5 Replies Latest reply: Aug 28, 2010 4:03 PM by Danielpremiere RSS

    Dual layer DVD -R vs. +R

    Danielpremiere Community Member

      Hi folks

       

      I've got a stock of DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL. I didn't know you could get -R in DL but I got some good JVC ones and that's what they were. No problems with burning them in Encore CS3, but when I analysed the layer break point in GEAR Pro Mastering, I noticed it was different on the burn of the same project from Encore onto a +R DL disc compared with a -R DL disc. I thought it might be because something had changed between the burns (though I hadn't done anything), so I burned another +R and another -R, and the same thing happened (the two +Rs were the same as each other but different from the two -R's)

       

      Does this matter? Is it normal? I haven't detected a problem. Any thoughts welcome!

       

      Daniel

        • 1. Re: Dual layer DVD -R vs. +R
          Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

          Nowadays, there is less reason to be concerned, whether one uses -R, or +R, BUT depending on the player used, there could still be residual problems. It was more of a player issue, and newer ones seem less sensitive to the differences. Older players, will possibly still have a problem.

           

          Also, all DVD certified players must play DL discs, BUT none are certified, and required to play ANY burned DVD-9's. Most will, but some just will not, and often the -R vs +R type do not make that much difference. The certification is for commercial, replicated/stamped DVD-9's, like most commercial movies.

           

          I am not familiar with the JVC brand. They might be great, or they might not. Some suppliers just buy the cheapest disc that day, and rebrand them, like Memorex. There are many utilities, and even the free burning utility, ImgBurn, that will tell you what lurks below the JVC logo.

           

          If you are doing these DVD's for yourself, I'd just check with my players. If they are for clients, then a bit of research might be required, as playability may well rest on the exact equipment used. I test on six different players, from bargain basement to esoterics, and have never had any returns, but part of that is probably luck with regards to clients' equipment. Did have one client, whose player would not handle ANY burned DVD-9's, so I just did a multi-disc set for them.

           

          For DVD-9's, I always use Verbatim DL +R's.

           

          Good luck, and wish that there was an iron-clad answer. However with the variations in clients' players, it can be impossible to know, until the discs are tried.

           

          Hunt

          • 2. Re: Dual layer DVD -R vs. +R
            Danielpremiere Community Member

            Hi Hunt,

             

            Thanks for the reply! Well I originally got the JVC discs as they have now merged (?) with Taiyo Yuden and I was trying to get the most reliable brand! The +R versions were my Verbatims! Checking the disc origin on ImgBurn, reveals Taiyo Yuden as manufacturer. Strangely though, I cannot seem to locate any stockists of these JVC discs (in the UK) and the place where I ordered them has run out.

             

            All the discs (JVC/Verbatim) seems to burn OK with my new Plextor drive. There was just the query over the difference in layer break point between +R and -R.

             

            What I was originally going to say in my post, and this was related to my last post - to which nobody has replied - if I use the layer break point on my correctly burned DVD DL as the basis of the break point when I create DDPs (using GEAR) which do I use, the -R or the +R?!?!

             

            Hope you can help

            Thanks

            Daniel

            • 3. Re: Dual layer DVD -R vs. +R
              Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

              Daniel,

               

              I cannot comment on the Replication Masters, and the house's preferences. I'd contact them directly, to see if they prefer one vs the other.

               

              Also, Neil and Jeff (or others) might have some insight into this for you.

               

              Good luck,

               

              Hunt

              • 4. Re: Dual layer DVD -R vs. +R
                John T Smith CommunityMVP

                I will GUESS that the layer break is in a different place due to the (whatever they are) "slight" differences in how files are allocated and written to -R versus +R dual layer

                • 5. Re: Dual layer DVD -R vs. +R
                  Danielpremiere Community Member

                  Hi John,

                   

                  Thanks for the thoughts. I had assumed that the difference must be something to do with the fact that +R has *slightly* more capicity than -R. I will read the long document regarding GEAR's calculations on layer breaks, which I was hoping to avoid!

                   

                  Daniel