The current state of recordable DVD media formats - Tape/Disk/Optical Storage

Computer Technology Review, March, 2002 by Tim Clatterbuck

Table 1
What Works Where?

DVD Format         Typical          Supporting
                   Manufacturers    Organization

DVD-R Authoring    Pioneer          DVD Forum

DVD-R/RW *         Pioneer          DVD Forum
                   LaCie
                   QPS
                   CD Cyclone

DVD-RW/ R *        Ricoh            DVD RW
                   H-P              Alliance (8C)
                   Philips
                   Sony
                   Thompson

DVD-RAM/R          Panasonic        DVD Forum
                   Hitachi
                   LG Electronics
                   Samsung
                   LaCie
                   QPS

DVD SuperMulti *   Hitachi          DVD Forum
                   Panasonic
                   LG Electronics
                   LaCie
                   QPS

DVD Multi *        LG Electronics   DVD Forum
                                    DVD RW
                                    Alliance

DVD Format         Primary             Compatible
                   Application         Media

DVD-R Authoring    Content             DVD-R(A)
                   Development

DVD-R/RW *         Video               DVD-R(G)
                   Development,        DVD-RW
                   archiving

DVD-RW/ R *        Computer,           DVD-RW
                   Video               DVD R

DVD-RAM/R          Computer,           DVD-RAM
                   Video,              DVD-R(G)
                   Optical Libraries

DVD SuperMulti *   Computer,           DVD-RAM
                   Video,              DVD-R(G)
                   Libraries           DVD-RW

DVD Multi *        Computer,           DVD-RAM
                   Video               DVD-R(G)
                                       DVD-RW
                                       DVD R

* Drives also write all published CD format media


Table 2
DVD Format Feature Comparison

Format    Write   Read         Random        Defect       Rewrites
          Speed   Capability   Write         Mgmt.

DVD-R     2X      Excellent    No            No           -0-

DVD R     2.4X    Excellent    No            No           -0-

DVD-RW    1X      Good         No            No           1,000

DVD RW    2.4X    Good         Yes           Yes          1,000
                               (as option)   (by drive)

DVD-RAM   2X      Poor         Yes           Yes          100,000
                                             (on disc)


Table 3
DVD Media Specifications

                    DVD-R              DVD-R          DVD R
                    Authoring          General 4.7/
                                       9.4GB

Capacity            4.7GB              4.7GR/side     4.7GB

Laser Wavelength    635nm              650nm          650nm

Numerical           0.6                               0.6
Aperture

Recording Layer     Dye                               Dye

Reflectivity        45-85%                            45-85%

Modulation          0.6 min.                          0.6 min.
Amplitude

Data Track Form     Wobbled groove                    Phase modulated
                    Land pre-pit                      wobbled groove

Track Pitch         0.74[micro]m                      0.74[micro]m

Tracking Method     DPD                               DPD
(reading)

Min. Pit Length     0.40[micro]m                      0.40[micro]m

Data Modulation     8/16, RLL(2,10)                   8/16, RLL(2,10)

Error Correction    RS-PC                             RS-PC

Channel Bit Rate    26.16Mbps                         26.16Mbps

Scanning Velocity   3.49 m/s                          3.49-8.44 m/s

Rewritability       N/A                               N/A

Copy Protection     None               CSS            CSS

                    DVD-RW             DVD RW            DVD-RAM
                                       4.7/9.4GB         4.7/9.4GB

Capacity            4.7GB              4.7GB/side        4.7GB/side

Laser Wavelength    650nm              650nm             650nm

Numerical           0.6                0.65              0.6
Aperture

Recording Layer     Phase-Change       Phase-Change      Phase-Change

Reflectivity        18-30%             18-30%            15-25%

Modulation          0.6 min.           0.6 min.          0.4 min.
Amplitude

Data Track Form     Wobbled groove     Phase modulated   Wobbled land &
                    Land pre-pit       wobbled groove    groove  
                                                         Pre-pit

Track Pitch         0.74[micro]m       0.74[micro]m      0.615[micro]m

Tracking Method     DPD                DPD               DPD
(reading)

Min. Pit Length     0.40[micro]m       0.40[micro]m      0.420[micro]m

Data Modulation     8/16, RLL(2,10)    8/16, RLL(2,10)   8/16,
                                                         RLL(2,10)

Error Correction    RS-PC              RS-PC             RS-PC

Channel Bit Rate    26.16Mbps          26.16Mbps         58.36Mbps

Scanning Velocity   3.49 m/s           3.49-8.44m/s      8.16-8.49m/s

Rewritability       1,000              1,000             100,000

Copy Protection     CSS, CPRM          CSS               CSS, CPRM