NEC 3500a or Pioneer DVR-108

[IeraseU]

Originally posted by: Lokan
Off topic: How long should a normal encode take w/ DVD Shrink? It currently takes 50+ minutes to encode a single disc when backing up a normal movie using "Smooth".

DVD Shrink actually just transcodes the original DVD. An actual full encoding would take quite a bit longer. The total time it takes depends a great deal on if you have the 'deep analysis' option checkmarked or not. Without the deep analysis I'd say it would take less then 30 mins to rip, transcode and burn the movie. With the deep analysis checkmarked, that time runs close to 1hr (or longer in some cases). Incidently I do personally recomend using 'deep analysis' if the video you are burning is being compressed at any number lower then 90%.

 

[drwoo123]

is there any particular software that i will need - since im getting the OEM version - i have nero for my cdrw - do i need to get a newer version

 

[IeraseU]

Originally posted by: drwoo123
is there any particular software that i will need - since im getting the OEM version - i have nero for my cdrw - do i need to get a newer version

Newegg sells the OEM drive with or without software.

Without, price $81:

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=27-152-032&depa=1

With, price $88.99

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=27-152-029&depa=1


If you have version 6 of Nero (or above) then download the updates for free from Nero's website and you should be fine. If you have any version of Nero below 6, then you should probably buy the drive that comes with software.

 

[drwoo123]

how did the firmware update and attempt to burn at 8X go? success / failure? is there even such a thing as 16X media???

 

[vetteguy]

I actually just picked up one of these (the retail version) at CompUSA last weekend. I know the retail is like $70 more, but like another poster I really like the aesthetics of it (and come on, people who spend $$ on case lights, windows, etc. can't really give me too much crap about this). Plus it was right there, in the store, in my hands. The only downer is that it only burns CDs at 32X...wish I had looked closer before I bought it, so I might actually take it back, unless there's going to be a firmware update which will push it to at least 40.

 

[drwoo123]

mine has shipped - but still trying to decide on which brand of media - i figure a spindle is 470GB and with my 120GB hard drive it should last me a while. I think the G05 are good - but someone suggested the 8X prodisc as well - can it burn the G05 at 12X ??

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
I actually just picked up one of these (the retail version) at CompUSA last weekend. I know the retail is like $70 more, but like another poster I really like the aesthetics of it (and come on, people who spend $$ on case lights, windows, etc. can't really give me too much crap about this). Plus it was right there, in the store, in my hands. The only downer is that it only burns CDs at 32X...wish I had looked closer before I bought it, so I might actually take it back, unless there's going to be a firmware update which will push it to at least 40.

Ive been burning cd-r's at 24x for the past 2 years and it seems fast enough for me - So i guess the Pioneer will be fine. Does anybody know if and/or where I could buy just the Retail faceplate for the Pioneer? Or is that just not done in the industry...

 

[saber800]

Originally posted by: drwoo123
mine has shipped - but still trying to decide on which brand of media - i figure a spindle is 470GB and with my 120GB hard drive it should last me a while. I think the G05 are good - but someone suggested the 8X prodisc as well - can it burn the G05 at 12X ??

Here's a link to the best media for the Pioneer DVD Burner:

LINK

You can burn Ritek G05 media at 12x.

I just ordered my Pioneer 108 with a pack of Ritek G05s. Just waiting on them to deliver it...

 

[jose]

NEC, why because I just got one. But really the nec does bitsetting and the pioneer doesn't

Regards,
Jose

 

[drwoo123]

will the G05 burn at 12X on the NEC as well or only the Pioneer?

 

[JE78]

I just got the NEC a week ago with a pack of Ritek 8x DVD+R, a 5 pack of Memorex DVD-RW's and a free 5 pack of Newegg 4x DVD-R's. Everything I have burned has burned great and has worked on my Magnovox DVD player and my parents 2 year old Apex DVD player. The only problem i've found is the 8x DVD+R's only burn at 4x. I have yet to upgrade the hacked firmware and won't untill I see some more reviews on how it effected the drive. So Lokan, i'm waiting to hear how yours turned out.

 

[drwoo123]

Originally posted by: jose
NEC, why because I just got one. But really the nec does bitsetting and the pioneer doesn't

Regards,
Jose

what is bitsetting?

 

[drwoo123]

i just ordered the ritek g05. how do you burn above the rated speed - do you need the hacked firmware to do this?

 

[Lokan]

Originally posted by: JE78
I just got the NEC a week ago with a pack of Ritek 8x DVD+R, a 5 pack of Memorex DVD-RW's and a free 5 pack of Newegg 4x DVD-R's. Everything I have burned has burned great and has worked on my Magnovox DVD player and my parents 2 year old Apex DVD player. The only problem i've found is the 8x DVD+R's only burn at 4x. I have yet to upgrade the hacked firmware and won't untill I see some more reviews on how it effected the drive. So Lokan, i'm waiting to hear how yours turned out.

I upgraded to the hacked firmware and both Roxio and Nero will only burn the media at 4x, still. Even though Nero gives 8x as an option, it won't do it. I believe there's something inherently wrong w/ NEC's firmware and at this point I'm considering RMAing the damn thing for a Pioneer. This is pretty bad. There's no mention from NEC's site about 3500's Firmware and emails to them have gone unanswered. Kinda bad business imho..

 

[drwoo123]

that is terrible news as I just got my NEC - i dont have any 8X media - still waiting for it to come through. is this a universal problem or have people been able to burn at 8X and higher - if not I will RMA myself.

 

[Lichee]

Hmm. Any of you NEC guys get your 3500a to burn CD-Rs at the rated 48x? Nero keeps giving me 32X as the highest option.

Also, drwoo asked this but it went unanswered: How do you burn your media higher than the rated speed?

