Copying a DVD to another media format can be an uphill struggle if you are unfamiliar with the capabilities of each of the media formats out there. When you consider how a DVD copy software is able to interact with each type of DVD and you have a potential mess in the making. Never fear, though, because the path to understanding is a short one.

The following is an introduction to some common used DVD media formats.

DVD-R

The most commonly used of DVD media formats is the DVD-R (pronounced "dash R" rather than "minus R"), due largely to the fact that it is compatible with most DVD drives and players. It offers the typical 4.7GB of storage space that you see on most disc types, though there are discs containing multiple layers that increase the amount of recordable space available to you. For the most part, however, the DVD-R is a single-layer disc.

DVD-RW

The DVD-RW (formerly known as DVD-R/W) is a popular erasable format. Offering the usual 4.7GB of recordable space, these discs are priced higher than the regular DVD-R media formats simply because of their long-lasting value. Discs are traditionally single copy media, which makes any rewritable capabilities a valuable commodity. These media formats are often associated with disc-reading errors on DVD players due to the discs' lower reflectivity.

DVD+RW & DVD+R

The other type of rewritable disc type, DVD+RW is one of the media formats not recognized by the DVD Forum (though they do not have the power to set standards among publicly accepted media formats). Despite this hindrance, these discs are still readable in many DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives. The DVD+RW disc encounters the same disc-reading errors as the DVD-RW. The DVD+R differs little from the DVD-R format apart from the dye-based medium used on its reflective surface. So in some regards, it has similar compatibilities to DVD-R reading devices, though the medium may cause issues on some players or readers.

DVD-RAM

The least common among DVD media formats is the DVD-RAM disc that's used exclusively in computers due to its defect management and zoned formatting for rapid data access. Because this format is not incredibly common, this means most computer DVD drives and even DVD copy software won't recognize the disc format. If you find yourself looking for a DVD-ROM drive suited to DVD ripping or reading, be prepared to spend more than you would for DVD-R and DVD+R drives.

While there are numerous DVD formats out there available for you to use, it ultimately depends on your DVD drive. Before you consider purchasing a specific type of DVD, you should look into what media formats your drive is able to read. Not only that, but you'll want to ensure that your DVD players also recognize the formats you intend to use if you plan to play any media on your TV.

(Source from:http://www.toptenreviews.com)

Popular DVD Copy Software

Any DVD Cloner Platinum for Mac

Any DVD Cloner

If you are newbies to use DVD copy software, you may have a lot of questions. As you know, different DVD copy software have different features. It's a great way to find DVD copy solutions by reading frequently asked questions. Here are the top 5 DVD copy FAQs which will probably meet your needs:

Q1: What are the most important features of DVD copy software?

A good DVD copying software should be compatible with DVD-9, DVD-5 and copy-protected commercial DVDs, so that you can copy your DVD to different formats without worrying about being stopped by copyright protections.

Q2: What is the standard of the best DVD copying software?

In addition to the above features, the best DVD copy tool should also own a high quality of DVD copy and DVD copying speed. The best DVD copy applications include our top-rated Any DVD Cloner Platinum, Tune4mac DVD Copy and Any DVD Cloner.

Q3: Is copying DVD illegal?

If you use DVD copy software to copy DVDs or other media contents that you own, it is completely legal to make the copies.

Q4: Can I play my DVD on my mobile devices?

Yes, you can. You'll need a DVD copying software to convert the DVD files to MPEG-4 format so that you can view the files on iPad, iPhone, iPod or other mobile media player. For detailed guide, you can visit: Converting Your DVDs to Your Mobile Devices.

Q5: Is there anything else I can look for in DVD copy software?

If you are looking for a DVD copy which is able to copy DVDs for backup and convert DVD to your mobile devices, you can try Any DVD Cloner Platinum, which works fast and safe in copying DVD and ripping DVD on Mac OS. Windows uers look for Any DVD Cloner.

Related Topics:

Shall We Choose DVD Copy Software or DVD Ripper Software?

How to Pick a Good DVD Copy to Copy Protected DVD

Free DVD Copy vs Paid DVD Copy

Although DVDs are more durable than other data-storage devices, they can still be damaged by heat and scratches. So this might be the most important reason why we need to make copies of our valuable DVD records in case they were damaged, theft or lost.

Since we spend a rather large amount of money to purchase our favorite movies on DVD every year, it only makes sense to also inverst in DVD copy software to protect our favorite DVD collection.

Another popular reason to copy DVDs is to share our colorful life with our family or friends. For example, if we have made some DVD videos of family milestones, or other important moments in our life, we may want to share the happiness with our friends. In this case, we can make DVD copies as gifts for them.

A fourth reason to copy DVDs is that it allows us to decrypt the copy protection on some commercial DVDs. Those DVDs are limited to play on certain DVD players or regions. We need DVD copy software to crack the copy restriction and allows us to play the DVDs on any player we like.

And in other situations, like we rented a DVD from a DVD store. If their rules allow us to copy DVDs, we can copy the rented DVD to blank disc or our computer in case it was expired. It's a way to enjoy our digital life while saving money.

