DVD Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) This is the November 11, 2004 revision of the official Internet DVD FAQ for the rec.video.dvd Usenet newsgroups. (See below for what's new.) Send corrections, additions, and new questions to Jim Taylor <[email protected]>. This FAQ is updated at least once a month. If you are looking at a version more than a month old, it's an out-of-date copy. The most current version is at DVD Demystified. Contents • [0] Where can I get the DVD FAQ? • [0.1] Has the DVD FAQ been translated into other languages? • [0.2] This FAQ is too long and technical. Is there a simpler version? • [0.3] Is this FAQ any good? Who wrote it? How do I know it's accurate? • [0.4] How big is this thing? • [1] General DVD • [1.1] What is DVD? • [1.2] What are the features of DVD-Video? • [1.3] What's the quality of DVD-Video? • [1.4] What are the disadvantages of DVD? • [1.5] What DVD players and drives are available? • [1.5.1] Which player should I buy? • [1.6] What DVD titles are available? • [1.6.1] Where can I read reviews of DVDs? • [1.6.2] How do I find out when a movie or TV show will be available on DVD? • [1.6.3] Why isn't my favorite movie on DVD? • [1.6.4] How can I find DVDs with specific features or characteristics? • [1.6.5] Why do some rental stores and retailers not carry widescreen DVDs? • [1.7] How much do players and drives cost? • [1.8] How much do discs cost? • [1.9] How is DVD doing? Where can I get statistics? • [1.10] What are "regional codes," "country codes," or "zone locks"? • [1.11] What are the copy protection issues? • [1.12] What about DVD-Audio or Music DVD? • [1.12.1] What's the difference between DVD-Audio discs and DVD-Music discs? • [1.13] Which studios support DVD? • [1.14] Can DVD record from TV/VCR/etc? • [1.15] What happens if I scratch the disc? Aren't discs too fragile to be rented? • [1.16] VHS is good enough, why should I care about DVD? • [1.17] Is the packaging different from CD? • [1.18] What's a dual-layer disc? Will it work in all players? • [1.19] Is DVD-Video a worldwide standard? Does it work with NTSC, PAL, and SECAM? • [1.20] What about animation on DVD? Doesn't it compress poorly? • [1.21] Why do some discs require side flipping? Can't DVDs hold four hours per side? • [1.22] Why is the picture squished, making things look too skinny? • [1.23] Do all videos use Dolby Digital (AC-3)? Do they all have 5.1 channels? • [1.24] Can DVDs have "laser rot"? • [1.25] Which titles are pan & scan only? Why? • [1.26] How do I make the subtitles on my Pioneer player go away? • [1.27] Why does playback sometimes freeze for a second? • [1.28] The disc says Dolby Digital. Why do I get 2-channel surround audio? • [1.29] Why doesn't the repeat A-B feature work on some discs? • [1.30] What's the difference between first, second, and third generation DVD? • [1.31] What's a hybrid DVD? • [1.32] What's the deal with DTS and DVD? • [1.33] Why is the picture black and white? • [1.34] Why are both sides fullscreen when one side is supposed to be widescreen? • [1.35] Why are the audio and video out of sync? • [1.36] Why does the picture alternate between light and dark? • [1.37] How do I find "Easter eggs" and other hidden features? • [1.38] How do I get rid of the black bars at the top and bottom? • [1.39] How should I clean and care for DVDs? • [1.40] What's a progressive DVD player? • [1.41] Why doesn't disc X work in player Y? • [1.42] How do the parental control and multi-ratings features work? • [1.43] Which discs include multiple camera angles? • [1.44] Is it ok to put labels or magnetic strips on DVDs? • [1.45] What's the difference between Closed Captions and subtitles? • [1.46] What do the "D" codes on region 2 DVDs mean? • [1.47] What's firmware and why would I need to upgrade it? • [1.48] Are there discs to help me test, optimize, or show off my audio/video system? • [1.49] What do Sensormatic and Checkpoint mean? • [1.50] What are Superbit, Infinifilm, and other variations of DVD? • [1.51] I don't know the parental control password for my player. What do I do? • [1.52] Can my DVD player get a virus? • [2] DVD's relationship to other products and technologies • [2.1] Will DVD replace VCRs? • [2.2] Will DVD replace CD? • [2.3] Can CD-R writers create DVDs? • [2.4] Is CD compatible with DVD? • [2.4.1] Is CD audio (CD-DA) compatible with DVD? • [2.4.2] Is CD-ROM compatible with DVD-ROM? • [2.4.3] Is CD-R compatible with DVD? • [2.4.4] Is CD-RW compatible with DVD? • [2.4.5] Is Video CD compatible with DVD? • [2.4.6] Is Super Video CD compatible with DVD? • [2.4.7] Is Picture CD or Photo CD compatible with DVD? • [2.4.8] Is CD-i compatible with DVD? • [2.4.9] Is Enhanced CD compatible with DVD? • [2.4.10] Is CD+G compatible with DVD? • [2.4.11] Is CDV compatible with DVD? • [2.4.12] Is MP3 compatible with DVD? • [2.4.13] Is HDCD compatible with DVD? • [2.5] Is laserdisc compatible with DVD? • [2.6] Will DVD replace laserdisc? • [2.7] How does DVD compare to laserdisc? • [2.8] Can