Blu-ray Disc recordable

{{Short description|Blu-ray Disc media that can be written to using an optical disc recorder}}

File:Blu-ray disc (BD-RE).JPG

{{Optical disc authoring}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}

Blu-ray Disc Recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray Disc Recordable Erasable (BD-RE) refer to two direct to disc optical disc recording technologies that can be recorded on to a Blu-ray-based optical disc with an optical disc recorder. BD-R discs can only be written to once, whereas BD-RE discs can be erased and re-recorded multiple times, similar to CD-R and CD-RW for a compact disc (CD). Disc capacities are 25 GB for single-layer discs, 50 GB for double-layer discs,{{cite web

| url = http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_capacity_data

| title = Blu-ray FAQ: How much data can you fit on a Blu-ray disc?

| publisher = blu-ray.com (not affiliated with the Blu-ray Disc Association)

| access-date = 2010-01-09

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140214094715/http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_capacity_data

| archive-date = 2014-02-14

| url-status = live

}} 100 GB ("BDXL") for triple-layer, and 128 GB ("BDXL") for quadruple-layer (in BD-R only).{{Cite news|url=http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2010/06/28/bda_approves_bdxl_quad_layer_blu_ray_standard|title=BDA approves BDXL quad-layer Blu-ray standard|last=AfterDawn.com|newspaper=AfterDawn|access-date=2017-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224220818/http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2010/06/28/bda_approves_bdxl_quad_layer_blu_ray_standard|archive-date=2017-02-24|url-status=live}}{{cite journal | url=http://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/article/2014/2095-2759/11051 | doi=10.1007/s12200-014-0413-7 | title=Overview of Blu-Ray Disc™ recordable/Rewritable media technology | year=2014 | last1=Miyagawa | first1=Naoyasu | journal=Frontiers of Optoelectronics | volume=7 | issue=4 | pages=409–424 | s2cid=195208706 }}

The minimum speed at which a Blu-ray Disc can be written is 36 megabits (4.5 megabytes) per second.{{cite web

| url = http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_speed

| title = Blu-ray FAQ: How fast can you read/write data on a Blu-ray disc?

| publisher = blu-ray.com (not affiliated with the Blu-ray Disc Association)

| access-date = 2010-06-03

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140214094715/http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_speed

| archive-date = 2014-02-14

| url-status = live

}}

As of 2024, one of the primary pioneers of the Blu-ray disc, Sony, is winding down production of recordable Blu-ray discs in its plant in Tagajō, Japan. Sony plans to gradually cease its manufacturing of optical media, including recordable Blu-ray discs.{{Cite news

|date=2024-06-29

|title=Sony Group to cut 250 jobs from recordable media business' key hub

|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240629/p2g/00m/0bu/018000c

|access-date=2024-07-17

|newspaper=Mainichi Daily News

|language=en-US

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727055753/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240629/p2g/00m/0bu/018000c

|archive-date=2024-07-27

}}

Version

{{As of|2022|11}}, there are five versions of BD-RE and four versions of BD-R formats. Each version includes three Parts (a.k.a. Books): Basic Format Specifications, File System Specifications, Audio Visual Basic Specifications. Each part has sub-versions (e.g. R2 Format Specification includes Part 3: Audio Visual Basic Specifications Ver.3.02, Part 2: File System Specifications Ver. 1.11, Part 1: Basic Format Specifications Ver. 1.3).{{Citation |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/3_filesystem-15265.pdf |title=White paper – Blu-ray Disc Format, 3. File System Specifications for BD-RE, R, ROM, August 2004 |access-date=2010-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124052542/http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/3_filesystem-15265.pdf |archive-date=2011-01-24 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.blu-raydisc.info/docs/Spec_Info/AllBooksDecember-19-2018.pdf |title=Blu-ray – All Books, As of December 2018|author=Blu-ray Disc Association}}

