The DVD has almost replaced the videocassette. There are many reasons why DVDs are challenging VCRs and soon videocassettes will be relics in the past. Additional memory on a DVD allows access to lots of extra features.

Studios can add special background programs for movies. You can select subtitles in different languages. You may even listen to the film in different languages. Zoom in, out, and around scenes. Select wide-screen or standard presentation options. Most of all, prerecorded DVDs are true digital products that capture and preserve sound and images with the best fidelity and no signal loss, virtually identical in quality to the original version. You never need to fast-forward or rewind a DVD. DVD Players can also play CDs, even CDR and CDRW discs recorded from your computer, including those with MP3 or Windows Media files recorded from the Internet. Some models hold and play more than one DVD or CD (DVD Changer) In addition to stereo sound, many DVDs are also compatible for audio playback through surround sound home-theater audio systems.

A DVD player for single DVD video or CD audio disc play is quite affordable, with many at less than $100. You can even get portable DVD players with built-in screens that can be used in a car, boat, outdoors or indoors. New home-theater surround sound systems feature a DVD player, a radio, a 5.1 channel amplifier, and 5 speakers plus a subwoofer.

What about recording? There are more DVD recorders available. They do everything that a DVD player can but add the features of recording your own DVDs. With the upcoming HDTV standards to be used in the United States by 2006, the DVD would be the only possible recording media to handle the additional bandwidth (information) that accompany high-resolution images. There are even some camcorders that record video on a DVD instead of a videotape. So prepare to say farewell to Videocassettes as you welcome the future into your present with the DVD.

The key word here is Digital. Unlike the videocassette, the DVD was originally designed to record and play digital audio and video. DVD originally stood for Digital Video Disc, but when computer programs emerged on DVDs, they were then termed Digital Versatile Discs. A DVD looks exactly like a music CD. The difference between them is the amount of information they can hold. A DVD can store up to 14 times the data of a CD, and holds information on both sides of the disc. A typical, single-sided DVD can hold a 133-minute movie (and up to 4 hours using both sides), with image quality over twice as sharp as a standard VHS tape. New DVD formats, waiting to be released, will be able to record many times more information. Just as the audio CD changed the way we listened to music forever, DVDs are revolutionizing the way we watch movies. Thousands of movie titles are now available for rent and sale on DVD, and hundreds of DVD audio, computer programs and software are available. They're also not just for playing anymore. You can now select from several models that can record directly onto a recordable DVD.

DVD players are selling like hotcakes. Millions of people now own DVD players and an increasing number are beginning to buy DVD recorders. What's the big deal you ask? It's all about bottom line quality. Everyone wants to get the best out of their home theater experience. With DVD movies, people are able to watch super-sharp images and listen to superb sound, bringing the exhilarating sensation usually associated with watching a movie in a theater into the comfort of a living room. Are DVD players replacing VCRs? Not entirely, simply because VCRs still can do something DVD players can't just yet, record! DVD players can, however, replace your CD player, as all DVD players can also play audio CDs but not vice versa. So a DVD player or recorder would most likely be a welcome addition to any home theater system, working with your TV, VCR and possibly a stereo system among other optional components. With the availability of new HD (high definition) video standards, the DVD offers a greater capacity to store (and play) outstanding and superior sound and vision than ever before.

Television in the United States originally followed a video standard, NTSC that was developed in 1953. Though much has happened to video technology over the years, US TV still follows that standard which has a fixed vertical resolution of 525 horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, with varying amounts of "lines" making up the horizontal resolution, depending on the electronics and formats involved. VHS videocassettes were designed to display about 230 horizontal lines of video. A DVD has the capability of presenting over 500 lines of video resolution (also known as 480i). Already the DVD has twice the visual output of a videocassette and can match the resolution of the original, with absolutely no signal or fidelity loss. Digital media is also archival - image quality remains consistent for over 1,000 plays and for 100 years. Videotape is like film, sensitive to the elements and subject to performance degradation over repeated plays and over brief periods of time. Just around the corner, as HDTV replaces NTSC, video resolution will be 1080i (about 1100 lines), twice that of current DVD output. The DVD, unlike tape, has the ability to record and play at 1080i HD for even more exciting images than you currently view.