I modify or upgrade my laserdisc player to play DVD? • [2.9] Does DVD support HDTV (DTV)? Will HDTV make DVD obsolete? • [2.10] What is Divx? • [2.11] How can I record from DVD to videotape? • [2.12] Will high-definition DVD or 720p DVD make current players and discs obsolete? • [2.13] What effect will FMD have on DVD? • [2.14] How does MPEG-4 affect DVD? • [2.15] What's WebDVD? • [2.16] What's a Nuon player? • [2.17] What effect will D-VHS have on DVD? • [3] DVD technical details • [3.1] What are the outputs of a DVD player? • [3.2] How do I hook up a DVD player? • [3.2.1] Will I have problems connecting my VCR between my TV and my DVD player? • [3.2.2] Why is the audio or video bad? • [3.3] What are the sizes and capacities of DVD? • [3.3.1] When did double-sided, dual-layer discs (DVD-18) become available? • [3.4] What are the video details? • [3.4.1] What does "lines of resolution" mean? • [3.5] What's widescreen? How do the aspect ratios work? • [3.6] What are the audio details? • [3.6.1] Details of DVD-Audio and SACD • [3.6.2] Audio details of DVD-Video • [3.6.3] Can you explain this Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic, DTS stuff in plain English? • [3.6.4] Why is the audio level from my DVD player so low? • [3.6.5] Why is the dialog hard to hear? • [3.7] How do the interactive features work? • [3.8] What is the difference between interlaced and progressive video? • [3.9] What is edge enhancement? • [3.10] Does DVD work with barcodes? • [3.11] What is BCA or NBCA? • [3.12] How long do DVDs last? • [3.13] What about the HD-DVD and blue laser formats? • [4] DVD and computers • [4.1] Can I play DVD movies on my computer? • [4.1.1] Can I play DVD-Audio discs on my computer? • [4.2] What are the features and speeds of DVD drives? • [4.2.1] What is the audio output connector on a DVD drive for? • [4.3] What about recordable DVD: DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+R? • [4.3.1] Is it true there are compatibility problems with recordable DVD formats? • [4.3.2] DVD-R • [4.3.3] DVD-RW • [4.3.4] DVD-RAM • [4.3.4.1] How do I remove a DVD-RAM type 2 disc from the cartridge? • [4.3.5] DVD+RW and DVD+R • [4.3.6] Which recordable DVD format should I buy? • [4.3.7] Other recordable optical formats • [4.3.8] How long does DVD recording take? • [4.3.9] Which color of recordable DVD is best? • [4.3.10] When will dual-layer recordable DVDs be available? • [4.3.11] What does 2x, 4x, 16x, and so on mean on recordable discs, and which one should I use? • [4.4] Why can't I take a screenshot of DVD video? Why do I get a pink or black square? • [4.5] Why can't I play movies copied to my hard drive? • [4.6] Why do I have problems playing DVDs on my computer? • [4.7] Can I stream DVD over a network or the Internet? • [4.8] What is DeCSS? • [4.9] How do I play DVD video in HTML, PowerPoint, Director, VB, etc.? • [4.10] What are .IFO, .VOB, and .AOB files? How can I play them? • [4.11] How do I get the Microsoft Windows DVD player application to run? • [4.12] I upgraded to Windows XP, why did my DVD software stop working? • [4.13] How can I rip audio from a DVD to play as MP3 or burn to a CD? • [5] DVD production • [5.1] How much does it cost to produce a DVD? Isn't it more expensive than videotape, laserdisc, and CD-ROM? • [5.2] What DVD-ROM formatting tools are available? • [5.3] What DVD production tools are available? • [5.3.1] Video encoding tools • [5.3.2] Audio encoding tools • [5.3.3] Other production tools • [5.3.4] Other production services • [5.4] What DVD authoring systems are available? • [5.5] Who can produce a DVD for me? • [5.6] What testing/verification services and tools are available? • [5.7] Can I put DVD-Video content on a CD-R or CD-RW? • [5.8] How do I copy my home videos/movies/slides to DVD? • [5.9] How can I copy a DVD? • [5.9.1] What's with those "Copy any DVD" e-mails? • [5.10] How do I get a job making DVDs? • [5.11] Where can I get DVD training? • [5.12] How can I sell DVDs that I made? • [5.13] How do I put a PowerPoint presentation on DVD? • [6] Miscellaneous • [6.1] Who invented DVD and who owns it? Whom to contact for specifications and licensing? • [6.2] Who is making or supporting DVD products? • [6.2.1] Consumer electronics • [6.2.2] Studios, video publishers, and distributors • [6.2.3] Hardware and computer components • [6.2.4] Computer software titles on DVD-ROM • [6.3] Where can I buy (or rent) DVDs and players? • [6.3.1] Where can I buy blank recordable DVDs? • [6.4] Where can I get more information about DVD? • [6.4.1] A few of the top DVD info sites • [6.4.2] DVD utilities and region-free information • [6.4.3] Information and discussion groups for DVD authors • [6.4.4] DVD info for specific regions • [6.4.5] DVD info in other languages • [6.4.6] Books about DVD • [6.5] What's new with DVD technology? • [7] Leftovers • [7.1] Unanswered questions • [7.2] Notation and units • [7.3] Acknowledgments Recent changes (last posted to newsgroups on Feb 9): • 2004-11-15: Note about VMD (6.5).