In spite of having the "Blu-ray" brand, "BDXL" (or "BD-XL") is separate from the original "BD" format, meaning existing Blu-ray drives that predate the release of BDXL (mid-2010) do not support BDXL. Even Blu-ray drives released after that date may not necessarily support BDXL unless explicitly stated.[https://archive.today/20221019155314/https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Computer/Computer+Drives/BDR-209DBK Pioneer BDR-209, 2013] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20240613155731/https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/ephox/StaticFiles/PUSA/Files/Computer/BDR-209DBK/POV_BDR-209DBK.pdf specifications], [https://files.catbox.moe/5v1ftq.pdf mirror])

class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" | Date !! rowspan="2" | RE Version !! rowspan="2" | R Version !! colspan=3 | By Parts{{efn|name=part|1=RE and R definitions from the same date have different Part 1 and Part 2 specifications, but share the same Part 3 specifications.}} !! rowspan="2" | Changes

Part 1Part 2Part 3
20021.0{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/docs/Spec_Info/Specification%20Book%20Chart.pdf |title=Blu-ray – All Books, As of June 2010 |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721185802/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/docs/Spec_Info/Specification%20Book%20Chart.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-21 |url-status=live }}RE V1.0RE V1.0RE V1.0

|

  • BD File System (BDFS), computer-incompatible
  • BD Audio/Visual (BDAV) format
  • BD content protection (BDCP) {{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/content-protection/content-protection-re1.php |title=RE1 Content Protection |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702102116/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/content-protection/content-protection-re1.php |archive-date=2010-07-02 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/content-protection/content-protection-rek1.php |title=RE (Key) 1 Content Protection |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702102127/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/content-protection/content-protection-rek1.php |archive-date=2010-07-02 }}
20052.0{{Cite web|url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re2-spec.php|title=Format Specification - RE2|website=www.blu-raydisc.info|access-date=2017-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701011949/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re2-spec.php|archive-date=2010-07-01|url-status=live}}1.0RE V2.1
R V1.3
RE V2.1
R V1.1
RE V2.1

|

  • New UDF 2.5 file system for computer use; UDF 2.6 also available for BD-R
  • Uses AACS{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/content-protection/content-protection-re2.php |title=RE 2 Content Protection |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702101608/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/content-protection/content-protection-re2.php |archive-date=2010-07-02 |url-status=live }}
  • Hybrid formats (inapplicable to recordable discs){{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/hybrid-spec.php |title=Hybrid Format Specification |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702094811/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/hybrid-spec.php |archive-date=2010-07-02 |url-status=live }}
  • New BD-R Low To High physical format.[http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21422 LTH was included in the "Blu-ray Disc Recordable Format Ver.1.2" specifications.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225121648/http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21422 |date=2008-02-25 }} cdrinfo.com
September 20063.0{{Cite web|url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re3-spec.php|title=Format Specification - RE3|website=www.blu-raydisc.info|access-date=2017-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701011954/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re3-spec.php|archive-date=2010-07-01|url-status=live}}2.0{{Cite web|url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/r2-spec.php|title=Format Specification - R2|website=www.blu-raydisc.info|access-date=2017-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826230858/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/r2-spec.php|archive-date=2010-08-26|url-status=live}}RE V2.1
R V1.3
RE V2.1
R V1.1
RE V3.0 +
ROM V2.4 (BDMV)

|

  • New camcorder sized (8 cm) discs
  • "Camcorder" added to product categories
  • BDMV (Blu-ray Disc Movie) application format
June 20104.0{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re4-spec.php |title=RE4 Format Specification (BDXL) |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628045310/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re4-spec.php |archive-date=2010-06-28 |url-status=live }}3.0{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/r3-spec.php |title=R3 Format Specification (BDXL) |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2010-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630000927/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/r3-spec.php |archive-date=2010-06-30 |url-status=live }}RE V3.0
R V2.0
RE V3.0
R V2.0
RE V4.0 +
RE V2.1

| New BDXL definition:

  • Multi-layered BDAV rewritable/recordable disc with 2× and 4× speeds
  • 100 GB capacity
  • "Professional Device" added to BD product categories{{Cite news|url=http://www.notasingledrop.org/top-10-best-portable-blu-ray-players-reviews/#1_Portable_Blu-Ray_Players|title=Portable Blu-Ray Players features|last=Staff Reporter|date=2015-12-21|newspaper=NotASingleDrop|access-date=2017-02-24|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224220139/http://www.notasingledrop.org/top-10-best-portable-blu-ray-players-reviews/#1_Portable_Blu-Ray_Players|archive-date=2017-02-24|url-status=dead}}
December 20175.0{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re5-spec.php |title=RE5 Format Specification |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2018-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422062556/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/re5-spec.php |archive-date=2018-04-22 |url-status=live }}4.0{{cite web |url=http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/r4-spec.php |title=R4 Format Specification |author=Blu-ray Disc Association |access-date=2018-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422062901/http://www.blu-raydisc.info/format-spec/r4-spec.php |archive-date=2018-04-22 |url-status=live }}RE V3.1
R V2.2
RE V4.0
R V3.0
RE V5.0

| BDXL expansions:

