Dual layer DVD+R disc problem

[bertJ]

DVD Dual Layer discs seem to be available only in DVD+R format. I'm thinking of trying some to burn using Nero 7.5 on my PC but will I be able to play them on my Panasonic DVD-S47 player? The specification states specifically that DVD+R discs will not play on this machine.
Am I missing something or are Dual Layer DVD-R discs available somewhere? I'd be grateful for advice before buying.

[AbyssUnderground]

DVD-R dual layer disks do not exist. DVD-R and DVD+R are two different technologies. Only +R is capable of dual layer. If your player does not support +R disks then it will not play any kind of +R disk.

[SnoopZ]

Originally Posted by bertJ

DVD Dual Layer discs seem to be available only in DVD+R format. I'm thinking of trying some to burn using Nero 7.5 on my PC but will I be able to play them on my Panasonic DVD-S47 player? The specification states specifically that DVD+R discs will not play on this machine.
Am I missing something or are Dual Layer DVD-R discs available somewhere? I'd be grateful for advice before buying.

According to Videohelp.com it can't.

You can buy a DL DVD-R disc from here, although i don't think your player supports that either! Might be time to consider changing the DVD player.

[bertJ]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like a new DVD player!

dual layer dvd- r are still way to expensive just buy a cheapo rom in a box from tescos or asda
Could be worth testing one someone could burn ya one to test + and - that is
My Pioneer loves dl +

[Web-Junkie]

@bertJ: Can your burner do bitsetting, either out of the box or via firmware update? If so, change the booktype for DVD+R DL to DVD-ROM then you can burn a DL disc and see if your player will play the disc! Looking at that player it supports DVD+R so it 'may' accept a +R DL if the booktype is set to DVD-ROM, like all pressed/bought DVD's are set to.

DVD-R DL always have the booktype set to DVD-R as I think it's not technically possible to set it to DVD-ROM, so burning a DVD-R DL will 'appear' as DVD-R to the player. Not tried a DVD-R DL disc, even though my NEC 3500 supports -R DL and +R DL, although +R DL seems more popular but Verbatim manufacture both -R DL and +R DL format discs, the only DL brand I trust in my burner.

The thing is, is it worth spending say £10 to buy a -R DL and a +R DL disc, burning them and finding it may not work on your player, or buy a cheap £30 player that will play almost anything?

[bertJ]

Originally Posted by Web-Junkie

@bertJ:
The thing is, is it worth spending say £10 to buy a -R DL and a +R DL disc, burning them and finding it may not work on your player, or buy a cheap £30 player that will play almost anything?

I'm inclined to agree; I don't think it makes sense to spend money on discs that may or may not work. I will look for a new player that will play both DVD-R and DVD+R (including dual layer). Have you any suggestions for a good quality player that will cope with the various formats please?

[Duke]

Most DVD's are done on dual layer discs...
I say, make a DVD first and test it out to see if it works, if it doesn't then buy a new DVD player.
The disc's do not cost £10, they are only that price when you buy them in a pack. You can buy them individually cost you in total about £4. You might as well test it out, because you could end up buying a new DVD player when your existing one could play it!

If you put ordinary DVD in your pc check the size of the disc, they are 8.5Gb or less.
Oh and those cheap £30 DVD players, just watch out they can be more hassle than their worth, you have no idea the amount of returns I have seen on the cheapo stuff.

well if you pay 4 quid for 1 then your ripping yourself off

And as for cheapo dvd players being problematic then thats rubbish there dvd roms with a gfx board and there more compatable than expensive players

[Duke]

I meant £4 for both lol, they are roughly £2 each.

By the way whats that green ball thing on the left side of my post mean?

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by Duke

I meant £4 for both lol, they are roughly £2 each.

By the way whats that green ball thing on the left side of my post mean?

It's a bauble - and it means you are online

[Web-Junkie]

£10 wasn't meant to be an exact price, I should have stated including P&P as you'd get them cheaper online, most high street shops will probably rip you off on price anyway! You could see if any mates have any DVD+R DL they have bitset just to try!

Not sure of a player to recommend, I've got a cheap ASDA Pacific 1002W, plays my DVD+R DL perfectly, except the sound has stopped working on it!! I used to have a Kiiro 838D, beautiful little player, auto sensed region and NTSC/PAL making life easy when watching discs from any region and was Macroviosn free as well! But that player sadly died, never found anywhere selling another one as Kiiro themselves died too I think

So if you do go for a player, auto sense is a godsend. Divx should also be supported as that is a very popular format too, it must also cope with all DVD formats: DVD-ROM (obviously), -R, -R RW, -R DL, +R, +R RW and +R DL and CD Formats (jeepers, what's a CD?). I don't go in for Home Theater, I hate all that surround sound stuff and the main reason I don't go to the Cinema anymore, so if you must have that it needs to output all the formats your disc has: Dolby 2.0/DTS/5.1 or however many audio formats there are nowadays!

Originally Posted by Web-Junkie

<snip>I hate all that surround sound stuff and the main reason I don't go to the Cinema anymore, so if you must have that it needs to output all the formats your disc has: Dolby 2.0/DTS/5.1 or however many audio formats there are nowadays!

I love surround sound, I'm wondering whether I need an upgrade from my current 5.1 set - not dissing your opinion, web-junkie, but why are you so 'against' ?

[SnoopZ]

If i had it my neighbour would bang on the wall.

Originally Posted by SnoopZ

If i had it my neighbour would bang on the wall.

Bang back