Which DVD format plays on all domestic DVD players?

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Which DVD format plays on all domestic DVD players?

Hi guys

As a Mac user for many years, I've had issues in the past deciding if I should burn to DVD-R or DVD+R formats.

In my experience (Wedding videography), I opted for DVD-R because of it's wider compatibility (as it seemed at the time) with domestic DVD players.

I'm now advised by one of my customers that several recently burned DVD-R's do not play in their DVD players (this could of course also be low quality DVD-R media which I'm looking into with our supplier).

However,, I'm wondering if this may be a compatibility / format issue, and if so how best to overcome the situation?

I'm also wondering what format the likes of Blockbuster Video (etc) use for their "Domestic" DVD's which they hire to the public.

I'm guessing this may (now) be DVD-RAM - if so, is this the best format to burn to ensure best compatibility with domestic DVD players?

Any help or info to make my DVD's more widely playable, would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance.

iMac 2.6Ghz Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Nov 27, 2011 9:55 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 28, 2011 12:39 AM in response to st3v1e

No computer produced DVDs are compatible with all players.

If you are making the DVDs yourself DVD-R is your best bet but there will always be the occasional player that does not work.

This is the nature of the beast and you can do nothing about it other than pay to have them professionally made by a process that does not involve burning.

This is called replication and the data is physically and permanently etched onto the disc.

All professionally produced DVDs are made this way.

Computer burned DVDs rely on an embedded dye which alters its composition when the laser hits it and as such are always next best technology.

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Answer 2

Nov 28, 2011 8:38 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Ian's right, but I gotta say I haven't had a dvd kicked back in years. When DVD burners were first introduced there were a lot of compatibility problems, but that seems to have for the most part disappeared. It's possible that your dvd burner is going out of spec. You might consider getting an external burner and see if that improves things.

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Answer 3

Nov 28, 2011 11:22 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

He might just have the bad luck to have a number of customers with old or dodgy players, so I would hesitate to spend further cash on a burner which may not be necessary.

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Answer 4

Nov 28, 2011 2:09 PM in response to st3v1e

Do you by any chance use stick-on labels? That'a a NO-NO

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