DVD Burning: +R or -R or neither?

Question

Which format is used commercially? When I burn a DVD, I use either +R or -R depending on the DVD player. -R DVDs will not play on my newer DVD player but they play on the old one. Why is it that when I rent movies, they always play on either DVD player? Which kind of DVD do they use?

Answer 1

Pressed DVD's are encrypted and are not the same format as DVD -R, DVD +R, DVD +-R, or DVD RW.

All DVD readers & players are compatible with pressed read-only DVD's. Not all DVD readers & players are compatible with R or RW's.

You would need very expensive equipment to press the type of DVD's that movies come on.

Answer 2

That's a complicated question to answer because there are so many varibles. Short answer: commerically produced DVDs use none of the formats; they are "pressed", not burned. Make sure you record in the formats supported by the players. Make sure at the end of the burn you close the session.
Some brands of DVDs work in some brands of players/burners; and not in others.

AND, DVD burning is just flaky at best .