Top DVD Copy Software

If you have no idea what a good DVD copy software is, you can try Any DVD Cloner Platinum for Mac, which can not only copy DVDs to DVD or computer, but also rip DVDs to other portable devices, like iPhone, iPod, iPad, etc on Mac OS with high speed and quality.

If you are a Windows user, you may like Any DVD Cloner for Windows.

Related Topics:

Shall We Choose DVD Copy Software or DVD Ripper Software?

Free DVD Copy Software vs Paid DVD Copy Software

Mac DVD Copy Software Reviews

There are several kinds of movies in nowadays, how much do you know about it? And which type do you prefer?

1) Action – These types of movies are high octane, big budget movies that show many physical stunts. If there is heroism, fights involving guns, swords or karate moves, horseback action or any destructive forces of nature, your keyword is Action. In these movies, it’s usually a fight between the good guys and bad guys, i.e. Fight Club.

2) Adventure- Do you like thrilling stories that take you to wondrous places? They are similar to action films but the action may be less and more weight will be given to experiences. Indian Jones movies belong to this category.

3) Comedies- They are loved by young and old for the feel good content. A comedy can be based on innocent humor, exaggerations, facial expressions or downright crude jokes. Meet the Fockers is an example.

4) Crime and Gangster Films- Such films trace the lives of fictional and true criminals, gangs or mobsters. Serial killer films may be included here, i.e. Gangs of New York.

5) Drama films- They are sensible movies with a strong plot. Dramas depict true stories or real-like situations. The character development is note-worthy, i.e. Little Women.

6) Epics/ Historical films – An epic involves elements like war, romance and adventure. The sets are created carefully to reflect the time period. Ben Hur is a classic example. Historical movies tend to pay homage to a legend or hero.

7) Horror- You either love them or hate them. These films expose our fears and give rise to nightmares. For some, horror films provide catharsis but others can barely sit through a movie, due to the violence and gory scenes. i.e Jaws.

8) Musicals/ Dance films – These are entertaining films that are based on full scale scores or song and dance. They can either be delightful, light-hearted films for the while family (i.e. The Sound of Music) or contain a dark aspect (Sweeney Todd) that is explored through music.

9) War films- These are very true to real life and often depict the waste of war. Attention is given to acts of heroism, the human spirit, psychological damage to soldiers and the pain of families waiting at home. i.e. Flags of Our Fathers.

10) Westerns- This genre is central to American culture and to its film industry. They speak of the days of expansion and the trials with Native Indians. The plots and characters are very distinctive. Remember Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?

11) Animation- Computer graphics and special affects are the backbone of these films which are enjoyed by the young and old. i.e. Finding Nem

12) Thrillers- They differ from Horror because they are more provocative than scary. i.e. The Bone Collector

13) Sci-Fi – If you like futuristic scenes, movies like Star Wars will intrigue you. They can be classified as adventure films too.

And if you are DVD fans, you probably want to keep these DVD movies for collections. Tune4mac DVD Cloner Platinum can do this job better for you. Released by Tune4mac Inc., Tune4mac DVD Cloner Platinum is a professional DVD copy tools to help DVD fans to backup DVD for self keeping. Not only can it copy DVD movie to blank DVD disc, also, can rip DVD movie to any popular video format for playing on your players, such as iPhone 4, iPod, PSP or PS3 and so forth. With Tune4mac DVD Cloner Platinum, you can get a compressed DVD-5 disc from your DVD-9 movie. Also, you can burn your favorite DVD movie to DVD folder on your Mac and enjoy it anytime.

Here are steps to copy DVD on Mac.

Step 1. Choose Open Method.

Step 2. Open Source DVD.

Click the Source option to choose the DVD drive where your DVD movie has been inserted into. Then program will start scanning and analyzing the DVD movie.

Step 3. Choose Output Target.

Click  button to start copying your DVD movie.

DVD copy protection uses a variety of ways to prevent the illegal copy of copy-protected DVDs. Because of those complicated DVD copy protection, it's even harder to copy DVDs. For DVD movie fans, it's necessary to have a better understanding of some common DVD copy protection types before copying your DVD collections for backup.

Region Codes

Region Codes makes it possible to lock the playability of a DVD to a DVD player authorized for sale in a certain region. For example, DVD players sold in Canada, the United States and its territories will generally only play DVDs encoded for use in Region 1.

Content Scramble System

Known as CSS, this method is most used on commercial DVDs. This copy protection works by decoding encrypted DVDs with a module built into the player. CSS codes can be changed through firmware updates to DVD players.

Sony ARccOS Protection

It is a specific DVD copy protection scheme used on DVDs made by the Sony corporation. This type of copy protection is designed to be combined with the Content Scramble System to further impede illegal reproduction of discs. ARccOS places bad or corrupted sectors on the DVD on purpose in order to cause any straight copies to fail.

Copy Proteced DVD to DVD with Any DVD Copy

These are the most commonly used DVD copy protection types by DVD producers. Indeed there are still some good DVD Copy software which can remove the DVD copy protection easily, such as Any DVD Copy. It offers several solutions to copy DVDs. It allows users to copy DVD to DVD+-R, DVD+-RW, and DVD -RAM, including DVD 9 to DVD 5. Besides, it can also copy DVD to hard drive as DVD folder or DVD ISO files.