Article 8 - CDs and DVDs

CDs and DVDs

Many computers now come equipped with a DVD writer. This makes it possible for you to use your computer to produce your own music CDs your own DVDs to show on your TV.

Producing the CD (or DVD) is really quite easy using a program such as "Nero". However, there is one area you need to be aware of before you start to create these disks – the different standards in use.

In the case of CDs, there are two standards in use:
- CD-R
- CD-RW

In principle, the "-R" version means "write once, read many", while the "-RW" version enables the disk to be written many times. However, not all CD players will play both types – in practice, most will play the "-R" disks, while players bought today will also play the "-RW" version. The documentation supplied with your CD player should specify the types of CD it will play.

With DVD’s (Digital Versatile Disk), the situation is more complex. In addition to the "R" and "RW" variants, there are two standards each supported by a group of manufacturers. The standards are:
- DVD-R
- DVD-RW
- DVD+R
- DVD+RW

Again, check with the documentation supplied with your DVD player to see which of these standards is supported before buying blank CDs / DVDs.

It is perhaps also worth noting that the "RW" standards were developed later than the equivalent "R" standard. As a result, newer players are more likely to accept "RW" disks than older players.

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