Newsflash: DVD discs are NOT universally compatible

• Take me to the compatibility chart links now.
• Tell me what players to buy
• Tell me what I can do if I have a player that is not DVD-R compliant

We know. You've been told otherwise by companies trying to sell you productions; and you've rented movies that work fine in your player. But please read on. If you asked us, we would passionately argue that you should be actively transferring your video-tape materials to DVD, and have any productions we do for you output on DVD - at the same time, you deserve the "straight skinny," and this page will give you the information and resources you should have.

"The DVD specification is complex and open to interpretation. DVD-Video title authoring is also very complex. As with any new technology, there are compatibility problems here and there. The DVD-Video standard has not changed substantially since it was finalized in 1996, but many players don't properly support it. Discs have become more complex as authoring tools improve, so recent discs often uncover engineering flaws in players. Some discs behave strangely or won't play at all in certain players. In some cases, manufacturers can fix the problem with an upgrade to the player. In other cases, disc producers need to re-author the title to correct an authoring problem or to work around a player defect. Problems can also occur because of damaged or defective discs or because of a defective player."

- Jim Taylor - author of DVD Demystified (www.dvddemystified.com)

1) Discs that are "stamped" in large quantities like the movies you rent are the first type.  While even certain major movie discs have known playability problems with a variety of different makes and models of DVD players, compatibility and reliability are very high. 

2). Virtually all discs produced in low quantities (fewer than 200 discs) are "burned" discs and are a slightly different physical standard. Though the data is no different from other discs, in our opinion as many as 20% of television set-top DVD players in use today are not fully compatible with the dominant format of "burned" disc called DVD-R (4.7GB DVD-R(G). In many cases, these are particular models by big-name manufacturers.

Many industry experts say the number is closer to 5%. While 5% may be closer to correct for what's on the store shelves today, we still believe it to be a self-serving and overly optimistic number. (Computer DVD players have other issues that we won't go into here, but see the links below for more information).

The data files on DVD discs are more universally playable. In other words, its the type of disc and player ability to read the physical disc that creates the primary playability issue - not the files on the disc. The files remain good, and can be copied or moved from the disc, even if you cannot play the disc. All the better if you can actually watch it of course, but in the worst case you watch a VHS version until you pay $100 for a compliant player, or remove the files and transfer them to something else someday. Note: we can have your discs "stamped" though it is much more expensive than a fully compatible $100 DVD player.

We would suggest that you think of the disc as a long-term, safe storage medium for your video - one that will far outlast a videotape copy - worth considering even if you do not have a DVD player, or own one of the estimated 20% of players that is not fully compliant with both types of discs.

Summary:
Regardless of disc type, DVD is not perfect and there are a significant number of sometimes unpredictable playability issues out there, on a wide variety of DVD players - including and especially with some name-brand models. At the same time if I had to bet on DVD vs. VHS, for my grandchildren to see our wedding or their parents second birthday, I'd bet the proverbial farm on DVD!

• VCDHELP.COM compatibility page
• Apple Computer compatibility page
• http://www.dvdmadeeasy.com/
• Or call us for additional information and compatibility resources - 616-347-7002. If you're concerned, we can even send you a test DVD-R to make double sure you're comfortable.

• Mintek DVD1600 (about $50)
• All Toshiba players
• Apex AD660
• Microsoft XBox
• Pioneer DV333, DV343, DV444, DVDV7400, PDVLC10
• Sony DVPS330, DVPS360
• Toshiba SD4800
• just to name a FEW...or click here to review a good cross section of players reported to work very well with DVD-R (burned) discs.

Selecting a player
In the summer of 2000, the international DVD Consortium announced a special logo called "DVD Multi," which could be used in marketing DVD players that are certified compatible with all three of the main DVD Forum Standards: DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW. This would have been great because it would allow consumers to know what they were buying. Unfortunately, if you've read this far you have a much better handle on this issue than do the sales clerks, even at quality electronics stores.

Unfortunately, we have yet to see this certification logo used. Why? We have no idea, but the answer probably relates to money somehow.

Note: And just for the record, compatibility is not an issue of cost. We have personally purchased dozens of units under $80.00, of various manufacturer origins, that are fully complaint with both of the main DVD Formats. There is no apparent association or correlation between cost and quality of players, and their compatibility. There was not even consistency within some manufacturers' own lines of players. At the same time, if your player isn't fully compatible with both formats, depending upon the purchase circumstances, in most cases being incompatible does not mean your player isn't good or that you were duped (though if you bought it in recent days or weeks - we'd be asking questions).

Further Explanations of DVD compatibility, science and issues
We have oversimplified the concepts a bit for discussion sake, and indeed there are additional DVD formats you may have heard about, such as DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+RW, etc. though these are to date not dominant market forces for video applications. However you can get all the detail your heard desires at a great site called www.dvddemystified.com.

Also see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Benefits of DVD's page.

1. RETURN YOUR PLAYER - If you purchased your player recently, take it back and see if the vendor will exchange it for a player fully compliant with all DVD formats. (Unfortunately in these rare cases, they don't always disclose the fact that a particular unit may not be fully compliant.)
   
   
2. BUY A NEW PLAYER - This sounds drastic - though you can now purchase fully compliant units under $100! Just like VCR's, many homes will soon have more than one unit, so the other can remain in service for you.
   
   
3. CHANGE DISC TYPE - While a crazy option in our opinion (due to the low cost of compliant players on the market), there are two methods we can mention just for the record. We can have the data files pulled off your DVD disc and
   
   
   1. put on a smaller size DVD-R disc (same format - slightly older & much more expensive disc capacity) that often, but not always, has better playing characteristics on players that are not fully compliant with DVD-R media - charge applies whether it works or not - $75;
   2. put on a "glass master" - with stamped discs created from that master - 250 disc minimum! - but will play on ALL players as is a STAMPED format at that point.
      
      
4. SAVE THE DISC AND USE A VIDEOTAPE COPY FOR NOW - By reproducing your images on DVD, you have taken important steps to protect and duplicate your images from the inevitable self-erasure of many media, including videotape. Enjoy your programming now on a free VHS copy - until you change or upgrade players to a fully complaint unit.

Note - If somehow you didn't read this information and we didn't discuss it with you, you may return your disc for a refund- People Power stands behind the quality of our production methods. Should you be unable or unwilling to choose any of the above options, we will refund the price of your project upon the return of the discs*.

*We do reserve the right to limit the refund to the original disc and one additional copy. *And in the case of motion picture film digitization, the actual laboratory service components of digitization labor are not refunded for reason of incompatible players, though we can provide a tape version of the work. We recommend you verify that your player is fully compliant with both international DVD standards.

Also see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Benefits of DVD's page.

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