Does Mac OS X Support DVD-R DL?

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Does Mac OS X Support DVD-R DL?

Hello,
I would like to know if Mac OS X supports DVD-R DL (Dual Layer/Double Layer; aka DVD-R9) technology? I have been a longtime LiteON DVD Burner user on OS X, and I recently bought my 2nd LiteON DVDRW Drive. This latest version DVDRW Drive (SOHW-1693S) is identical to the previous revision except that it now supports 4x DVD-R DL (not to be confused with DVD+R DL). However, I was surprised that OS X recognized all the functionality of the burner except its DVD-R DL ability. Granted DVD-R DL is new, but does Apple need to add support in the OS for this new technology to be functional in optical drives? Are their any other programs known to support DVD-R DL on the Mac?

Regards,

Posted on Sep 14, 2005 5:47 AM

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Answer 1

AJ

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Sep 14, 2005 9:17 AM in response to Johann Assam

If you look at the latest series of CPUs - the dual 2, 2.3, and 2.7 all ship with dual layer 16x DVDRWs as OEM.

The brand of the drive is not as important as the underlying mechanism - who manufactures the actual drive, not who's name is on the case.

I recall in earlier days, the OS supported DVDR burning, but only on an internal drive, not external drive. If you bought an internal unit as a replacment, regardless of whos name was on the box you bought, it had to be a Pioneer mechanism. Not sure if that is still the case.

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Answer 2

Johann Assam Author

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Sep 15, 2005 12:06 AM in response to AJ

Yes, i'm aware that it it is the underlying mechanism that actually counts. LiteON is not just a reseller brand, but an OEM akin Samsung or Pioneer itself.

You're also correct that in the early days OS X only supported original Pioneer drive or rebranded Pioneer-mechanism-based drives. However, in recent time, OS X now supports (though unofficially) many third-party DVDRW drives with various mechanisms, such as LiteON.

I assume that it is Apple that needs to add DVD-R DL support because of the fact that Apple's top-of-the-line PM G5 Superdrive lacks DVD-R DL support itself. A theory is that when Apple ships a Mac with an updated Superdrive that actually supports DVD-R DL is only when we'll see DVD-R DL support for third-part DVD burners included in the OS. Does this seem likely or will Apple include DVD-R DL support before that technology is included in one of its Superdrives?

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Answer 3

Sep 15, 2005 12:10 AM in response to Johann Assam

Don't know about the Finder burn utility, but Roxio Toast 6 or later supports dual layer on both internal and external drives ( I have an external LaCie drive)

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Answer 4

Johann Assam Author

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Sep 15, 2005 12:46 AM in response to Andrew Dicker

So Roxio Toast 6 for Mac supports both DVD-R DL and DVD+R DL? Or is it just the more popular DVD+R DL?

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Answer 5

Sep 15, 2005 12:46 AM in response to Johann Assam

Hi Johann

I was under the impression that you cannot burn dual layer using the Finder or the basic Apple utilities. However, using Titanium Toast it should be no problem at all. I haven't tested this myself though due to the cost of dual layer DVDs.

Matthew Whiting

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Answer 6

Johann Assam Author

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Sep 15, 2005 12:52 AM in response to matthew whiting

Toast Ti may possibly support DVD-R DL, or is it only the more popular DVD+R DL? Not sure either way. However I wanted to use the Tiger OS itself (Finder Disc Burning/Disk Utility) in order to use a uniform method in my comparison of various disc brands/kinds. Disc Utility handles DVD+R DL just fine actually.

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Answer 7

Sep 15, 2005 12:56 AM in response to Johann Assam

Thanks for correcting me on that, Johann. Roxio don't seem to be very forthcoming with details. Regarding the new Toast 7 their website doesn't seem to say any more than:

Dual-layer and Double-layer support

Matthew Whiting

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Answer 8

AJ

Level 5

7,075 points

Sep 15, 2005 6:40 AM in response to Johann Assam

Ok, I understand your question now.

Apple Store states

A 16X double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL, DVD±R/CD-RW) that
burns up to 8.5GB on double-layer DVD+R media

But doesn't specifically state it supports -R on Dual Layer.
Again with earlier drives, the OS would burn to either + or -R for data, but for DVD video, iDVD supported only -R disks. I think they cited maximum capacity with TV-Top dvd players, some of which may not correctly work with +R media.

Perhaps the same is true for DL ?

However, Toast 5.x would burn your (rendered in another program) xxxxx_TS folders to either -R or +R. I don't imagine Roxio would remove that capability from Toast 6, but it is possible. A visit to Roxios site should answer that.

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Answer 9

MacDaddio

Level 2

165 points

Sep 15, 2005 5:18 PM in response to matthew whiting

Popcorn, Toast 6 and Toast 7 all support -R DL (dual) and +R DL (double).
Mac OS supports +R DL only.

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Answer 10

Johann Assam Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 15, 2005 11:49 PM in response to MacDaddio

Thanks for understanding the issue. So the Roxio 'wares all support both -R DL (dual) and +R DL (double) where-as Tiger itself only supports +R DL (Finder/Disk Utility).

I guess when we see -R DL support in a Superdrive, Apple would also add OS-level -R DL support to 3rd party burners.

Off to buy Toast...

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