CD Burner Dying, What Should I Get?

[aleatoric]

While it looks like my internal CD/DVD drive on my G5 is on its way to death village. Getting lots of problems with CD's not burning and also burning with unplayable tracks. I am using Waveburner but tried Toast as well and it was the same thing, different brand media, still the same problems. Anyway, I want to get an external burner. Can someone recommend something that is not discontinued? I know Plextor is highly sought after by ME's but I would rather just grab something that is still available and that I can buy online without a lot of hunting. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Also, is there any CD error checking software on OSX yet besides the one that comes with Plextor drives?

[aleatoric]

anyone?

[aleatoric]

The Lacie one, or is there something better out there?

Update: I got some TY blanks and my burner is working again. Would still like to get something external at some point though, my internal super drive has actually been replaced twice already back when I had apple care, not very reliable.

[Nordenstam]

The plextor premium is still available from amazon.co.uk..

[NealF]

I just started having trouble burning CDs from Waveburner. Go a G5 dual core and running the latest OX and Waveburner.

It worked fine until a few days ago. Now it starts to burn, then hangs up. The only way out is to abort.

I can still burn from iTunes so it seems the Superdrive is okay.
I was wondering if the CD brand is the problem. I think it started when I switched brands.

Anybody know if this can happen? This brand works with iTunes.

Thanks.

[aleatoric]

I am going to bump my old thread. I successfully burned my last few projects on my G5's internal burner after getting a new batch of TY discs, however now its acting up again. It will not rip an audio CD that rips fine on my girlfriends macbook. I need something that is OSX compatible, what are my options? Thanks!

[Lagerfeldt]

Plextor Premium 2 is what I use in my G5, still available and works like a charm with WaveBurner and Sonic Studio.

I have some tips for installing it since it can be a bit of a bitch to make it fit. It WILL fit though but it takes some work.

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Plextor Premium 2 is what I use in my G5, still available and works like a charm with WaveBurner and Sonic Studio.

I have some tips for installing it since it can be a bit of a bitch to make it fit. It WILL fit though but it takes some work.

Have you fitted the plextor inside your G5?
I never realized the plextor worked with a mac!
What G5 do you have?

I wanna put one in my Dual processor 1.8 (PCI) , which is my capture puter.
My playback puter is later PCIe Dual core 2.3.

Cheers

[dave-G]

I tend to like to have a 'utility' drive inside the computer, and run my Plextors via Firewire or USB. I just use the internal for DVD software installers, and backing up to DVD-R with Toast. Cheapest and simplest there would be just replacing with a 'Superdrive' inside your G5 OtherWorldComputing.com

Plextor also makes CD/DVD drives that could serve both utility and master-burning purposes, but I've lost track with what current models, if any are compatible with Plextools, and there have been a few other threads on that subject.

Plextools via VMWare Fusion or Parallels is totally workable, by the way .. but I think you wouldn't be able to run it without an Intel-based Mac.

-dave

[Bob Olhsson]

Here's the Plextor story as I understand it.

Plextor's manufacturing contractor wound down their optical media drive business and elected to not renew their license to manufacture CD and DVD drives.

After a few years of re-branding other drives, Plextor now has a contract with Liteon to build drives with most of the Plextor premium features and they have developed new software to work with these new drives.

From my viewpoint, probably the best thing to get is one of the very newest Plextors that once again comes with the testing software.

[aleatoric]

Will the Liteon LH-20A1H fit inside my G5? I read somewhere that this drive has lower C1/C2 errors than Plextor. I think I found a place in the US that sells it. The main question is can I install this drive inside my G5 (PPC). Thanks!

[Lagerfeldt]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

Have you fitted the plextor inside your G5?
I never realized the plextor worked with a mac!
What G5 do you have?

G5 Dual 2.3 GHz PPC (Not Intel version).

Plextor Premium 2 CD drive (no DVD, which I use a LaCie FW reader/burner for).

Fitted inside, yes, though you have to change the supplied feet and jam it slightly down to make sure it opens perfectly. It did take me 45 minutes to change before it was fitted correctly.

Works 100% and much better than the standard drive, which doesn't write or read ISRC properly for instance (check in the Terminal with the drutil subchannel command). Naturally the Plextor does this without a problem.