Though a CD can offer video, it is primarily used for recording sound because video information uses lots of memory. A typical DVD can hold about 7-times the information than a CD. This allows most full-length movies to be recorded on one DVD. Though CD discs can be played on a DVD player, DVDs can not be played on a CD player.

DVD R and RW
A DVD that can be recorded usually has an "R" or "RW" as part of its labeling. This is a terminology originally created for writeable DVD drives for computers. DVD-R means you can only record onto this disk once. DVD-RW is rewriteable. Originally designed for data storage, the RW allows many different, repeated recordings on the same disc. This allows rerecording ON a DVD-RW disc.

Most DVD players have the ability to play audio CDs. Some can even play MP3 music files, as well as other file formats like CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, and VCD.

DVD recording is a little more sophisticated because recordable DVD media have different standards that, though appearing similar, are functionally incompatible. Available DVD recorders may use DVD-RAM or DVD-R, or DVD+R formatted discs. A DVD-RAM recorder may only record on a DVD-RAM, while a DVD-R recorder will record DVD-R and (maybe) DVD-RAM too. Playback might be somewhat compatible to the formats normally played by DVD players.

DVD+R removes the "might be" from compatibility because DVD+RW is engineered to be fully compatible with existing DVD-Video players and DVD-ROM drives in computers. With DVD+RW there are no confusing recording modes and it is reputably the fastest and easiest to use recordable DVD technology around. The advantage is that a recorded DVD+R can be played on any current DVD player but can only be recorded on a DVD+R recorder. Newer (and high-performance) home DVD recorders (or writers) are manufactured for DVD+R compatibility. In some cases, they may also be able to record DVD-R discs as well but that's more an exception than the norm.

Most home system DVD recorders are designed for use with DVD+R (one time recording per disc) over DVD+RW (multiple recordings). Manufacturers want to keep operation very simple to be really friendly for customers to use.

Dolby Digital is a sophisticated form of digital audio coding that makes it possible to store and transmit high quality digital sound. Dolby Digital was first used in theaters in 1992, and is now available for use in your own home theater with a DVD player or audio system. The main difference between Dolby Digital and your standard stereo audio is how many channels sound is divided into. New Dolby Digital technology allows for sound to be distributed among 5.1 distinct channels: a left, right, center, surround right and surround left. In addition, you can perceive sound that carries low frequency effects (LFE), which takes up one-tenth (the .1 of the 5.1) of a channel. Not all DVD movies are recorded in a Dolby Digital format. Many new DVD discs are recorded with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital surround sound. You can always refer to labeling on the backs of DVD movie packages to indicate whether it's Dolby Digital. In order to hear Dolby Digital sound, you need a Dolby Digital decoder and receiver. Some DVD players come with a Dolby Digital decoder built-in. If not, you would need to purchase a Dolby Digital-ready receiver with a decoder, if your home theater receiver doesn't already have Dolby Digital built-in.

You do not necessarily need to have a home theater receiver to enjoy DVD quality video. You do, however, have to have it if you plan to take advantage of the audio capacity DVD players have. For maximum audio performance, a key audio feature with all DVD players is that they are Dolby Digital/DTS-ready. This format allows you to hear superb sound evenly distributed between 5.1 discrete audio channels. This would give you a complete audio surround sound experience. If your plans are to have a DVD player as part of your home theater system, then other devices other than your television need to be involved. For the ultimate audio experience, in addition to a DVD player, you need a Dolby Digital/DTS-ready receiver, decoder and 5 or 6 home audio speakers.

You can also find many home-theater surround sound systems that offer excellent sound. They feature a DVD player (or changer), a radio, and 5 satellite speakers with a subwoofer. This is the simplest solution. Simply connect your TV and you're experiencing exquisite surround sound in minutes.

