Guide to Blank DVDs

Blank DVDs store videos, music, and other data in digital format. They have more storage capacity than blank DVDs, with most types offering 4.7 gigabytes (GB) of storage. Some blank DVDs are designed for dual-layer recording, featuring a second layer of film within the disc. This increases their capacity to as much as 8.5 GB.

Recordable DVDs (DVD-R/DVD+R)

Recordable DVDs can only save data once. Data cannot be deleted or overwritten from the disc. They are ideal for permanent applications, such as archiving and backup. They are recognized by most standard DVD drives, including external DVD players.

Rewritable DVDs (DVD-RW/DVD+RW)

Rewritable DVDs can be written, erased, and formatted several times. They are ideal for storing large personal files, such as photos and home videos. They have limited compatibility compared to recordable DVDs. They are usually recognized only be advanced players.

Blank DVD-Audio

Blank DVD-audio discs are optimized for audio recording. They record audio files in a format that can be read by high-end audio and DVD players. They are the only disc formats accepted for playback by studio DVD recorders and players.

Blank DVD-Video

Blank DVD-video discs are designed for recording videos and music. They record videos in PAL, NTSC, or any of the standard DVD region formats. They also include up to 32 subtitle tracks, chapters, and commentary features.

Compatibility: Choose a blank DVD that works with your player or DVD drive. There is no current standard for DVD compatibility, but generally recordable discs have better compatibility than rewritable ones.

Speed: Make sure your blank DVD has the right speed specifications for your DVD recording drive. Choose a high-speed disc if you record from several drives, because these can usually adapt to lower drive speeds. 

Wikipedia: DVD
Wikipedia: DVD-Video
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