Since Plextor doesn't supply a driver for Mac you need to "make" your own if you're using OS 10.4.11 instead of 10.5.x. Fortunately there's a this brilliant freeware app that does just that, automatically.

I can send it to you or link to it tomorrow when I get back in the studio.

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

G5 Dual 2.3 GHz PPC (Not Intel version).

Plextor Premium 2 CD drive (no DVD, which I use a LaCie FW reader/burner for).

Fitted inside, yes, though you have to change the supplied feet and jam it slightly down to make sure it opens perfectly. It did take me 45 minutes to change before it was fitted correctly.

Works 100% and much better than the standard drive, which doesn't write or read ISRC properly for instance (check in the Terminal with the drutil subchannel command). Naturally the Plextor does this without a problem.

Since Plextor doesn't supply a driver for Mac you need to "make" your own if you're using OS 10.4.11 instead of 10.5.x. Fortunately there's a this brilliant freeware app that does just that, automatically.

I can send it to you or link to it tomorrow when I get back in the studio.

Thanks for the info.
If your 2.3 has two Ethernet ports, we probably have same G5, although I use my 2.3 for playback duties.

That's a cool thing that you managed to find a way to get the Plextor working on a mac!
I ordered a premium 2 today.
I'm running 10.5.7 on both G5's but that link would be great!

Cheers

[aleatoric]

I picked up a new Samsung Superdrive to replace my current faulty Pioneer Superdrive that is currently in my G5 today. I needed a quick solution. Down the line I am going to look into picking up a Plextor Premium 2 or the Yamaha F1 burner to dedicate for audio CD's. Thank you to everyone for there responses.

[tgs]

Just FYI: In the computer we run in studio A we have a Plextor PX-755A. I get a C1 average of about 0.8-1.5/sec on that in Plextools (using TY media). In studio B I just installed a LiteOn, think it's called SH201 or something, and the average is 0.2-0.5 approximately. Also, before that I had an LG burner installed on it and it got nearly as good figures as the LiteOn.

So either I managed to get some really amazing burners lately, or the Plextor is not doing what it's supposed to. And it's actually giving around the same results now as when we got it. I'm currently considering replacing it with a LiteOn.

[Lagerfeldt]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

Thanks for the info.
If your 2.3 has two Ethernet ports, we probably have same G5, although I use my 2.3 for playback duties.

That's a cool thing that you managed to find a way to get the Plextor working on a mac!
I ordered a premium 2 today.
I'm running 10.5.7 on both G5's but that link would be great!

Cheers

Patchburn Homepage

But I don't think you need it on 10.5.7 because the whole device profile structure has changed from 10.4.

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Patchburn Homepage

But I don't think you need it on 10.5.7 because the whole device profile structure has changed from 10.4.

I'm thinking of running the Plextor externally, using a USB to IDE adaptor/connection kit.
That way I can still keep the utilities drive in the G5.
Do you think the plextor will still work the same way?

[Lagerfeldt]

Why not FW/IDE? FW is usually better than USB.

I haven't tried it, so I don't know how it will work. Assuming that the supplied power is good and it buffers data correctly I can't see the problem in doing so.

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by Lagerfeldt

Why not FW/IDE? FW is usually better than USB.

I haven't tried it, so I don't know how it will work. Assuming that the supplied power is good and it buffers data correctly I can't see the problem in doing so.

I couldn't find a FW/IDE kit anywhere but I did find a confirmed mac friendly USB/IDE kit.
I'll give it a go and see how it shapes up.

Thanks for all the info anyway!

[Riccardo]

Slightly off topic but just to let you know. I have a Premium running fine in its Plextor external USB enclosure as well as a Premium 2 in a third party external USB case. Never had a problem (Tiger up until a couple of months ago, running Leopard now)

[Table Of Tone]

Thanks Riccardo!

I see you use soundBlade as well.
What do you do for CD text?

I use soundBlade to capture but use PMCD to assemble stuff.

(Sorry about straying from topic!)

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

Thanks Riccardo!

I see you use soundBlade as well.
What do you do for CD text?

I use soundBlade to capture but use PMCD to assemble stuff.

(Sorry about straying from topic!)

