DVD formats

There are several different DVD formats, not all of which are compatible with all DVD players and DVD drives. 

DVD-Video and DVD-ROM are widely-supported standards, and all players and drives should be able to read them. There are two main competing sets of writable / rewritable format standards, however, differentiated in name by "+" ("Plus") and "-" ("Minus" or "Dash"). Altogether, the four widely-used writable formats are: DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RW.

Older DVD players and drives will typically not read any of these writable formats. Newer players and drives (manufactured since 2001 or so) will generally read DVD-R and DVD-RW formats. More recently manufactured players will often read the newer DVD+R and DVD+RW formats, and may be able to read both the "Plus" and the "Minus" formats.

According to a report by cd-rw.org issued in July 2003, "The "Plus" format has a technical edge on the "Minus", but the "Minus" format is the original and official format for DVD recordable discs. Not surprisingly, the "Minus" format wins the compatibility test with a fairly large margin. CDR-Info has used various media brands, burners and popular DVD players for the comparison, and the result is that DVD-R was playable in 96% of the tests, while tests for the DVD+R format resulted in a score of 87%."

Writable DVDs must ususally be "finalized" (much like CD-R/RWs must be "closed") before they may be played on a regular DVD player or a computer's DVD drive. The finalizing process writes all the necessary control information to the disc, and adds a main menu. Once a disc is finalized, it's not possible to add more material to it.

Notes on the various DVD formats:

DVD-Video: This is the format used for pre-recorded, commercially vended movies. All DVD players and drives read this format, including those that are part of personal computer systems.

DVD-Audio: Pre-recorded, commercially vended audio. Designed to improve upo the quality of the ubiquitous CD-Audio format. This format is not in widespread use as of 2004, and is supported by few drives.

DVD-ROM: Pre-recorded data storage. Read-only format used for computer data rather than video or audio.

DVD-R: Recordable media - write-once, no erase. May be written to and then have more data added later. If recorded with proper data types, is readable by most current DVD-Video players. Not readable by some older players.

DVD-RW: Recordable media - write and erase. Rated for about 1000 write/erase cycles. Due to the layer in the disc that allows it to be erased, these aren't as easy to read as DVD-ROM or DVD-R discs, so they are less compatible with DVD-Video players. Some DVD-Video players are now specifically saying that they are compatible with these discs, please check the documentation for your player.

DVD+R: Recordable media - write once, no erase. May be written to and then have more data added later. Readable by most current DVD-Video players. Not readable by some older players.

DVD+R discs must be finalized before they can be played on regular DVD players.

DVD+RW: Recordable media - write and erase. Rated for about 1000 write/erase cycles. Due to the layer in the disc that allows it to be erased, these aren't as easy to read as DVD-ROM or DVD+R discs, so they are less compatible with DVD-Video players. Some DVD-Video players are now specifically saying that they are compatible with these discs, please check the documentation for your player.

DVD-RAM: Recordable media - write and erase. Rated for about 100,000 write/erase cycles. Not designed to be compatible with DVD-Video player or with DVD-ROM drives.

Additionally, some media is designed for drives of a specified speed range. For best results, try to use the appropriate media for your DVD writer.

DVD players and drives

DVD-Video players should play: DVD-Video

Many newer DVD players are also indicating compatibility with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW media. However, even when this compatibility is indicated, other factors such as the brand of DVD disc used can cause compatibility issues. It is also very likely that writable or rewritable media will need to be finalized before it can be played in a DVD-Video player.

DVD-ROM drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, finalized DVD-R, finalized DVD-RW, finialized DVD+R, finalized DVD+RW

DVD-ROM drives have no writing capability

DVD-R drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, finalized DVD-RW

DVD-R drives may read (lower success rate): finialized DVD+R, finalized DVD+RW

DVD-R drives can write to: DVD-R

DVD-RW drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW

DVD-RW drives may read (lower success rate): finialized DVD+R, finalized DVD+RW

DVD-RW drives can write to: DVD-R, DVD-RW

DVD+R drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD+R, finalized DVD+RW

DVD+R drives may read (lower success rate): finialized DVD-R, finalized DVD-RW

DVD+R drives can write to: DVD+R

DVD+RW drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+RW

DVD+RW drives may read (lower success rate): finialized DVD-R, finalized DVD-RW

DVD+RW drives can write to: DVD+R, DVD+RW

DVD-RAM drives can read and write: DVD-RAM

DVD-RAM is now typically supported by drives that read multiple formats.

DVD-Multi drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-Audio, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM

DVD-Multi drives may read (lower success rate): finialized DVD+R, finalized DVD+RW

DVD-Multi drives can write to: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM

Combo drives: Some drives are now available that support both the + and - formats for both reading and recording.

DVD+-R/+-RW drives should read: DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW

DVD+-R/+-RW drives can write to: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW