The new Pioneer DVR-S201, second generation DVD recorders write to full 4.7GB media. It provides storage for any type of data including video, audio, images, text, or multimedia programs. Two-sided media is expected to become available soon. This transfer rate, coupled with DVD-R's capacity, makes it an extremely viable and cost effective storage medium.
Recording begins at the inner radius and ends at the outer.
Recording on DVD-R discs is accomplished through the use of a dye polymer recording layer that is permanently transformed by a highly focused red laser beam. This groove is used by a DVD-R drive to guide the recording laser beam during the writing process, and also contains recorded information after writing is completed. A thin layer of metal is then sputtered onto the recording layer so that a reading laser can be reflected off the disc during playback. A protective layer is then applied to the metal surface, which prepares the side for the bonding process. These steps are done for each side of a disc that is needed for recording.