What are layers? (on DVDs)

[Stebby]

Are there any audio techies out there who could explain to me what layers on DVDs are? From what I've been reading in SNM's posts in the Ask Cathe forum, if there are layers, there are layer change points, and it is normal for a DVD to freeze at the layer change point. So... what is the technology, what are the benefits, and why is this being used to create our DVDs? I'm not quite seeing why this is a desirable technology.

Thanks,
Stebby

 

[acatalina]

I am going to stab at this.
Most disks hold 4.6 Gig of information. A dual layer is 8 something.
the did is like a cake. 1 layer then the second, or the frosting. It is done to get more info on 1 disk. Most movies are on disks like this or they wouldn't fit.
When you go into the second layer there is a change,(like the middle of the cake) that is where most of the problems have been i guess.
I am no expert by far, but this is my simple explination.

Anne
Aka( Storm)

http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina

 

[kathryn]

> From what I've been reading in SNM's
>posts in the Ask Cathe forum, if there are layers, there are
>layer change points, and it is normal for a DVD to freeze at
>the layer change point.

A 'freeze' (as in a disc that won't continue to play) isn't a normal response to a layer change, but a momentary pause is on many players (some players don't seem to 'notice' layer changes at all). If you get a feature film on DVD, they usually have the layer changes in a spot where the momentary pause isn't noticeable, like between scenes, or within a fade-out.

 

[alsrnbsn]

Anne is right, it's basically an easy way to get more information on a disc. What makes this desirable for you, as the consumer, is so you don't have to stop in the middle of you Cathe workout to change discs.