You maybe worried that you have an older model receiver. The DVD you play on your player will only sound as good as your old receiver. What does that mean? It means that if your old receiver says it's Dolby Digital compatible, then you may connect your player to it and expect the best sounding output. If, however, your receiver says it's Dolby Pro Logic compatible, then the sound changes. Dolby Pro Logic is an older audio encoding format that was developed and used years before the new and enhanced Dolby Digital sound. You can easily connect a Dolby Digital DVD player to a Dolby Pro Logic receiver, but the sound you hear will be Dolby Pro Logic and not Digital. If your old receiver is neither Dolby Digital nor Dolby Pro Logic, then the sound you hear will only be as good as stereo or CD-quality.

Dolby Digital is the latest audio encoding technology brought to us by Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Surround Pro Logic is an earlier audio technology with less channels and capabilities than the enhanced Dolby Digital format. New Dolby Digital uses stereo sound with a frequency range of 20-20,000Hz per channel, whereas Dolby Pro Logic uses mono sound with a frequency range of 100-7,000Hz per channel. Dolby Pro Logic distributes sound to four separate channels, while new Dolby Digital channels to 5.1. There are other differences as well. Every DVD movie available for sale or rent has icons on the backside of the disc box showing what audio formats they are compatible with.

DTS stands for Digital Theater System, and like Dolby Digital technology, it offers an audio format similar to what's available in theaters, providing 5.1 discrete channels of audio. DTS and Dolby Digital are competing technologies brought to the public by different companies, but basically functioning the same way. Many sound critics agree that there is no difference in sound quality when it comes to choosing between DTS and Dolby Digital formats. More recent model DVD players now come Dolby Digital and DTS Ready, while other older models use are only Dolby Digital Ready. There currently are no DVD players that are only DTS Ready.

Progressive Scan is a technology that's included in many higher priced DVD players. It was originally developed for use when playing a video DVD to a High Definition Television or Digital TV.

Most TVs sold in the United States use 110 Volts AC at 60Hz (60 cycles per second). This means that the TV screen turns on and shuts off at a rate of 60 times per second. An image appears on the TV screen 30 times a second (1/30th second). This is so fast that the human eye can't see it. Progressive Scan works with what happens on the surface of your TV screen each time an image appears.

Virtually all standard TVs display about 50% of the visual information each time the image appears for that 1/30th of a second - Standard Analog Scan. New High-Definition TV (HDTV) and Digital TV models present 100% of the visual information at each 1/30th of a second (or faster) - Progressive Scan. This means that the image you see with an HDTV will be brighter, sharper and contain more detail than a standard TV.

Standard DVD players that are designed for most current (analog) TVs convert a digital signal to analog before sending it along to the TV. When used with an HDTV, the signal must then be re-digitized for Progressive Scan compatibility. Progressive scan DVD players can process the signal entirely in the digital domain and provide the TV with an already converted progressive scan picture. What you get is pure digital integrity and the outstanding high-definition performance that goes along with it.

In order to benefit from this feature, you need a DVD player with a Progressive Scan mode and an HDTV. One other thing, the DVD recording must also be compatible for use with Progressive Scan. When used with standard television models, this feature is relatively meaningless.

Where Progressive-Scan is really an advantage is when playing high-resolution DVDs through a widescreen digital HDTV at higher resolutions (720p, 1080p, 1080i).

Without exception, all DVD players prohibit the option of connecting your DVD player to your VCR, so you may not record DVD output onto a VHS. The Macrovision feature on all players prevents you from doing this. DVD movies like VHS movies have copyright restrictions that ban their duplication in any way, shape or form. With a DVD recorder, you can easily record from broadcast or cable TV.

If you also have a DVD recorder drive in your home computer, you might find DVD COPY software that enables copying from some prerecorded DVD discs.

Every DVD player comes with its own features. Generally speaking, the more expensive the player, the more features you'll find available. You may not necessarily need all these features, so make sure you only pay for what you will use in a DVD player. One of the nicest features of DVD players is that most of them play more than just DVD movies. Almost all DVD players also play normal audio CDs, and others like MP3, CD-R and CD-RW.