I get very few requests for CD text, can't even remember when it was requested last time. Unless I am missing something in your question (past midnight and 30° C. outside here so my brain is switched off for the day) ....... yes I use soundBlade for CD text.

[Table Of Tone]

Yep!
I don't really get asked for CD text but tend to do it anyway.
I guess the most important thing with regards to metadata is the IRSC codes.
Maybe I should just use soundBlade for assembly as well.

I don't know what's going on with the new release of PMCD 3.1.1.
DDP open option doesn't show the waveforms and I can't get it to export a topped n' tailed file at 24 bit. (always comes out at 16)
They mentioned they were giving the new DDP player for free to sonic users that own the DDP open option and the price of that option has just dropped by around 400 USD.
Looking at the latest actual release of PMCD, I think I know why!
I run a beta of 3.1.1, which works fine when you know whats broken and whats working.
It's looking like they're really digging themselves into a hole, trying to nail this software on intel macs!

(Last off topic post! Honest!)

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

Yep!
I don't really get asked for CD text but tend to do it anyway.
I guess the most important thing with regards to metadata is the IRSC codes.
Maybe I should just use soundBlade for assembly as well.

I don't know what's going on with the new release of PMCD 3.1.1.
DDP open option doesn't show the waveforms and I can't get it to export a topped n' tailed file at 24 bit. (always comes out at 16)
They mentioned they were giving the new DDP player for free to sonic users that own the DDP open option and the price of that option has just dropped by around 400 USD.
Looking at the latest actual release of PMCD, I think I know why!
I run a beta of 3.1.1, which works fine when you know whats broken and whats working.
It's looking like they're really digging themselves into a hole, trying to nail this software on intel macs!

(Last off topic post! Honest!)

sB running on a 2GHz G5 used for assembly here. Tested it on the "office Intel Mac" as well and works fine (both puters on 10.5.7) sB is now pretty solid. Most of the bugs i used to rutinely avoid have been fixed.

[Table Of Tone]

Originally Posted by Riccardo

sB running on a 2GHz G5 used for assembly here. Tested it on the "office Intel Mac" as well and works fine (both puters on 10.5.7) sB is now pretty solid. Most of the bugs i used to rutinely avoid have been fixed.

sB 1.3.4 is pretty bug free apart from adding an illegal chunk to an exported wav.
(this is why I was using PMCD to export single audio files)
I use sB on a dual 1.8Ghz G5 with 2.5 gig of ram.
How much ram do you have in your 2Ghz G5?

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

sB 1.3.4 is pretty bug free apart from adding an illegal chunk to an exported wav.
(this is why I was using PMCD to export single audio files)
I use sB on a dual 1.8Ghz G5 with 2.5 gig of ram.
How much ram do you have in your 2Ghz G5?

I have 7 gig of RAM in the G5.

[Table Of Tone]

Wow!
7 Gig! I can only put upto 4 Gig in my capture puter (It's a four slot conventional PCI)
My playback puter (2.3 G5 PCIe) has 5.5 Gig.
Do you notice a big difference?

[Riccardo]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

Do you notice a big difference?

Yes especially with sB. Can't tell for sure if it is just a series of fators (different sB releases may have coincided with me puttingin more RAM, can't exactly remember).

[Table Of Tone]

OK, cheers for the info!
I think I'll put that puter upto it's maximum 4 gig.
I have to say that sB 1.3.4 works particularly well compared to the earlier versions.
I actually don't think I've even had it crash yet!

Back on topic, I have a LiteOn burner in that puter at present which works well. (10.5+ only, although I didn't know about patchburn at the time)
The plextor has still yet to arrive but I'll AB em when it does.

Thanks again

[jamesp]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

Here's the Plextor story as I understand it.

Plextor's manufacturing contractor wound down their optical media drive business and elected to not renew their license to manufacture CD and DVD drives.

After a few years of re-branding other drives, Plextor now has a contract with Liteon to build drives with most of the Plextor premium features and they have developed new software to work with these new drives.

Bob - you're right with the first part but giving Plextor too much credit for the second part.

Liteon drives have had error checking for many years and Plextor are currently simply rebranding standard Liteon drives and including a modified version of the K-Probe software with the new drives.

It will be interesting to see if they continue to develop the PlexUtilities software.

Cheers

James.