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Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
Quality
The exceptional color quality, image definition, and contrast of the DVD format are all well known.
A resolution of 720 x 576 (PAL) and coded using MPEG-2, 25 pictures per second produces very
good results. The quantity of data is approx. 5 times as much as a VCD.
DVD size
DVDs look similar to CDs. The only visible difference is that double-sided DVDs have no label.
Otherwise, both formats have the same dimensions.

Diameter: 12 cm, like a normal CD (there are also DVDs with a diameter of only 8 cm)

Thickness: 1.2 mm, just like a normal CD
DVD media (overview)
The DVD does not differ outwardly from a conventional CD-ROM. Higher memory density (up to 17
GB as opposed to 650-780 megabytes) results from the fact that information is stored more densely
(double-capacity) and that up to four layers can be used. In order to be able to read the information, a
special laser with modified wavelength is required. Therefore, DVDs cannot be read using conventional
CD-ROM drives.
Writable disc formats
The recordable DVD market is split for the time being into three types: DVD-RAM, DVD+RW and
DVD-RW.
DVD-R:
Once-only writable medium. The DVD-R can be specified with the file structures of DVD Video, DVD
Audio, or DVD-ROM.
DVD+RW
: Re-recordable DVDs can be created using +RW drives and can be read by almost any commercial
DVD-ROM or DVD player. The companies involved are mainly Philips, Sony, HEWLETT PACKARD
(as well as Ricoh, Yamaha, and Mitsubishi).
DVD-RW:
Writable and erasable DVD technology is promoted by Pioneer and Sharp. This format was developed
by the Pioneer company and should be compatible with existing DVD players.
DVD-RAM:
This standard is not recommended due to small storage capacity and incompatibility with DVD players.
Note: MAGIX Speed burnR supports DVD -R, DVD+R, DVD +RW, DVD -RW, but not
DVD-RAM!
Blank discs:
Single-sided recordable blanks with a capacity of 4.7 GB and a run-time of approx. 2 hours serve as
storage media for all DVD burning formats at present.
Double-layer
DVDs can consist of one or two storage layers, and both of these can be written to. Video DVDs
increase the capacity up to 4.5 or 8.5 GB.
During the write and read process, each layer can be accessed without damaging data on the other layer.
One of the biggest challenges of development of this medium was making normal DVD players able to
playback these discs.
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