DVD+R and DVD-R - Difference?

Anymore, most settop will play either, so it's not relevent.

The difference is how the formats handle the TOC.  The Table of Contents on +R is at the end, which made for easy append, while -R, at the beginning, was viewed as more compatible with all players.

However, it has been a very long time since a player couldn't handle both.. like years.  So, the choice at this point is 98% cost of media, not format.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattCR 

Anymore, most settop will play either, so it's not relevent.

I'm sure you are probably correct about new players. But I would hardly call it not relevant since many still have older players that are working just fine in all other respects. I currently have 4 DVD players. Two more recent play DVD+R just fine while one of the others doesn't at all, and the remaining one plays fine but has some issues with certain functions.

So as a result, I only burn DVD-R's so that I have the most compatibility. The same goes with disks I burn for others. At some point all the older players will have gone away and then maybe it will no longer be relevant, but for now I would rather use a more compatible format then buy another DVD player.

I don't know all the differences between the two, but there are definite differences. Otherwise, there would only be a need for one of them. If you're making the dvds on a computer, there's a trick to making the +Rs work on more machines, especially older ones. It's called Booktyping or Bitsetting. Here is some info on doing it: http://www.k-probe.com/bitsetting-booktype-faq.php

This can't be done on -Rs. I know it works, or used to anyway. My stepfather had a dvd player that wouldn't play a homemade dvd of any kind. I tried several times. When I learned to Booktype, I did it and tried playing it in his player. It played flawlessly. Booktyping fools the player into thinking the dvd is a dvd-rom, which store bought movies are. That's why they play in almost all players. If your dvd burner is a LiteOn, you can get the Booktyping software here, for free: http://www.liteonit.com/global/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=153 If you have another brand of burner, you may have to search for software for it. Good luck!

The simple answer is what works with the players you plan to use them on. For me that is DVD-R while for someone else it might be DVD+R. I don't know anything about the burning of a DVD+R or DVD-R to look like a DVD-Rom, but it sounds like another possible way to go.

When I burn DVD's of events I've videotaped, I usually use DVD-R, but then keep a few DVD+R on-hand, should there be any issues.

Also, I only use a select few brands that I've come to trust over the years, specifically Verbatim, Fuji, Sony, and, in a pinch, TDK.

In my experience, just about any player will deal with a -R.  And, well, about 98½% of players will handle +R.  (Okay, I'm making up the data.  The vast majority will play +R; I've never had one that wouldn't play a -R.)

Leo

Ok, for those that DO find it relevent, the standard goes like this from "MOST" univeral compatible to least:

DVD-R (almost all players, even the oldest, should read TOC first DVD-R)

DVD+R (MOST players should read +R, TOC LAST)

DVD+RW (If it reads DVD+R, it will almost always read DVD+RW)

DVD-RW (the TOC 'link' method is not nearly as compatible and as such this is easily "LEAST" compatible and a DATA only format)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattCR 

Ok, for those that DO find it relevent, the standard goes like this from "MOST" univeral compatible to least:

 

DVD-R (almost all players, even the oldest, should read TOC first DVD-R)

DVD+R (MOST players should read +R, TOC LAST)

DVD+RW (If it reads DVD+R, it will almost always read DVD+RW)

DVD-RW (the TOC 'link' method is not nearly as compatible and as such this is easily "LEAST" compatible and a DATA only format)

To be fair, more like: DVD+R (MOST NEWER players) you can't make that statement for many older players still perfroming fine in people's environments.

oddly enough, I've never had a problem testing/prototyping DVD-videos with some fairly advanced menus and such on some moderately old DVD players with DVD-RWs.  (Never had a +RW, so.. and never did anything with dual-layer discs, either.)

Leo

learn a lot, thanx. so theoretcially, no big difference between them.

Since the disks can be had so cheaply, why not burn one of each?  Send your buddy a +R and a -R and let him use whichever works!

Thanks for letting me know the difference guys. DVD-R always work perfectly for me.

I haven't noticed any difference in playing, and I've burned a lot of DVDs for friends (weddings and special events I've shot). I've used exclusively +R because I had more problems with burning -Rs, as in the burner would hang often on -R. My ancient Sony (we're talking 1998) had and has no problems with either. Ditto my HD-DVD and Blu-ray players. The best advice I can give is use what you're comfortable with, and go the other way if it doesn't work.

As for what brand, my two professional videographer friends use only Verbatim, or in a pinch, RiData. That's good enough for me; I've never had a Verbatim coaster/clay pigeon.