Digital video leaves plenty of room for viewing versatility. The days of bad pauses and distorted fast forwarding are over. With DVD players, your pauses and scans are crisp and clear. Skipping or returning to a place in a movie where you left off doesn't become any easier with the jogging functions of a DVD player. Skip to any part of a movie in an instant without having to wait until a videotape physically rewinds or forwards. Many players on the lower end of the price range can also play both NTSC and PAL discs, compared with multisystem VCRs, which still cost more than $500. Digital zoom features on some players allow you to zoom into a picture while the DVD movie is playing on your television screen. A good number of DVD players have a Karaoke function, which means that you have at least one microphone input so you can sing along with your favorite music CD. None of these options are available with your VCR.

The outputs and inputs on DVD players differ from one player to another. Cheaper players tend to have standard RCA plugs for video and audio, just like the type you find on VCRs. Nearly all DVD players have an optional S-Video and component video connection. With audio, you need to make sure that if you want Dolby Digital sound, your receiver is compatible.

Connecting Video
There are a number of different ways to transfer the video signal from your DVD player to your television. Depending on what's available on the back of your player, you can hook your video signal to your television one of three ways: through component video, S-Video or composite video.

Component Video
For the sharpest and most colorful picture possible, higher end DVD players usually have a Component video connection, which presents itself as three separate jacks on the back of a DVD player labeled Y, Pb and Pr. You need component video jacks on either your television set or receiver to see the best possible picture. With component video, information is transferred in its original form from the DVD to your television, giving you the best possible color and resolution. Component video wires are sometimes not included with the sale of your player, so you may need to purchase them separately.

S-Video
After component video, the next best video connection would be through S-Video. The S-Video link is done through a single video wire that looks very different from the standard RCA wires. S-Video separates the black and white video from the color information, providing better color reproduction and less video noise than with standard RF and RCA connections.

Composite Video
This is the type of connection you find with a VCR, which is simply a standard RCA plug for video and audio out. Composite video squeezes video signals into one cable giving you limited color fidelity and resolution.

Optical and Coaxial Digital Outputs
Many higher-end model DVD players come with optical and coaxial digital video outputs. Either one of them gives you the best possible video signal, eliminating any interference. The signal is pure digital rather than analog. If you wish to use these outputs, keep in mind that they need special cables that are usually not included with the sale of your player.

Connecting Audio
If you're looking for superb sound to complete your home theater experience with a DVD player, the best audio encoding technology available today is Dolby Digital or DTS. The majority of DVD players available come with both of these audio formats giving you 5.1 channels of audio: left, right, center, surround left and surround right, plus subwoofer. In order to hear Dolby Digital or DTS sound, you need a couple of other components.

Your Receiver
If you already have a receiver as part of your home theater system, then in order for you to hear Dolby Digital or DTS sound your receiver must be Dolby Digital or DTS-ready. Most likely, if you own a receiver that's a couple of years old, it'll probably have Dolby Pro Logic technology. Dolby Pro Logic is an older technology that differs from Dolby Digital and DTS in that it doesn't provide the same amount of audio channels, therefore distributing sound differently. The sound you hear will only be as good as what your receiver is ready to handle.

Audio connections on your DVD player
A number of DVD players come with a built-in Dolby Digital or DTS decoder. On these players, you'll find five separate jacks, eventually meant to connect to your Dolby Digital ready receiver or audio system. If your DVD player has a Optical or Coaxial digital output, and your receiver has an optical or coaxial input, you may use one cable to get the ultimate in undistorted audio.

Your Speakers
Dolby Digital and DTS sound can only be heard with the appropriate number of speakers. Since these audio technologies provide 5.1 channels of audio, five speakers are needed and an optional sixth called a subwoofer. These speakers cover front left, front right, center, rear left and rear right. Newer surround sound systems offer 6.1 channels (an additional rear center speaker), or 7.1 channels (Front, center, side, rear). In 2003, most DVD videodiscs were recorded with 5.1 channel sound.