I get that question asked of me many times.

And no wonder, without being clearly labeled, they look almost exactly the same.

Here’s an easy way to tell whether you have a “duplicated” CD or DVD. 

(Note: I say “duplicated” because  a ”replicated” disc is  almost always clearly labeled on the face label as to whether it is a CD or DVD.  Here’s my blog further explaining the differences between disc duplication and replication: http://tinyurl.com/2ox2rk

OK, turn the disc over in your hand so that the data side is facing up at you.

If the surface has a faint brownish tint, then you have a duplicated CD.  Another trait is that when moved in the light you see a lot of green in the iridescent light refraction.

If the disc surface has a bluish tint, you have a duplicated DVD.  Again, when moved in the light you should also see a lot of blue or purple in the light refraction.

Now, if you happen to have a duplicated Blu-ray disc, it will have the same traits as a DVD, but it will seem just a bit more heavy, or dense, in your hand.

OK, as I mentioned above, a replicated disc will almost always have a label on it that includes information as to whether the disc is a CD, DVD or Blu-ray.

But let’s pretend we didn’t know, just for kicks.

Replicated discs have a polished mirrored look to the data surface, and it will in fact be difficult to discern between a replicated CD and DVD.  I asked my good buddy and disc replication expert Tim Schoonenberg at Great Lakes Media Technology www.glmt.com for his input.  Tim replied, “It’s hard to tell them apart, but a replicated DVD has 2 thinner layers glued together and a replicated CD has just a single layer.  A trained eye can spot it.”

It is easier to detect a replicated Blu-ray disc though.  Just as with a duplicated Blu-ray disc, it too will seem a bit more dense when held, but also, the mirrored bottom surface will give off hardly any iridescence at all when moved in the light.  That’s because the tracks and data are so densely packed on to a Blu-ray disc.  Remember, a DVD holds about 4.7 gb.  A Blu-ray disc starts with storage of 25 gb.

I hope that helps.  Contact me with any questions.  dryan@videolabs.net   I also welcome your comments below.

Thanks also to Juan Carlos Elizalde in our Video Labs’ www.VideoLabs.net multimedia dept. for sharing his expertise on this subject with me.

Remember to contact me with any of your media replication or related multimedia needs at 301-217-0000 x104 or dryan@videolabs.net

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to check out “What is an “authored” disc?” http://tinyurl.com/64td2m

And you might like to read more about our Blu-ray disc duplication services: http://tinyurl.com/a6jqd6

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