Is it just good media that allows that higher option in the program? thanks.

NEC 3500a
Nero 6.3
yada yada

my CDs are Fuji and DVDs are the Ritek (Ridata, right?) version 2.0s.

 

[Lokan]

Well, I just RMA'd the NEC and have the Pioneer on order. 32x CD speed or not, this NEC is very frustrating. Even trying to force Nero to burn 8x media at 8x results in 4x speeds. No official firmware on NEC's site just sealed the deal. I will update when I have Pioneer's drive.. Bitsetting or not (never explained in this thread), the NEC can't burn anything over 4x no matter what firmware I tried, hacked or not. Whereas according to a few sites, the Pioneer will burn my Ritek 8x -R's at 12x, plus I've read others have the same luck.

 

[Lichee]

Originally posted by: drwoo123

Originally posted by: jose
NEC, why because I just got one. But really the nec does bitsetting and the pioneer doesn't

Regards,
Jose

what is bitsetting?

Bitsetting according to BlueWeasel:
"If that drive supports bitsetting, then you can finalize DVD+R discs so that they are viewed as DVD-ROM media. This provides the best compatibility across DVD players, and can't be done with DVD-R media.

If the drive doesn't support bitsetting, then it really doesn't matter, and DVD-R would probably be more compatible than DVD+R, depending on your DVD players."


I found it here in this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...4260&enterthread=y

 

[JE78]

Lokan, how long have you had your 3500 for and how long can you have it before you RMA it back to newegg?

 

[Lokan]

Bitsetting sounds interesting, but seeing as I don't know how to do it and I paid for a higher speed DVD Burner and only got a 4x, I guess I'll try the Pioneer. I'm pretty let down by this drive as it's my first foray into DVD burning and it's not been a great experience.

As for me, I've had this burner for just over 2 weeks. I've backed up tons of store bought movies, and when burning them on decent media at 4x, I have no skipping problems at all. The cheap-o media Newegg sent was garbage as the movie was unwatchable burning those at 4x. Getting any media to burn at 8x (even 8x rated media at that) was impossible on this drive. I went so far as to use hacked firmware. It's disheartening because I've read from others that they've got their 3500a to burn the ritek 8x at 12x no problems and it's burning like a champ. Maybe I got a bad egg? Who knows. I'm through with it though, it's out of my case and the Pioneer was bought yesterday.

 

[gsellis]

IIRC, the Pioneer does support bit-setting in +R DL. It does not support it in -R because ... no -R might be the first hurdle. I don't remember if they (DVD Forum) have even finalized a -r DL spec yet. (sure someone will correct my if they have )

Bit-setting, in this case, tells the DVD set-top player that "this media is DVD-ROM media like any other pressed media, so you should just be happy and play it. Really, it is DVD-ROM media. This was not burned at home. I bought it. Hollywood made this DVD. Go right ahead and play it. Please. Really, I wouldn't lie to you."

 

[Red]

Lokan, current the Ridata 8x media (and other medias, depending) are burned at 4x on the NEC. This is a firmware issue and is being resolved as we speak. Currently, 8x media, depending on the type, burns at either 4x, 8x, 12x, or 16x. From looking at burn speed/quality reports on NEC forum @ CD, the best DVD+R media to buy for the 3500a (which I ended up buying, I'm the OP of this thread and I didn't even remember) is Taiyo Yuden 8x (YUDEN000T02) and Ricoh 8x (RICOHJPNR02), they burn at 12x - 16x with great quality. As for DVD-R, Taiyo Yuden 8x (TYG02), Mitsubishi Kagaku 8x (MCC02RG20) and Sony 8x (SONY08D1) which all burn at 12x - 16x with great quality.

 

[drwoo123]

Originally posted by: Red
Lokan, current the Ridata 8x media (and other medias, depending) are burned at 4x on the NEC. This is a firmware issue and is being resolved as we speak. Currently, 8x media, depending on the type, burns at either 4x, 8x, 12x, or 16x. From looking at burn speed/quality reports on NEC forum @ CD, the best DVD+R media to buy for the 3500a (which I ended up buying, I'm the OP of this thread and I didn't even remember) is Taiyo Yuden 8x (YUDEN000T02) and Ricoh 8x (RICOHJPNR02), they burn at 12x - 16x with great quality. As for DVD-R, Taiyo Yuden 8x (TYG02), Mitsubishi Kagaku 8x (MCC02RG20) and Sony 8x (SONY08D1) which all burn at 12x - 16x with great quality.

How soon do you anticipate this firmware issue to be resolved?

 

[JE78]

Red, where are you buying your media from?

 

[SCSIfreek]

Originally posted by: Lokan
Bitsetting sounds interesting, but seeing as I don't know how to do it and I paid for a higher speed DVD Burner and only got a 4x, I guess I'll try the Pioneer. I'm pretty let down by this drive as it's my first foray into DVD burning and it's not been a great experience.

As for me, I've had this burner for just over 2 weeks. I've backed up tons of store bought movies, and when burning them on decent media at 4x, I have no skipping problems at all. The cheap-o media Newegg sent was garbage as the movie was unwatchable burning those at 4x. Getting any media to burn at 8x (even 8x rated media at that) was impossible on this drive. I went so far as to use hacked firmware. It's disheartening because I've read from others that they've got their 3500a to burn the ritek 8x at 12x no problems and it's burning like a champ. Maybe I got a bad egg? Who knows. I'm through with it though, it's out of my case and the Pioneer was bought yesterday.

Please Note: In order to burn 4X Media to 12X, you'll have to use the hacked(1.06) firmware on the Pioneer108. So far, all cheapo media from newegg got up to 12X for me and played without any errors.