Recordable Blank Media

1. What is a CD-R?
A standard CD-R (Write Once) is produced using a fine layer of Cyanine (Blue/Green Dye) or Pthalocyanine (yellow) dye on a plastic substrate and placing a corresponding reflective layer on the CD-R. The CD-R is recorded by burning in a series of digital pits into the dye layer via a laser.

2. What is a CD-RW?
A CD-RW uses a metal film alloy that is 9-12 layers thick.  As the CD-RW is erased and recorded, the metal alloy melts back to its original form and then remelts the corresponding data that is placed on the CD-RW.  This process of erasing and recording can take place thousands of times.  The CD-RW is harder to read by standard CD Players.  The Laser in most standard CD players cannot read music on a CD-RW.

3. What is a Music CD-R?
A Music CD-R is made exactly the same as a standard CD-R in using fine layer of Cyanine or Pthalocyanine dye on a plastic substrate and placing a corresponding reflective layer on the CD-R. Inserted into the production programming of the Music CD-R is a Serial Copy Code stamp. The Serial Copy Code allows the Music CD-R to Record on Home Audio CD Recorders. During the beginning of the record process, the Home Audio CD Recorder analyzes the inserted Music CD-R for Serial Copy Code. Upon confirmation by the CD Recorder that the Music CD-R has the Serial Copy Code Information, the recorder then enables the Home CD Recorder to record the music information.

4. What is a Music CD-RW?
A Music CD-RW uses a micro thin metal film alloy that is 9-12 layers thick. As the Music CD-RW is erased and recorded, the metal alloy melts back to its original form and then remelts the corresponding data that is placed on the Music CD-RW. The Music CD-RW is hard to read by standard CD Players, because the Laser in most standard CD players cannot read the data/music on a Music CD-RW. Many manufacturers of types of CD Players have recently increased the strength of the laser in their products. Many manufacturers are clearly labeling their new products, CD-RW compatible. Inserted into the production programming of the Music CD-RW is a Serial Copy Code stamp. The Serial Copy Code allows the Music CD-RW to record on the Home Audio CD Recorders. During the beginning of the record process the Home Audio CD Recorder analyzes the inserted Music CD-RW for the Serial Copy Code. Upon confirmation by the CD Recorder that the Music CD-RW has the Serial Copy Code Information, the recorder then enables the Home CD Recorder to record the music information. Back to top

5. What is a Color CD-R?
A color CD-R also known as Colored Substrate CD-Rs available in Black, Red, Blue, Orange, Purple, etc. are produced by adding a dye color to the clear plastic substrate during the manufacturing process or simply print different color on the surface of the CD-Rs.

6. What is the difference between Music CD-R’s and Regular CD-R’s? Why does Music CD-R’s cost more?
The difference is simple. The CD-R for music has a small amount of header space in the format that is used for encoding and allows the CD-R to be used in the home recorder (Stand alone audio system). The Standard media, which you can also use for music, does not have this encoding. The computer can create it when you record a CD. The special format of the music CD-R requires a different manufacturing process, hence the increased cost of the music CD-R.

7. Can I purchase only one color from your cool line of CD-Rs in slim jewel cases?
Yes, we offer Colorful or one color CD-R in both slim jewel cases of 10 packs or in cake boxes of 25, 30, 50, or 100 packs.

In its introductory version, a DVD-R disc will be able to hold up to 4.7 gigabytes (4.7 billion bytes) of information on each side – more than 6 times the capacity of a CD-R disc.  Since the DVD format supports two-side media, a total of 9.7GB can be stored on a two-sided DVD-R disc.

Data can be written to or read from a disc at 11.08 megabits per second (Mbps), which is roughly equivalent to nine times the transfer rate of CD-ROM’s “1X” speed.  This transfer rate, coupled with DVD-R’s capacity, makes it an extremely viable and cost effective storage medium.

DVD-R, like CD-R, uses a constant linear velocity rotation technique to maximize the storage density on the disc surface.  This results in a variable number of revolutions per minute (RPM) as disc writing/reading progresses fro one end to the other.  Recording begins at the inner radius and ends at the outer.  Rotation of the disc therefore varies from 1,648 RPM to 648, depending on a record/playback head’s position over the surface.  The track pitch, or the distance from the center of one part of the spiral information “track” to an adjacent part of the track, is 0.8 microns, one-half that of CD-R.

The table below highlights the differences between some basic parameter of both media formats:

Recording on DVD-R disc is accomplished through the use of dye polymer recording layer that is permanently transformed by a highly focused red laser beam.  This dye polymer substance is spin-coated onto a clear polycarbonate substrate that forms one side of the “body” of a complete disc.  The substrate is injection molded, and has a microscopic, “pre-groove” spiral track formed onto its surface.  This groove is used by a DVD-R drive to guide the recording laser beam during the writing process, and also contains recorded information after writing is completed. A thin layer of metal is then sputtered onto the recording layer so that a reading laser can be reflected off the disc during playback.  A protective layer is then applied to the metal surface, which prepares the side for the bonding process.

