to DVD. Let's hope we can continue transferring in the years to come so as to preserve what we have today.

Oxie (Lyn)
Oxie (1318)
334806 2005-03-16 23:14:00 DVD+R/RW appears to be the choice of experts, being more flexible and usable in dual layer.
Howver: beware of the format wars, and remember that all VCRs are now VHS after large advertising promotion of that format defeated the far superior Beta format.
rodb (1561)
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