Key DVD Formats: Get Them Here (2025 Update)

Written By Rosie

Last updated: 2024-01-06

2 min read

A DVD aka digital video disc is a storage tool that was invented in the 1980s. A DVD has several DVD formats starting with recorded and non-recorded formats.

Non-recorded formats are not popular because they are not compatible. Recorded DVD formats are the most popular with the highest level of compatibility from standard DVD players and the computer's DVD-ROM drives. Most DVD formats can either be single-layered or double-layered. Single layered are always 4.7GB while double layered are 8.5GB.

This article will give you some of the popular DVD formats. Part one of the article will tell you some of the key DVD formats. Part two of the article will give you a way you can convert DVD formats into other formats using a third-party tool.

Contents Guide Part 1. Key DVD Formats Part 2. How To Convert Your DVDs To Other Formats? Part 3. Conclusion

Part 1. Key DVD Formats

DVD formats can either be recordable or non-recordable. But key DVD formats are recordable. Various types of DVD formats differ in features and uses in different situations. Here are some of the recordable DVD formats.

#1. DVD-R

This DVD format looks like an ordinary CD-R. You cannot erase data that is written or burned on this type of DVD format. This format can be single-layer or double-layer. A single-layer has a maximum storage capacity of 4.7GB while a double-layer has a maximum storage of 8.5GB.

This DVD format is compatible with all DVD players including DVD-ROM drives on a computer. DVD-R can be for general use or authoring. General use DVD-R is mainly used in commercial DVDs.

DVD-R

#2. DVD-RW

This DVD format is rewritable or re-recordable. It means you can erase the content on the DVD and write fresh material. It is also compatible with all video DVD players and DVD-ROM drivers on a computer. In the beginning, this type of DVD format had a maximum capacity of 3GB but nowadays the single-sided can hold up to 4.7GB while the double-sided can hold up to 9.4GB. You can do more than 1000 rewrites on a single DVD-RW. You must finalize the DVD before you playback on a computer's DVD-ROM drive.

#3. DVD+R

This DVD format was developed in 2002. You can record or write data on it once but you can read the data many times as you wish. It has a maximum capacity of 4.7GB and it gives you a chance to record and format data at the same time. It can also check for errors when you are recording. It is compatible with most DVD players and DVD-ROM drives. It allows you to drag and drop files and it is somehow expensive than DVD-R. You can playback content before you finalize the recording.

#4. DVD+RW

This is a DVD format with great speeds of 16X and a maximum storage capacity of 4.7GB. A double-sided DVD can store up to 9.4GB. it allows you to record and erase files from the DVD. You can rewrite the same DVD over 1000 times. This DVD format is not compatible with most DVD players but it can playback on computers DVD-ROM drives. It can be playback without finalizing on some devices. To avoid future errors, finalize the DVD before you play it on a computer's DVD-ROM drive.

DVD+RW

#5. DVD+R DL

This one is just the same as DVD+R the only difference is the storage capacity. This one has double layers hence a bigger storage capacity of 8.5GB. Once you burn or record this type of DVD you cannot erase or delete the content. It is compatible with almost all DVD players and computer's DVD-ROM drives. You can playback files before finalizing the DVD.

#6. DVD-RAM

This is the ultimate solution to DVD storage problems. It allows to record and erases then rewrite data again up to 100,000 times. It was first introduced by Panasonic in 1997. It can be single or double-sided. Nowadays they come in different recording speeds and storage capacities. However, this type of DVD format is only compatible with specific devices that were made for it.

Part 2. How To Convert Your DVDs To Other Formats?

The DVD formats in part one above can only work on standard DVD players and computer DVD-ROM drives. Many people wonder if there is a way you can change the DVD formats into simpler formats that can play on other portable devices like smartphones and tablets. And the answer is yes you can convert DVDs into other formats.

You can do it with help from third-party software that copies DVD content onto your hard drive. The best tool can copy the content of an encrypted DVD by ripping it. If the DVD is rewritable, you can erase the content and burn it again with new file formats.

DumpMedia Video Converter can convert DVDs into other formats. This software can copy and convert both encrypted and non-encrypted DVDs to other formats. It can rip a DVD, convert the ripped files into other formats and save them on your hard drive. You can burn the converted files on other DVDs or playback them as they are on your computer. This software also gives you a chance to share DVD content to other devices like smartphones, MP3 players, tablets, and other smart devices.

This program has the highest conversion and ripping speeds of up to 6X hence saving you a lot of time. This is because of the NVIDIA CUDA, Intel HD graphics, and NVENC acceleration technology. It gives high-quality output files with little to no data loss. This application can convert both video and audio files to any format you want like MP4, FLV, AVI, MOV, 3GP WAV, FLAC, and many more. The software is user-friendly because it has a few simple steps and you can change the file formats on your DVDs. It is also easy to import DVD content to the program.

This application is a good editing tool. It can enhance the video quality from SD to HD allowing you to enjoy better clarity. The software can also remove the unwanted parts of the video for example cropping out the dark edges of the video. It can also adjust the contrast, hue, volume, and brightness of a video. This program allows you to preview the output file before you convert hence you will get the best output you want.

How To Convert DVDs To Other Formats With DumpMedia

Step #1. Download the program from the official website and install it on your computer. Open the application and insert the DVD you want to convert into the DVD-ROM drive.

Free Download Free Download

Step #2. Import the DVD content onto the program. Then select the output format you wish to have.

Select DVD Output Format

Step #3. You can preview the output file from the preview section. Once you are satisfied with the preview, click on the "Convert All" button.

Convert DVD

Part 3. Conclusion

DVD formats can either be recordable or non-recordable. Recordable is the famous type of DVD format whereby some can be rewritable while others cannot. Some DVD formats can play on all standard DVD players and DVD-ROM drivers while others are not compatible at all. so you have to change DVD formats so that you can playback on any device. You can change DVD formats by using the DumpMedia Video converter.

This application will rip a DVD and convert it into other formats that are compatible with many devices. This software can also edit video and audio files. it can combine a series of episodes into one complete video. It also allows you to personalize the output files by adding watermarks and text.

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