What is DVD-Video ?

DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. DVD-Video is it's default video/movie format. There is also DVD-Data, for computer related files and the soon to be released DVD-Audio, that can have nearly 500 minutes of CD quality audio on one disc. DVD is a format that will replace CD (compact discs) in the near future. DVD-Video is primarily designed to be able to carry an entire movie in broadcast quality video and audio - all on one shiny disc.

The now pretty much defunct (at least in western countries) VCD (Video-CD) format also allowed movies to be put onto usually 2 discs, and VHS is so popular, so why is DVD needed? Below is a comparison between VHS/VCD and DVD :

	VHS	VCD	DVD
Video Resolution	~ 250-300 horizontal lines Analog	352x240 (NTSC) or 352x288 (PAL)	720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL)
Video Quality	Similiar to VCD
Audio	Analog, 22kHz, 8bit Dolby Pro-Logic	Digital, 44kHz, 16bit Dolby Pro-Logic	Digital, 48kHz, 16bit Dolby Digital AC-3 DTS Surround
Media	Analog, magnetic tape : up to 4 Hr Volatile	Digital, laser optics : up to 55min per CD Non-Volatile	Digital, laser optics : Single sided, single-layer : more than 2 Hrs Single sided, dual-layer : more than 4 Hr Double sided, single-layer : more than 4 Hr Double sided, dual-layer : more than 8 Hr Non-Volatile