General Vs Authoring Media

.
DVD White Paper

Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc.
2265 E. 220
th
Street, Long Beach, CA 90810
(310) 952-2111 Fax: (310) 952-2990
www.pioneerelectronics.com

DVD-R Authoring vs. General Media: Whats the Difference?

Key Points of This Paper:

There are two types of DVD-R media:
1. DVD-R for Authoring (635 nm wavelength recording sensitivity)
2. DVD-R for General (650 nm wavelength recording sensitivity)
Each type of DVD-R disc must be recorded on the proper drive (see chart below).
Both types of DVD-R media can be played equally well on any DVD video player
or DVD-ROM drive that supports DVD-R playback. Playback devices do not
care which type of DVD-R media was used for recording.
DVD-R for Authoring media can be recorded only on the Pioneer DVR-S201 and
DVR-S101 (3.95 GB only).
DVD-R for General media can be recorded only on the Pioneer DVR-A03 and
DVR-103 (OEM) drives, as well as the DVR-2000 set top video recorder.
Either type of DVD-R disc can contain any type of information, including
authored DVD video titles.
CSS encrypted video programs cannot be stored on either type of DVD-R media.

Pioneer DVD-R Recorder DVD-R Media Supported Capacity
DVR-S101 Authoring 3.95 GB only
DVR-S201 Authoring 3.95 and 4.7 GB
DVR-A03, DVR-103 (OEM) General 4.7 GB only
DVR-2000 (set top video recorder) General 4.7 GB only

Introduction

There are now two different types of DVD Recordable (DVD-R) media: DVD-R for
Authoring and DVD-R for General. It is important to understand how these two formats
differ, and just as importantly, how they are alike. In a nutshell, its important to match
the correct type of DVD-R media with specific DVD-R recorders, but after recording,
either type can be used for playback on any playback device that supports DVD-R.

Background

DVD-R is an official member of the DVD Forums family of formats. Its write-once
characteristic allows users to make their own DVD discs, very similar to how CD-Rs are
recorded. As with CD-R, playback compatibility is one of DVD-Rs most important
attributes nearly all existing DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives will play one or
both of the two available disc capacities (3.95 or 4.7 billion bytes). Another key feature
is the security inherent in DVD-Rs write-once nature no one can accidentally erase
valuable information once its been recorded. And because at least one media
manufacturer (Pioneer) specifies a 100-year life expectancy of recorded DVD-R discs,
the format is well suited for long term archival applications.

Until early 2001, DVD-R was used primarily in professional applications such as video
authoring and storage of imaging data. For DVD authoring users, DVD-R allows testing
and approval of finished titles prior to mass production, and can even be used by some
replicators as the final program source in place of DLT tape. In many cases, recorded
DVD-R discs are the finished product when only a few discs are needed for deployment
in vertical applications such as museums or videowalls in retail stores. In medical
environments, x-rays, CT-scans and ultrasound video images are stored in automated
DVD-R library systems to provide physicians much faster access to information as well
as better reliability than tape solutions. In the banking industry, the format is used for
storage and retrieval of checks and credit card receipt images generated each day in retail
transactions.

During this initial three year period, the underlying technology of these professional
applications employed 635 nanometer (nm) lasers for writing information to 3.95 and 4.7
GB DVD-R discs. This technology has allowed DVD-R products to become vital and
dependable components of many DVD authoring suites and library systems around the
world.

Two Formats for Two Markets: Professional and Consumer

To support consumer applications for DVD-R, the DVD Forum determined that another
type of DVD-R media was necessary. The newest member of the DVD-R family uses a
recording wavelength of 650nm, and discs are recorded on different drives than the
existing 635nm format. This new format is called DVD-R for General, because it is
aimed at a broad base of applications. Meanwhile, the existing 635nm format has been
renamed DVD-R for Authoring to reflect its use in professional applications.

Why are there two formats? The key reason for the introduction of DVD-R for General
media is that it contains content protection measures that make it physically impossible to
make bit-for-bit copies of CSS encrypted entertainment titles.

Meanwhile, the 4.7 GB Authoring media specification has introduced a new and unique
feature that is potentially quite valuable to professional users: the Cutting Master Format
(CMF). CMF allows 4.7 GB Authoring media to be used as a direct replacement for
DLT master tapes when submitting a title for replication, thus saving valuable time in the

final authoring stage. This is accomplished by using a portion of the DVD-R discs lead-
in area to store the DDP (Disc Description Protocol) header information normally used
on DLT master tapes. The CMF capability is one reason why Pioneer anticipates that
Authoring drives and media will continue to be utilized in the professional DVD
environment; General media does not accommodate this feature.

Either type of DVD-R media can be used for DVD video authoring, which is the process
of preparing video content for use in DVD video players. It should be noted, however,
that CSS encryption cannot be used with either type of DVD-R media.

Recording Compatibility

The two types of DVD-R media use different recording laser wavelengths, which means
that the proper type of media must be recorded in the corresponding type of DVD-R
drive. Authoring media must be recorded in either a DVR-S101 (3.95 GB only) drive or
a DVR-S201 (both capacities) drive, and General media must be recorded in a General
drive such as the DVR-A03 or DVR-2000 video set top recorder. Pioneer expects that
future drives, including those from other manufacturers, will most likely be General type
drives.

Authoring vs. General DVD-R Recording Compatibility

DVD-R
DVD-R
DVD-R for General
DVD-R for Authoring
DVD-R Drive
For Authoring
DVD-R Drive
For General
DVD-R For
Authoring Disc
DVD-R For
General Disc

Playback Compatibility

For playback, there is no compatibility consideration. Both Authoring and General
DVD-R media can be played back equally well in any DVD video player or DVD-ROM
drive that supports DVD-R (most existing models).

Authoring vs. General DVD-R Playback Compatibility

1-31-01
1:00:00 PLAY
DVD
DVD-R for Authoring
DVD-R for General
DVD Video Player
DVD-ROM Drive
Recorded
Authoring Disc
Recorded
General Disc
DVD

General Vs Authoring Media

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

General Vs Authoring Media

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

General Vs Authoring Media

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

.

DVD White Paper

You might also like