DVD-R vs DVD+R

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altonb1

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Feb 5, 2002
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I've been looking around for a clear answer and can not seem to find one. So....can anyone explain if there is an advantage of one over the other? The latest burners all support both media types, and price is usually the same. SO....if I go and buy blank media so I can burn video files, which would be better? Is there a difference at all? Is one better for data while the other is better for video?

Can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks!
 
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YoungGun21

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
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I didn't know there was a difference? I don't really know a whole lot about optical drives though...
 
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altonb1

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2002
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Originally posted by: YoungGun21
I didn't know there was a difference? I don't really know a whole lot about optical drives though...
Click to expand...

Well, that's what I mean...there IS a difference in the technology, obviously, but I can't ever find anything that clearly shows when you should use 1 medium over the other. I just looked at the wiki article listed above, and it doesn't give a clear explanation, either. The articles all explain the technology of the two, but don't really show whether one format is better than the other.

Oh well...the answer may join the ranks of the classic Tootsie-Pop debate on how many licks it takes to get to the center..."we may never know" ;)
 
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m21s

Senior member
Dec 6, 2004
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DVD-R is more compatable all around than +R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
 
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altonb1

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Feb 5, 2002
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Originally posted by: m21s
DVD-R is more compatable all around than +R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
Click to expand...

Ok. I guess that works for me, then. I know my stand-alone DVD players both were fine with the DVD+R disks, so it really doesn't matter which I buy, I guess.

Thanks.
 
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TheRyuu

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: m21s
DVD-R is more compatable all around than +R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
Click to expand...

Yea I find that too but the real reason I use DVD-R's is because my burner HATES all DVD+R media EXECPT for anything made by Verbatim (which is the MCC/MKM stuff). The good DVD media is MCC or MKM. At least from what I've found.

My Lite-On drive hates Sony DVD+R's (god only knows what since the Sony version of the drive is a rebaged lite-on) but loves the MCC (Verbatim) stuff.

Just recently I took a gamble on buying some DVD+R DL's (DVD+R9's) and I had no idea if they were gonna work, turns out they did just fine. As long as you buy Verbatim media (or anyone that uses MCC/MKM media) I'm sure that it'll work fine.

And bitsetting DVD+R's to DVD-ROMs pretty much makes them almost as compatible as DVD-R's. But in general both will work on any player.
 
Xcobra

Xcobra

Diamond Member
Oct 19, 2004
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Originally posted by: m21s
DVD-R is more compatable all around than +R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
Click to expand...

thats where bitsetting comes in... ;)
 
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Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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Not necessarily ... the drive will have to manage reading the physical media first, and not all drives are +R read compatible. Remember that -R is the standard, and +R is the cheapification of it, originally supported only by a dozen or so drive makers.

On the authoring side, choose what your burner supports. If still left with both options, choose -R if it's going to be read in appliances, media players, or older PCs.
 
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Continuity28

Golden Member
Jul 2, 2005
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Originally posted by: m21s
DVD-R is more compatable all around than +R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
Click to expand...

DVD+R bitsetted to DVD-ROM is more compatible than DVD-R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
 
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Slammy1

Platinum Member
Apr 8, 2003
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Different drives will show a preference for +/- R. My 3520, for example, prefers +R but, as mentioned, older devices will prefer the -R (which is OK cause I don't playback on those). Even in newer drives, you'll see preferences for one over the other, and which works best will be very mfr dependent. I generally look for +R discs "Made in Japan" which indicate Taiyo Yuden rebadged, though I suppose some non-mainstream mfrs could use some off MIJ brands.
 
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Continuity28

Golden Member
Jul 2, 2005
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Originally posted by: Peter
Not necessarily ... the drive will have to manage reading the physical media first, and not all drives are +R read compatible. Remember that -R is the standard, and +R is the cheapification of it, originally supported only by a dozen or so drive makers.

On the authoring side, choose what your burner supports. If still left with both options, choose -R if it's going to be read in appliances, media players, or older PCs.
Click to expand...

-R is not the "standard", it was just the first writable DVD format to be released. Both DVD-R and DVD+R will not work 100% with all devices. Keeping burners that are designed to only read one format on purpose out of the picture, they are both around 98% anyways for GOOD QUALITY media. (Like Taiyo Yuden, which various manufacturers use). With bitsetting, DVD+R appears like a DVD-ROM to devices, and with good quality media, the writable layer won't create problems like shoddy brands may. DVD-ROMs are pressed, they aren't written with a laser on a special layer... the quality of your writable media will matter tons more than +/-R will.

Assuming all are Taiyo Yuden... DVD+R set to DVD-ROM will be most compatible, followed almost equally by DVD +/-R, the reason being many older devices will read -R, and many newer devices may be picky towards +R.

The important part of this is to look up the devices you'll be using, and decide from there. Assuming your device can read both +/-R, go with +R because the format is technically superior, but the difference is miniscule.
 
Wreckage

Wreckage

Banned
Jul 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: altonb1
Originally posted by: m21s
DVD-R is more compatable all around than +R.

Thats about all you need to know ;)
Click to expand...

Ok. I guess that works for me, then. I know my stand-alone DVD players both were fine with the DVD+R disks, so it really doesn't matter which I buy, I guess.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yeah, +R don't work in one of my DVD players. However if it works fine in yours and you are not sending em to other people.....buy whatever is on sale.
 
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xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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Interestingly enough, my DVD burner worked with Memorex DVD+Rs but refused Memorex DVD-Rs (actually made by Ritek IIRC).

How do you a "bitset" a DVD+R to a DVD-ROM?

Ah, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_type

Now I just have to find an easy way to do this.

Also I have a disc here (a friend gave it to me) that has a RW logo at the bottom and 'DVD+R' under that. So is it a DVD+R or a DVD+RW?
 
C

Continuity28

Golden Member
Jul 2, 2005
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Originally posted by: xtknight
Interestingly enough, my DVD burner worked with Memorex DVD+Rs but refused Memorex DVD-Rs (actually made by Ritek IIRC).

How do you a "bitset" a DVD+R to a DVD-ROM?

Ah, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_type

Now I just have to find an easy way to do this.

Also I have a disc here (a friend gave it to me) that has a RW logo at the bottom and 'DVD+R' under that. So is it a DVD+R or a DVD+RW?
Click to expand...

As for bitsetting, you need a burner capable of doing it, and the firmware that supports it. I don't know what you use to burn DVDs, but Nero 6 and 7 have the option.

The "RW" logo is just the trademark of DVD+RW Alliance, the group that developed DVD+R/RW. If it says DVD+R under it, it's DVD+R.
 
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WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
5,006
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Just to toss in another $0.02, I was just now reading "ImgBurn - A User Guide" authored by

cynthia, Super Moderatress in Sweden,

and she repeatedly makes the comment that,

"If your drive supports book type/bit setting, remember to tell it to burn DVD +R/+RW discs as DVD-ROM. This will make them more compatible with players."
 
daveybrat

daveybrat

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jan 31, 2000
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I've always used DVD-R disks only. Switched one time to +R's for a sale they had on them and after burning a bunch of movies, i found that they wouldn't play properly, skipping, freezing, etc. Went back to -R and never had an issue.

 
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