DVD-R for authoring?

Factual Questions
1

Was pricing DVD media toady and noticed that there are some DVD blanks sold ‘for authoring’ and were approximately 4x as expensive… whats up with that? Are these just higher quality blanks? They say they are good for making masters or archives, what exactly would be the big difference between the cheapo blanks ($0.89/disc) and the ‘authoring’ quality ones (at apprx $3.79/disc). Is the only difference the quality of the media (which would explain the for archival/master description) or is this one of those screwy deals where you buy the same thing with a different label (like the CD-R AUDIO ripoffs we pay an extra dollar for) and pay more?

2

Definately not a bait-and-switch type deal. The ‘for authoring’ DVDs have a different track pitch from the general discs. I believe that the authoring discs are made for higher end model writers.

General specs

Authoring specs

3

My understanding is authoring DVD’s contain a special track that can be used when the disc is sent to replication companies for duplication (ie, it can be a master copy). General DVD’s don’t contain this track and are meant for home use only.

A great little PDF can be found here

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/Files/DVDR_whitepaper.pdf

4

DVD-R Authoring Vs. General Media

I’m still not sure why CSS can’t be used with DVD-R Authoring media, if the main purpose for introducing General media was to prevent the use of CSS.

5

thanks for both the replies - I figured the general was what I’d need, but I was curious. Interesting stuff (am I a geek if I found a DVD white paper interesting?) - I did not know that the blanks actually were set up to keep users from making exact copies of DVDs (not that I ever would, of course ;)). I am now assuming that most people would not have an ‘authoring’ DVD burner - that’s a more expensive professional-type piece of equipment found in recording studios/software labs/etc., right?

6

One online site has the Pioneer DVRS201 DVD Burner for $4500 vs. $299.95 for the DVR-A05. So I guess that would elevate the authoring burner past your typical home-computer geek’s spending limits
:smiley: .

7

“One online site has the Pioneer DVRS201 DVD Burner for $4500”

There are online sites that can make you an authoring dvd. Looked like it would cost about $1,500 each.