User Guide

56 Chapter 4, Preparing Assets
Table 4: Media capacities
Media Actual
Disc Size
Computer
Disc Size
Disc Size in
Mbps
(less 4% for
headroom)
Typical
Program
Length
Usage Notes
DVD-R 3.95 GB
4.7 GB
3.68 GB
4.38 GB
30,336
Mbits
36,096
Mbits
100 min.
120 min.
Good for small production runs, test and
demo discs. The discs work with most set-
top players and DVD-ROM drives.
Some replication plants can accept DVD
masters on DVD-R discs.
3.95 GB discs seem to be more compatible
with older players, but are becoming rare.
DVD-RW 4.7 GB 4.38 GB 36,096
Mbits
120 min.
Same as DVD-R, but discs are rewritable,
like CD-RW.
DVD+RW 4.7 GB 4.38 GB 36,096
Mbits
120 min.
Same as DVD-RW, but you can overwrite
part or all of the existing content, rather like
recording on videotape.
DVD-5 4.7 GB 4.38 GB 36,096
Mbits
120 min.
Mass-produced from a DVD master sent to
a replication plant. The discs work with all
set-top players and DVD-ROM drives.
DVD-10 9.4 GB
(4.7 × 2)
8.75 GB
(4.38 × 2)
2 × 36,096
Mbits
2 × 120
min.
Double-sided disc mass-produced from two
DVD masters sent to a replication plant. This
requires two projects, one for each side. The
viewer must turn the disc over to play the
other side.
DVD-
RAM
4.7 GB
5.2 GB
(2.6 × 2)
4.38 GB
4.84 GB
(2.42 × 2)
36,096
Mbits
2 × 19,968
Mbits
120 min.
2 × 70
min.
Can be used only in computers with DVD-
RAM drives, although set-top players may
become available in the future.
5.2 GB discs are double-sided (2.6 GB per
side). A project must fit on one side; to use
both sides you need two projects.
CD-R/RW 682 MB
734 MB
650 MB
700 MB
5,238 Mbits
5,637 Mbits
15 min.
18 min.
Suitable for very short projects.
Playable on almost all computers with a
DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive.