If I was to buy a DVD writer , what WOULD I buy

[BlackSheep]

Originally posted by Bindibadgi
SCSI DVD drive would kick ass! /me has fantasys bout SCSI stuff

*O_o*

Nero drive speed website? They do CDrom speed tests.

I use DVDX copy for my stuff, or DVD2SVCD and make SCVDs/keep the mpgs on my harddisk. DVD2SVCD with cinecraft encoder - 4pass vbr ROX! almost DVD quality in a 3rd of the size, keep the AC3 sound and you're sorted. You can play SVCDs from DVDR disks on my DVD drive too

DVD ripping using smart ripper takes about 10 mins on a pioneer 106s - dedicated IDE channel.

nice !

was thinking about playing around with DVD2SVCD - does it allow you to select which audio stream you want - as if it's got DTS I just use that.

[BlackSheep]

Originally posted by Dreamscape
i'm using the most recent version of DVD shrink. Dont seem that buggy at the mo.
Took half an hour to copy a whole DVD to the hard disk. Using a Samsung DVD616Q. Seems quick, buts is V nosiey.

Don't have to use DVD decrypter when using DVD shrink, so it just one less step to complete.

Once you have ripped it using DVD Decrypter unless you do need to shrink it that's job done - roll on 9GB DVDs as a lot of >2 hr films take up >4.7GB

[Dreamscape]

Depend's if you want the DVD to be like the original with all the extras, menus, etc. Or if you only want the film on the DVD, but even then you may still need to compress the film a bit, depending on how long they are

[dgr]

no question - it MUST be the sony dru series or a pioneer 106.

no other dvd writer is even close

[Bindibadgi]

Originally posted by BlackSheep
nice !

was thinking about playing around with DVD2SVCD - does it allow you to select which audio stream you want - as if it's got DTS I just use that.

Just select "do not encode audio" and itll rip out the ac3 stream from the vobs and mix it into the mpeg. Itll massively increase the size of the SVCD though 3 disks instead of 2 usually, or i find it doesnt cut the film correctly and you get 2 800+meg files which dont fit on CDR.

[Dreamscape]

Originally posted by dgr
no question - it MUST be the sony dru series or a pioneer 106.

no other dvd writer is even close

Oh Yeah missed that bit of the question. You really want one of these 2, i've got the sony no probs yet.

Someone mentioned the NEC one, i would be wary haven't heard many good things bout that one, better of splashing the extra 20/30 quid for the pioneer or sony.

[Stoo]

I know a few people with the NEC and it's just as good as the Sony or Pioneer as long as you update the firmware (as I said) or you'll have problems with it being picky with certain media.

[Dreamscape]

I read that even with the firmware updated it still has some problems with media, but as haven't see one, or know anyone who has one, don't know if its true or not.

So i could be wrong, has happend b4

[Stoo]

Ah yeah, the official firmware is pish, there's a hacked one going about which does a far better job

[bertie]

Go for a Pioneer 106 or if you're a cheapass get a 105.
Pioneer have the biggest customer base for these drives, and new firmware is always being released (and hacked to make it better)

[Stoo]

I could really do with one eventually too, backing up large amounts of data to cd sucks..

[Bindibadgi]

Originally posted by Stoo
I could really do with one eventually too, backing up large amounts of data to cd sucks..

1 series takes 24 disks or 4 DVDs? What would u choose?

[Rabs]

I have a Pioneer A06 drive, not tried a +R but works fine at 4x with -R. No coasters as yet and works perfect with Nero.

AFAIK Sonys are terribly fussy about media, which is why I went for the Pioneer (cheaper too).

[TiG]

How about a rating for this thread guys, Very useful imo, (To vote click the drop down on the bottom right of the page).

TiG

[Stringent]

http://www.plextor.com/english/products/708A.html

^^ looks nice

[Bindibadgi]

looks nice, but uber expensive like all plextor stuff i would imagine