Blank DVD’s come in three types: DVD+R, DVD+R Double Layer and DVD+RW.

DVD+R recordable discs are cheaper, but can’t be changed once you’ve recorded them. DVD+RW rewritable discs can be edited – important if you want to record multiple TV shows on a single disc or be able to fix mistakes while making home movies. Consider using DVD+R discs to copy tapes for permanent archives or to make DVDs to share with friends.

DVD+R discs come in a single-layer version with 4.7 gigabytes (up to three hours of video) of capacity and a double-layer version with 8.5 gigabytes (up to six hours of video) of capacity. You need a double-layer DVD drive to record double-layer discs, but they will play on most standard DVD players. Double-layer discs are a good option for big projects that won’t fit on a single-layer disc.

Rewritable DVD+RW discs are always single layer. Consider using DVD+RW when you want to re-use the same disc again, or if you want to make edits directly on a disc.

Why Plus?

DVD recordable and rewritable discs come in several competing formats. Plus has three key advantages – simplicity, speed and capacity:

- Simplicity. Plus discs are easier to edit. You can append (add) video material to the end of a DVD+R disc and maintain compatibility. With DVD+RW discs, you can edit, add or delete video material and maintain compatibility. Editing while maintaining compatibility isn’t available with other formats.

- Speed. Plus discs are fast. Plus drives and recorders currently come in speeds up to 8x while 16x products are expected to be on the market by the end of 2004. With a 16x DVD+R disc, you can record an entire DVD in less than six minutes. With background formatting, you can begin burning to a DVD+R or DVD+RW disc within seconds of putting it into your drive or recorder. And with fast finalization, you can be with seconds of making your final edits.

- Capacity. DVD+R is unique in offering a double-layer recordable disc, nearly double the capacity of other recordable formats.