  • New 128 GB BD-R capacity
  • Ultra HD broadcast recording support

Capacity

class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; "

|+ Blu-ray disc capacities

Type

! Data layers

! Capacity
One sector stores 2048 bytes.

! First released in year

BD-R, BD-RE (single-layer)1

| style="text-align:right;" | 25 GB (25,025,314,816 bytes)

12,219,392 sectors

| rowspan=2 | 2006

BD-R DL, BD-RE DL (dual-layer)2

| style="text-align:right;" | 50 GB (50,050,629,632 bytes)

24,438,784 sectors

BD-R XL, BD-RE XL (triple-layer)

Also known as "BD-R TL" and "BD-RE TL".[https://usa.pioneer/products/bdr-x13ubk BDR-X13UBK - Pioneer Electronics USA]

3

| style="text-align:right;" | 100 GB (100,103,356,416 bytes)

48,878,592 sectors

| rowspan=1 | 2010

BD-R XL (quadruple-layer)

Also known as "BD-R QL".

4

| style="text-align:right;" | 128 GB (128,001,769,472 bytes)

62,500,864 sectors

| rowspan=1 | 2018https://www.anandtech.com/show/13575/sony-releases-128-gb-bdr-xl-media

colspan=4 | The sector counts in this table are logical sectors, not physical sectors. "Logical" means it is the sector size exposed to the operating system. To try to maintain reading compatibility with operating systems and software that predate the Blu-ray disc, the logical sector size matches the 2048 bytes of the CD-ROM (not Audio CD, which has 2352-byte sectors).

A single-layer Blu-ray disc (BD-R and BD-RE) has a capacity of 25,025,314,816 bytes, which are 23,866 MiB. A dual-layer Blu-ray disc (BD-R DL and BD-RE DL) has 50,050,629,632 bytes, which are 47,732 MiB. This is exactly twice the capacity, unlike dual-layer DVDs, which only have less than twice the capacity as single-layer DVDs.

BDXL discs store more per data layer, roughly 30 GiB, so they are able to store 100 GB in only three instead of four layers. No single-layer variant for BDXL exists, given that a first-generation BD-R DL disc already exceeds the capacity of one layer of a BDXL. There are variants with 100 GB and 128 GB, the latter of which has slightly less capacity per data layer but one additional data layer. A 100 GB BDXL has three data layers and 100,103,356,416 bytes (95,466 MiB) of capacity, which is 2 MiB less than twice the capacity of a BD-R(E) DL, and a 128 GB BDXL has four data layers and 128,001,769,472 bytes (122,072 MiB) of capacity and only exists as write-once variant (BD-R XL).[https://www.cdburnerxp.se/help/Appendices/disctypes#disc-capacity CDBurnerXP: CD/DVD types and names § Disc capacity]

This area is referred to as the "Volume Space" in the UDF specification, and stores the file system, names of files and folders, and the file contents.[http://www.osta.org/specs/pdf/udf260.pdf UDF 2.60] ([https://files.catbox.moe/3aju3n.pdf mirror 1], [https://pomf2.lain.la/f/l74rm8ue.pdf mirror 2]), section 6.15.2 The same area is referred to as the "program area" on the CD.[http://www.osta.org/specs/pdf/udf260.pdf UDF 2.60], section 6.10.2.6.1 Other information such as where the disc sessions and tracks are located and their length are stored outside this area.

