Hello,

Sorry it's off topic, I have also posted to the homebuilt computer
group but didn't know where else to ask and thought there were some
clever people here who might be able to help.

I have a standalone Pioneer dvd (freeview) recorder which can record
to dvd-r or dvd+r discs.

Wikipedia says that dvd+r has better addressing and error handling
capabilities (though it doesn't seem to elaborate on these), which
suggests that dvd+r would be the better disc type for archiving.

I don't understand all the detail but here is what it says: "There are
a number of significant technical differences between the 'dash' and
the 'plus' format, although most users would not notice the
difference. One example is that the DVD+R style Address In Pregroove
(ADIP) system of tracking and speed control is less susceptible to
interference and error, which makes the ADIP system more accurate at
higher speeds than the Land Pre Pit (LPP) system used by DVD-R. In
addition, DVD+R(W) has a more robust error management system than
DVD-R(W), allowing for more accurate burning to media, independent of
the quality of the media. The practical upshot is that a DVD+R writer
is able to locate data on the disc to byte accuracy whereas DVD-R is
incapable of such precision. Additional session linking methods are
more accurate with DVD+R(W) versus DVD-R(W), resulting in fewer
damaged or unusable discs due to buffer under-run and multi-session
discs with fewer PI/PO errors"

But just to confuse matters, the recorder will record to -r and +r
discs in dvd-video mode, whereas it can record to -r discs in dvd-vr
mode too.

From what I have read it seems that vr mode allows better editing and
to start watching the recording before it has finished. I usually
record straight to the hard drive, so perhaps vr would be useful for
HDD recordings but less relevant on the dvd. I notice that if I try to
edit out advert breaks, vr allows me to pick the individual frames to
cut whereas video mode means I have to go to the nearest "block" of
frames, so is not as precise.

I also understand that vr recordings might be less compatible on other
players.

I have read on the internet that vr mode has "defect management" but I
cannot find any explanation of what this is, so I am unsure whether vr
with its defect management on a -r disc is better or worse than dvd
video on a +r disc, bearing in mind the comments on +r discs above.

Possibly a vr recording on a +r disc would be best as both of these
seem to offer some extra defect/error protection? But my player will
not record this combination.

Are all the benefits of vr editing etc lost when the disc is
finalised?

What would happen if I cloned a vr recording on a -r disc on my pc and
burned it to a +r disc?

There are too many formats! I am confused!

Thanks in advance for any help.
Stephen.