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DVD Drives:
Here are some terms that should help you better know your DVD drive.
Dual Layer:
Audio Extraction:
Factory pressed DVDs that
contain data on to layers
The process of copying audio data from a CD
for a total capacity of around
9.4 GB. While all DVD
also called (Ripping) Audio CDs include far less
players including DVD-ROMs, can
fully access dual
formatting and error correction data than data CDs
layer discs, only Sony DRU-700A
can record using them.
so audio extraction must be supported by the drive
Blue Laser:
Buffer:
A new technology that uses a blue laser
beam to boost DVD
Memory that is build into an optical drive to ensure
capacity to 27GB, due to the much shorter
wavelength of the
continuous flow of data to the drives laser during
blue laser compared to the red laser, a lot
more information
recording. data is taken from its source, fed into the
can be burned onto a blank DVD using a blue
laser than with
drives buffer, and then spooned to the drives laser
the thicker red laser.
for uninterrupted writing.
Buffer Underrun:
Combo Drives:
When a disc is being burned the
drive's laser is being fed by
an optical drive that offers both DVD-R/RW and
the disc's buffer. If the source
feeding the buffer is interrupted
and CD-R/RW burning functionality.
and the buffer empties, the recording
process stops, this is known
as underrun, today's CD-R and DVD-R
drives have technology DVD+R/RW:
that prevents this from happening by
halting the recording process A DVD rewritable
format called "Dash" RW which
until the buffer is full again, but
drives without this feature must
is supported by the DVD forum and companies.
abort the recording process rendering
the disc unusable.
Like Panasonic, Toshiba, Apple Computer, Hitachi,
NEC, Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp.
Dual-Format DVD Burner:
DVD burners that can read both DVD+R/RW
and DVD-R/RW Dual-Sided:
discs, as opposed to single format
drives that only can read +R
Some factory-pressed DVDs contain data on both
or -R disks.
sides of the disc. These are essentially two DVDs
placed back to back, and need to be flipped manually
Firmware:
for data on the opposing side to be accessed.
The software built into a drive that
regulates its operation.
Firmware is usually stored in the
EPROM or flash memory on Red
Laser:
the drive, it can be updated in most
drives, but updates normally the
conventional red laser beam used in todays DVD
are not performed on a regular basis.
(EPROM:) Erasable
players and recorders. the size of the red laser restricts
Programmable Read-Only Memory a type
of memory chip that a
rewritable DVD's capacity to around 4.7 GB per
can be programmed electrically and
erased by exposure to
layer.
ultraviolet light.