If the spare area is enabled, 256 MiB (268.435.456 bytes) are taken away from the "Volume Space" and reserved for the spare area. Within the "Volume Space", the capacity that can be occupied by the content of files is also slightly reduced by file system overhead and by slack space as well, but the amount of slack space is trivial given that file systems on optical discs use a low cluster size (also referred to as "logical sector size") of 2 KiB (2048 bytes), matching the size of a single physical sector on optical discs. With packet writing, the file system overhead is larger.[http://www.osta.org/specs/pdf/udf260.pdf UDF 2.60], sections 2.2.13, 6.10.2.5, 6.9.2.3, 6.12, 6.13, 6.15.2, 6.16.

The spare area is where the drive stores addresses for unreadable sectors so they are replaced with new data in case. This is known as defect management and is handled internally by the drive, not by the computer's operating system. On some earlier formats, including the CD-RW and DVD±RW, defect management has to be handled by the UDF file system, meaning by the computer, also referred to as the "host" system.[http://www.osta.org/specs/pdf/udf260.pdf UDF 2.60], sections 6.10.2.4, 6.15, 6.15.1, 6.12.[http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_General_3rd_Dec%202012_20121210.pdf White Paper Blu-ray Disc Format - General - 3rd Edition - December, 2012] ([https://files.catbox.moe:443/4rizyw.pdf mirror 1], [https://pomf2.lain.la:443/f/2fy557xp.pdf mirror 2])

Speed

{{main|Blu-ray#Drive speeds}}

{{As of|2018|12}}, the following speeds are seen in Blu-Ray specifications for R/RE discs:

class="wikitable"
Drive speed

!colspan="3"|Data rate

!25 GB BD-R(E) write time

!50 GB BD-R(E) DL (25 GB/layer) write time

!100 GB BD-R(E) XL TL (~33 GB/layer) write time

36 Mbit/s4.5 MB/s4.29 MiB/s~95 min.~190 min.~380 min.
72 Mbit/s9 MB/s8.58 MiB/s~47 min.~94 min.~188 min.
144 Mbit/s18 MB/s17.17 MiB/s~24 min.~48 min.~96 min.
216 Mbit/s27 MB/s25.75 MiB/s~16 min.~32 min.~64 min.
288 Mbit/s36 MB/s~34.32 MiB/s~11.25 min.~22.5 min.~45 min.
10×360 Mbit/s45 MB/s42.898 MiB/s~9 min.~18 min.~36 min.
12×432 Mbit/s54 MB/s~51.48 MiB/s~7.5 min.~15 min.~30 min.
14×504 Mbit/s63 MB/s~60 MiB/s~6.5 min.~13 min.~26 min.
16×576 Mbit/s72 MB/s~68.64 MiB/s~5.7 min.~11.5 min.~23 min.

2× speeds are mandatory for all formats, with 4× and 6× being optional for non-XL BD-R media. Since BD-RE 5.0/BD-R 4.0, a read speed of 4× is mandatory for UHD support.

Note: If write verification is enabled, as it may be by default on some burning software, the write will take longer to complete. Erasing a BD-RE is not necessary since existing data can be directly overwritten. Unlike with CD-RW, there is no need for blanking BD-RE before re-use, but they need to be formatted before first use. Burn programs may detect the unformatted state and automatically format the medium before beginning to write.[https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E88353_01/html/E37839/xorrecord-1.html xorrecord - man pages section 1: User Commands] - "It is not mandatory to do this with DVD+RW and BD-RE media, because they will get formatted automatically on the first write attempt."

Write verification is a feature of formatted Blu-ray media, officially called "Defect Management". Similar functionality existed on DVD-RAM and on Mount Rainer-supporting disc drives, but BD-R is the first write-once media with such functionality. If not deactivated, the correctness of the written data is verified immediately after being written. Poorly readable data can be written again to an area of spare blocks, but the writing speed is halved during the entire writing process because only half of the disc rotations are for writing. Defect management can be deactivated by burn programs using a feature called "Stream Recording" which enables full nominal write speed. Whether defect management is beneficial with mediocre media depends much on the individual medium and the drive's firmware. It works well with narrowly located bad spots but tends to fail more often than stream recording if the drive perceives reduced read quality on the whole medium. It may be desirable to deactivate write verification on undamaged media to save time when mass-producing physical copies of data, since errors are unlikely to occur on physically undamaged media.[http://fy.chalmers.se/~appro/linux/DVD+RW/Blu-ray/ Blu-ray Disc notes for dvd+rw-tools] - Defect management comes with a performance penalty: most units will typically record at about 1/2 of the advertised media speed. This is because such units will spend every second revolution verifying the newly recorded data for defects. growisofs allows for SRM recordings without spare area through "undocumented" -use-the-force-luke=spare:none option [https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E88353_01/html/E37839/xorriso-1.html xorriso - man pages section 1: User Commands] - "Formatting activates Defect Management which tries to the expense of half speed even with flawless media."