Recorded DVD-R discs support a new file system called “UDF Bridge”.  This is a hybrid approach that provides both the newer UDF (Universal Disc Format) system as well as the older ISO-9660 system used by the CD-ROM format.  This allows DVD discs to be used with computer operation systems that do not have any provision for USF support.

1.Why “DVD PLUS”?

Simple:
Quick Formatting: Blank DVD+R/RW discs can be formatted within seconds for immediate use.
Edit Directly on the DVD disc: Lossless-linking technology enables you to perform basic editing tasks right on the disc.  That mean the users no longer need to reload all your DVD contents back to your PC to make minor changes.  Users no longer need to re-burn an entire DVD after making small edits.

Compatible:
Compatibility:  DVDs created using the DVD+RW rewritable and DVD+R write-once discs can be viewed on nearly all DVD players and DVD-ROM drives – the most compatible format on the market.

Huge Storage Capacity:The DVD+RW/+R format stores up to 4.7GB on a single disc – allowing you to record up to 3 hours of video, store thousands of photos and save hundreds of mp3 music files or other data.

Creative:
Quality & Quantity:  Variable bit-rate technology means you no longer need to sacrifice quality for quantity, or vice-versa.  DVD+RW/=R ensures quality playback while maximizing storage capacity.

Speed:
DVD+RW/+R format writes 2.4 times faster than competing DVD rewritable formats – giving you the power to burn an hour’s worth of video in less than 25 minutes!

2. What is the DVD+RW Alliance?
The DVD+RW Alliance is a voluntary group of industry-leading PC manufacturers, optical storage and consumer electronics manufacturers.  Executive members of the DVD+RW Alliance include Dell, Hewlett-Packard Company, MCC/Verbatim, Philips Electronics, Ricoh Company Ltd., Sony Corporation, Thomson Multimedia and Yamaha Corporation. Back to top

3. What is DVD+RW?
DVD+RW is an evolution of rewritable CD technology and an extension to the DVD Video and DVD-ROM technology that offers consumers the ability to create custom DVDs.  The format was designed for beginners and experts to record video, photos and data on a DVD disc.  Rewritable DVD has tremendous appeal, caused by the growing popularity of multimedia applications and the need to record, store and share large amounts of data or video.

4. What will be the primary use of DVD+RW?
With DVD+RW, consumers can capture home video direct from digital video camera to DVD or transfer video home movies to DVD and preserve special moments, store and share data, images and video on high-capacity discs, and create customs DVD.

5. What is the primary benefit of DVD+RW?
+ Simple: Developed for beginners and experts alike.  DVD+RW is a format for both PC data storage as well as consumer DVD video recording.
+ Compatibility: Works where you want it to work. The DVD+RW/+R disc recorded can be played in most existing DVD-ROM drives and DVD video players.
+Creative: Have fun and do more with video, photos, data and music.  The DVD+RW format has a wide industry support of independent software vendors, enabling home video creation on a high quality DVD.

6. Can the contents of a DVD be stored permanently?
The first DVD+RW products allowed consumers to create, erase and recreate customized DVDs.  Now, DVD+RW manufacturers are offering a write-once capability for permanent storage applications.

7. Why weren’t DVD+RW and +R developed at the same time?
From the beginning, the Alliance has built the DVD+RW format with consumer needs in mind.  The primary use of this technology is to provide an easy-to-use solution that can e shared in the office and living room for a variety of data and video applications.  We consider DVD+R an enhanced feature, and will make that available at the right time.

8. What is defect management, and is this part of DVD+RW devices?
DVD+RW drives include defect management, which is a feature that provides a more reliable data backup than other rewritable formats. Back to top

9. Can you give us an idea of what percentage of these drives and players work with DVD+RW discs?
The recorded DVD+RW disc will play perfectly on most DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives.  With its higher reflectivity, DVD+R has even greater compatibility with existing DVD players.  The DVD+RW Alliance will continue to work proactively with the industry to make sure DVD+RW and DVD+R discs can be shared with as many products as possible.  For a more specific list of DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives that support DVD+RW/R, please check the compatibility list page of this site. 

10. How will the Alliance ensure compatibility with future DVD players?
The Alliance continues to work proactively with the industry to make sure DVD+RW disc can be shared with as many products as possible.

11. What is life span of a DVD+RW disc?
The life span of DVDs varies among manufacturers. Current estimates of life span range form 30 – 100 years.

12. What is your view on digital piracy?
The DVD+RW format will not copy content with CSS protection.  As a group, the DVD+RW Alliance fully supports the legal use of copy write content around the world and we recognize the rights of content owners.  DVD+RW copy protection meets the requirements of industry accepted copy protection technologies. Back to top