What Is DVD? What Else is There?
Feb 27 '01 (Updated Mar 06 '01)
The Bottom Line The only way you could go is digital, with new SACD and DVD Audio out you should look for surround in each DVD Video/Audio and SACD surround capability.
In today’s world many people will say buy a DVD player, they are wrong in saying that, because DVD is just a disc, there are many forms of DVD out there:
DVD- Video; DVD V- Digital Versatile Disc- Video. The most common of all DVD media, this is pure picture and sound, as well as menus and is separated into tracks called chapters like a book. Now you can slow mo pictures use subtitles and zoom into pictures. About 656 lines on picture.
DVD- ROM Almost like CD-ROM, only that it stores about 7 times as much data. Mainly used for PCs, magazines sometimes sell these discs so you can install more than what you could with a standard CD. Movie can still be put on them but the information is differently organized than on a DVD- Video.
DVD- Audio; The very latest software for DVD, just like CDs it uses sound in tracks and can only be played on a DVD Audio player, some can also play DVD- Video too. Music is stored in surround sound such as Dolby Digital formats or DTS 5.1.
That’s a good look at what’s out now, but in the future DVD will increase in size. And you should also know about one other part of the music industry:
SACD
Super Audio CD, these are the newest types of disc, Sony & Philips invented the latest type of disc, it can store music in amounts up to 6.4Gb. New techniques can be used to add a second layer that is the SACD layer and a bottom layer for regular CD playback. Around 200 minutes is available. The player are starting to get cheaper too, Sony have made a £500 version, which plays CD too. There's also a possibility for surround audio too, and graphics and text can be used on the disc. And is the same size of a DVD or CD. Uses new data holding techniques called 'Direct Stream Digital®' making the sound even better than CD. The new recording format is the best and most clear known today.
For more info go to; http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/sacd/static/format.html
Now onto the older versions:
Beatamax; a fairly old type of media, once was better than VHS, Sony created it, but the latest VHS took over by JVC. Sony was the only manufacturer to produce players and soon was to finish production.
VHS; created by JVC in the early 70s, took over Beatamax and was successful for the next 30 years. Sony started making VHS player and since has been the best on the market. Only about 256 lines on picture.
S-VHS; quite new, this technique allowed twice as many line on a S-VHS tape for crisper picture. Same type of tape.
VCD; quite old now, simply video on CDs but often-needed two or three discs for a single movie.
Each media has benefits and disappointments, such as the limited surround types for VHS, but the lack of recording for DVD. So lets take a look at each, I'll rate them out of five to help you decide.
DVD- Video This is the oldest DVD type, and there are almost as many DVD- V films around as VHS, picture and sound quality are superb. There's loads of additional features on films too, plus nearly all films allow Dolby Digital and maybe DTS 5.1, and most are recorded in true widescreen or letterbox screen size. They are little more than VHS in price but you do get more features and twice as good picture and sound performance. Score- 5
DVD- ROM This is simply CD-Rom, but with a total of 4.7Gb, so what could be wrong with it. Only that you can't record as cheaply as CDs, a recorder costs no more than £4000! Still a great option for PCs. Score- 5
DVD- Audio Simply CD, but with surround sound and clearer sound, although players are coming in short still a great way forward from stereo. Score 4.5
SACD This is the millenniums version of CD, clearer with more detail plus more stretch in music range (20Hz to +100,000Hz!), plus has huge storage and graphics or text with all discs. Only the players are expensive at around £500. Soon will be surround sound from the disc and still able to play (with the latest dual layer discs) on standard CD players. Score 5
CD/VCD Very old, yet still an excellent standard with large storage with CD-ROMs, and able to be used for video too. Score 4
VHS/S-VHS VHS is still a great way to record your missed TV programs, but lacks detail and sound performance, only available in Dolby Pro Logic or Stereo. S-VHS is much better than standard VHS, clearer images, but sound still lacks crispness. Score 4
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