Pricing

{{As of|2018|04}} (approximate pricing):

  • BD-R/RE drive US$50 and above[https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_0?rh=n%3A172282%2Ck%3ABlu-ray+Burners%2Cn%3A%21493964%2Cn%3A541966&bbn=493964&keywords=Blu-ray+Burners&ie=UTF8&qid=1337211906&rnid=493964 Electronics, Computers & Accessories, Blu-ray Burners]. Amazon. Retrieved on 2018-04-21.
  • 6× single-layer BD-R disc (25 GB) US$0.42 each in quantity;[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IK46BJC PlexDisc 633-814 25 GB 6x Blu-ray Logo Top Single Layer Recordable Disc BD-R, 50-Disc Spindle ]. Amazon. Retrieved on 2018-04-21.
  • 10× single-layer BD-R disc (25 GB) CN¥2.04 each in quantity;{{cite web|title=【铼德刻录盘】铼德(RITEK)BD-R蓝光光盘/刻录盘 10速25G 可打印 桶装50片|trans-title=RITEK BD-R, 10x 25G printable, 50-disc spindle|url=https://item.jd.com/726452.html|website=Jingdong|access-date=21 April 2018|language=zh-CN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422062957/https://item.jd.com/726452.html|archive-date=22 April 2018|url-status=live}}
  • 6× double-layer BD-R disc (50 GB) US$1.64 in quantity;[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KB53TF2 Smart Buy 50 Pack Bd-r Dl 50 gb 6x Blu-ray Double Layer Recordable Disc Blank Logo Data Video Media 50-discs Spindle...]. Amazon. Retrieved on 2018-04-21.
  • 2× single-layer BD-RE disc (25 GB) US$0.82 in quantity;[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HYOMPIA Verbatim Blu-ray Disc 50 pcs Spindle - 25 GB 2X BD-RE Rewritable Bluray - Inkjet Printable]. Amazon. Retrieved on 2018-04-21.
  • 2× double-layer BD-RE disc (50 GB) US$3.15 in quantity;[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0056DUNLW 10 Verbatim Bluray Bd-re Dl 50 Gb Rewritable Blueray Original Spindle (Japan)]. Amazon. Retrieved on 2018-04-21.
  • 4× BD-R XL disc (100 GB) US$5 in quantity;{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DGG5ZP4|title=10 Verbatim Bluray 100gb BD-R XL Triple Layer 4x Speed Blu-ray Inkjet Printable Discs|website=Amazon|access-date=2018-04-21}}
  • 4× BD-RE XL disc (100 GB) US$11 in quantity;{{cite web|title=3 Sony Blu Ray 100 GB BD-RE BDXL 3D Bluray Triple Layer Bluray Printable Disc|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XQMWBVU|website=Amazon|access-date=21 April 2018}}

Recording mechanisms

Instead of the pits and lands found on prepressed/prerecorded/replicated discs, BD-R and RE discs contain grooves which contain a wobble frequency that is used to locate the position of the reading or writing laser on the disc.[http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_BD-RE_5th_20180216.pdf White paper]blu-raydisc.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411111052/http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Downloadablefile/White_Paper_BD-RE_5th_20180216.pdf |date=11 April 2020 }} BD-R has an Optimum Power Calibrations (OPC) / Test Zone, which is used to calibrate (finely adjust) the power of the writing laser before and during writing, and it also has a Drive Calibration Zone (DCZ) at the outer edge of the disc, for optional high speed calibration. The calibration is necessary to allow for slight manufacturing defects, greatly reducing or completely eliminating rejected discs and drives, reducing costs and eliminating potential waste. The information below describes the different types of recording layers that may be used on BD-R and BD-RE discs.

