DDP Image; WaveLab+DDP Solutions vs. Gear Pro

[ibanezman_98]

I am using WaveLab 6 for mastering. Since all CD plants are now accepting DDP image, I was wondering what would be the best solution and investment for generating this DDP image.

Wave Lab 6 has an option to generate DDP image with a purchase of €1195 (appx. $1700) DDP Solution software.

Gear Pro software costs $600, and correct me if I'm wrong; it generates DDP image from PMCD. In this case I would have to burn a CD in WaveLab and use Gear Pro to read this CD and convert it to DDP.

What is the best option here;

1.) To purchase DDP Solutions and export PMCD directly to DDP image to the hard dive without CD media interaction, or
2.) To purchase Gear Pro and generate DDP image from the CD media (PMCD on TY media in my case)

It's obvious what's the cheaper option here, but what would generate better DDP image?
Or there are some other solutions as well?

Thanks

[Cellotron]

It should be noted that many plants in fact will not accept DDPi.

Anyway - there is one less expensive alternative for making DDP on PC that you haven't mentioned that has tested out to work excellently -
DDP Creator - Sonoris Audio Engineering

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[ibanezman_98]

Yes, you're right. I should state: "Since most of the CD plants are now accepting DDP image..." However, it is irrelevant in this thread and to me if all the plants are accepting DDPi or not, it was a simple lapsus linguae.

So, the best solution would be to generate DDPi without interaction with physical CD media (PMCD import)?

Thx

[PieterS]

Originally Posted by ibanezman_98

So, the best solution would be to generate DDPi without interaction with physical CD media (PMCD import)?

Thx

The Sonoris DDP Creator happily accepts a cue/wav combo made with Wavelab. No need to burn a CD in between.

[ibanezman_98]

Thx Steve and Pieter S

This is an excellent recommendation. I have downloaded DDP Creator Demo and tested it out. Although I had some problems running some operations of DDP Creator in Vista 64bit, it works like a charm in XP. I was able to import CD image I exported from WaveLab like you suggested. WOW!!! This cue import thing was just what I needed.

The price of this software is very attractive as well (€229.00/$320.00) and I will definitely purchase it in the nearest future.

One last thing. I have tested DDP and identical CD, and at the end I got this message:
Checksums match | Offset=96 bytes
What is the meaning of this message?

Thank you guys again.

[PieterS]

Originally Posted by ibanezman_98

One last thing. I have tested DDP and identical CD, and at the end I got this message:
Checksums match | Offset=96 bytes
What is the meaning of this message?

Thank you guys again.

It means that the audio on the CD is a perfect copy of the project, but that there is an offset of 96 bytes. This is caused by the player/burner.

[DSD_Mastering]

Originally Posted by ibanezman_98

Gear Pro software costs $600, and correct me if I'm wrong; it generates DDP image from PMCD. In this case I would have to burn a CD in WaveLab and use Gear Pro to read this CD and convert it to DDP.
Thanks

Yeah.. Gear Pro sucks major arse.... stay away from it. There are lot better options.


Regards,

[DevlinC]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

Yeah.. Gear Pro sucks major arse.... stay away from it.

Quoted for absolute truth. Trying to sort out a master disc for a print company that wants it in ISO or DDP. Googling for programs to make DDPs in brings up Gear Pro as the number 1 result but it has been completely incapable of making a CD that'll play properly. It can't even make gapless playback apparently?! Unbelievable that they can charge $599 for this. Sony CD Architect is better at 1/5th of the price (and is the one I've ended up using, although I have no idea how to make it an ISO or DDP now).

Just wanted to make sure anyone stumbling on this STAYS AWAY FROM GEAR PRO. If that company folds tomorrow it won't be soon enough.

[Bariuz]

A simple google search with the words "ddp wavelab" and, once again, Gearslutz shows up and saves the day :-D

Thank you! I was also looking for a solution for making DDP.

[Table Of Tone]

+thumbsup For Sonoris DDP Creator with WaveLab!

[Greg Reierson]

Originally Posted by Table Of Tone

+thumbsup For Sonoris DDP Creator with WaveLab!

Another vote for Sonoris. Gear is difficult to use at best and just unreliable at worst IME.


GR

[Table Of Tone]

If you render an album as a Cue/Wav in WaveLab, open the Cue in Notepad and remove the path of the file, just keeping the file name.
WaveLab writes the path onto the Cue.
Not all workstations do.

Sonoris will then open that Cue/Wav from any external HDD.

Just a little tip!

[Petrus]

Wave Editor ($79 or something) can crank out DDP:s. It also has the best SCR & dither engine iZotope included. A real steal, even though the interface for CD text & and track indexing is clumsy.

Audiofile Engineering - Wave Editor

Sony CD-Architect is smooth and easy to use, but no DDP!!!!! WHY NOT???

[JohnnyWoodbine]

You guys have just saved me precious funds! I'm looking for new CD creation software as Toast is driving me nuts, (auditioning fades and they play back through Mac audio even when tracks play back through Core Audio!!). I'd never heard of Wave Editor but after a quick trawl through this thread, it looks like the baby for me.
Thanks
John