Initially, CD lasers with a wavelength of 780 nm were used, being within infrared range. For DVDs, the wavelength was reduced to 650 nm (red color), and Cassette to CD Recorder the wavelength for Blu-Ray Disc was reduced to 405 nm (blue color).

• But switching to CAV requires considerable changes in hardware design, so instead most drives account the zoned firm linear velocity (Z-CLV) scheme

• This divides the disc into considerable zones, each having its own contrasting regular linear velocity
• A Z-CLV recorder rated at "52X", for example, would write at 20X on the innermost zone and then progressively increase the speed in several discrete steps up to 52X at the outer rim.