=HTL (high to low)=

"Normal" BD-R discs use a composite (or, in the case of BD-RE, a phase-changing alloy) that decreases its reflectivity on recording, i.e. "High To Low".{{cite web|title=Not all Blu-ray discs are created equal, but does BD-R quality matter?|website=Digistor Blog|date=29 May 2012|url=http://blog.digistor.com/not-all-blu-ray-discs-are-created-equal-but-does-bd-r-quality-matter/|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412114302/http://blog.digistor.com/not-all-blu-ray-discs-are-created-equal-but-does-bd-r-quality-matter/|archive-date=12 April 2018|url-status=live}} Sony, for example, uses an inorganic{{cite web|title=Recording/Playback Mechanism and Recording Materials|url=https://www.sony.net/Products/Media/dvdmedia/Accucore/Blu-ray/outline/index_05.html|website=Sony Global|access-date=16 April 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417024733/https://www.sony.net/Products/Media/dvdmedia/Accucore/Blu-ray/outline/index_05.html|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=dead}} composite that splits into two laminar components with low reflectivity.{{cite web|title=Recording/Playback Mechanism(-R) "Laminar Phase Separation"|url=https://www.sony.net/Products/Media/dvdmedia/Accucore/Blu-ray/outline/index_06.html|website=Sony Global|access-date=16 April 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417024550/https://www.sony.net/Products/Media/dvdmedia/Accucore/Blu-ray/outline/index_06.html|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=dead}} Composites used may include BiN, Ge3N4, and Pd-doped tellurium suboxide.{{Cite journal |doi=10.1007/s12200-014-0413-7 |s2cid=195208706 |title=Overview of Blu-Ray Disc™ recordable/Rewritable media technology |year=2014 |last1=Miyagawa |first1=Naoyasu |journal=Frontiers of Optoelectronics |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=409–424 }} A pair of layers with copper alloy and silicon that combines on recording may alternatively be used.{{cite web|title=14. Disc Construction and Manufacturing|url=http://www.hughsnews.ca/faqs/authoritative-blu-ray-disc-bd-faq/14-disc-construction-and-manufacturing|website=Hugh's News BD FAQ|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417024708/http://www.hughsnews.ca/faqs/authoritative-blu-ray-disc-bd-faq/14-disc-construction-and-manufacturing|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=live}} Similar to CD-RW and DVD-RW, a phase transition alloy (often GeSbTe or InAgTeSb; copper silicate (CuSi) or other alloys can also be used, like Verbatim's proprietary MABL){{Cite web|url=http://www.mcmedia.co.jp/enterprise/spec_e.html|title=Enterprise Grade BD-R for Archive | MITSUBISHI KAGAKU MEDIA|date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026142905/http://www.mcmedia.co.jp/enterprise/spec_e.html|archive-date=2012-10-26}}{{Cite journal|title=Thermal, Optical, and Microstructural Properties of Magnetron Sputter-Deposited CuSi Films for Application in Write-Once Blu-Ray Discs|first1=Feng-Min|last1=Lai|first2=Yao-Tsung|last2=Yang|first3=Sin-Liang|last3=Ou|date=April 21, 2019|journal=Coatings|volume=9|issue=4|pages=260|doi=10.3390/coatings9040260|doi-access=free}} is used for BD-RE discs. Melting the material with a very high power beam turns it into an amorphous state with low reflectivity, while heating at a lower power erases it back to a crystalline state with high reflectivity.{{cite web|title=Recording Mechanism (-RE) "Phase-change material"|url=https://www.sony.net/Products/Media/dvdmedia/Accucore/Blu-ray/outline/index_07.html|website=Sony Global|access-date=16 April 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417024606/https://www.sony.net/Products/Media/dvdmedia/Accucore/Blu-ray/outline/index_07.html|archive-date=17 April 2018|url-status=dead}}

