3.1.1. CD and DVD Media Definitions
Your LaCie DVD±RW Drive will let you create, save and share your digital files to CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and
DVD+R9 DL media. Please refer to section
2.1. Minimum System Requirements
and your recording software’s documentation
to see which recording techniques your computer supports.
DVD+R9 DL Discs:
• Best suited for: recording high-quality DVD videos, backing up systems and archiving large data DVDs.
• These discs follow the DVD+ recording techniques, but with 8.5GB of capacity versus 4.7GB for DVD±R discs.
• With the increased capacity, it is now possible to increase the video bit rate for higher quality DVD videos.
DVD+R Discs:
• Best sutied for: recording DVD videos, storing multiple photo albums and data DVDs under 4.7GB.
• These discs have the same write-once concept as CD-R media, but with 4.7GB of capacity versus 700MB for CD-R discs.
• DVD+R supports “lossless linking” and the combination of Constant Angular Velocity (CAV) and Constant Linear Velocity
(CLV) recording techniques.
DVD+RW Discs:
• Best sutied for: backing up and archiving digital content.
• These discs are functionally similiar to CD-RW and DVD-RW discs, but utilizes the same recording techniques as DVD+R.
• Incorporates the Direct Overwrite (DOW) system, allowing data to be written directly over existing data in a single pass.
DVD-R Discs:
• Best sutied for: recording DVD videos, storing multiple photo albums and data DVDs under 4.7GB.
• These discs are also functionally similiar to CD-R media, and have the same capacity as DVD+R discs.
• There are two types of DVD-R discs: DVD-R General, which are intended for home applications, and DVD-R Authoring,
which are intended for professional DVD-Video development applications.
DVD-RW Discs:
• Best sutied for: backing up and archiving digital content.
• These discs serve the same general purpose as CD-RW media, but with 4.7GB of space versus 650MB.
• Discs can be written and erased up to 1,000 times.
CD-R Discs:
• Best sutied for: recording audio CDs, store photos and data CDs.
• Files can not be deleted from CD-R discs, and you cannot write over existing files on a CD-R disc.
CD-RW Discs:
• Best suited for: passing medium sized files around an office or among students.
• Discs can be reformated up to 1,000 times, and files can be written over.
• Most CD-ROM drives and audio CD players cannot read CD-RW discs.
Using Your laCie Drive
page 14
LaCie DVD±RW Drive User’s Manual
USB 2.0