In BD-RE discs, the data layers are surrounded by a pair of dielectric Zinc Sulfur-Silicon Dioxide layers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.solartech.com.tw/en/rd_product_development_ods.html |title=Solar Applied Materials Technology Corporation |access-date=2020-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115120940/http://www.solartech.com.tw/en/rd_product_development_ods.html |archive-date=2016-11-15 |url-status=live }} An adhesive spacer layer and a semi-reflective layer are used for multi-layer discs.{{cite web |url=https://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0bdc/0900766b80bdcccf.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=docs-europe.electrocomponents.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413022441/https://docs-europe.electrocomponents.com/webdocs/0bdc/0900766b80bdcccf.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2020 |url-status=dead}} The recording and dielectric layers are all deposited using Sputtering. On multi-layer BD-RE discs, each GeSbTe recording layer is progressively thinner. So the first layer (L0) is 10 nm thick, L1 is 7.5 nm thick, L2 is 6 nm thick, and so on. The silver alloy reflective layers that are behind each recording layer also become progressively thinner, so the L0 silver layer is 10 nm thick, the L1 layer is 9 nm thick, the L2 layer is 7 nm thick, and so on. The separation layers that separate the recording layers from one another also progressively become thinner.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tlm3BgAAQBAJ&q=100+GB+rewritable+triple-layer+optical+disk+having+Ge-Sb-Te+films&pg=PA256|title=Data Storage at the Nanoscale: Advances and Applications|first1=Gan|last1=Fuxi|first2=Wang|last2=Yang|date=February 9, 2015|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9789814613200|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.epcos.org/e-pcos-2009-1|title=E\PCOS 2009|website=epcos}}

=BD-R LTH (low to high)=

BD-R LTH is a write-once Blu-ray Disc format that features an organic dye recording layer. "Low To High" refers to the reflectivity changing from low to high during the burning process, which is the opposite of normal Blu-rays, whose reflectivity changes from high to low during writing. The advantage of BD-R LTH is it can protect a manufacturer's investment in DVD-R/CD-R manufacturing equipment because it does not require investing in new production lines and manufacturing equipment. Instead, the manufacturer only needs to modify current equipment. This is expected to lower the cost of disc manufacturing.{{citation | url = http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21422 | title = Pioneer and Mitsubishi Develop Low cost BD-R Discs Using Organic Recording Layers | publisher = CDR info | access-date = 2008-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080225121648/http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21422 | archive-date = 2008-02-25 | url-status = live }}.

Old Blu-ray players and recorders cannot utilize BD-R LTH; however, a firmware upgrade can enable devices to access BD-R LTH. Panasonic released such a firmware update in November 2007 for its DMR-BW200, DMR-BR100 and MR-BW900/BW800/BW700 models.{{citation | url = http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21913 | title = Firmware Adds Support for LTH BD-R Discs to Panasonic Recorders | publisher = CDR info | access-date = 2008-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080122073530/http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=21913 | archive-date = 2008-01-22 | url-status = live }}. Pioneer was expected to ship the first LTH BD drives in Spring 2008.{{citation | url = http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=22521 | title = Taiyo Yuden, Mitsubishi and Maxell Release First LTH BD-R Discs | publisher = CDR info | access-date = 2008-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080227195919/http://cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=22521 | archive-date = 2008-02-27 | url-status = live }}. Sony upgraded the PlayStation 3 firmware enabling BD-R LTH reading in March, 2008.{{citation | url = http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/13371.cfm | title = PS3 firmware update v2.20 available – added support for LTH BD-R | publisher = After Dawn | access-date = 2008-03-26 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080329190941/http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/13371.cfm | archive-date = 2008-03-29 | url-status = live }}.

In 2011, France's Ministry of Culture and Communication conducted a study on the suitability of data archival of LTH (low to high) discs compared to HTL (high to low) discs. The data they collected indicated that the overall quality of LTH discs is worse than HTL discs.[http://www.myce.com/news/french-research-avoid-blu-ray-lth-discs-for-data-archival-64265/ French research: Avoid Blu-ray LTH discs for data archival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714143809/http://www.myce.com/news/french-research-avoid-blu-ray-lth-discs-for-data-archival-64265/ |date=2014-07-14 }}. myce. Retrieved on 2013-06-14.[http://www.archivesdefrance.culture.gouv.fr/static/6187 Qualite des Disques Blu-Ray Enregistrables pour L’Archivage des Donnees Numeriques] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227103604/http://www.archivesdefrance.culture.gouv.fr/static/6187 |date=2012-12-27 }}. Ministère de la Culture et de la Communica. Retrieved on 2013-06-14.

See also

Notes

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References

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