How do I connect my Apple SuperDrive to my 24” iMac

A hub may not be able to provide the necessary power to operate the Super Drive.

usb superdrive - Apple Community

Instead of a hub, consider just a mere adapter from USB-c to traditional type A, like this:

That is all that is needed to connect legacy USB devices to an USB-C port.

Docks are useful, and I have one, but just to connect any USB device this is practical and fully compatible, and cheap.

I just burnt a bunch of DVD's for my wife. I used her computer with Mojave so I could use iDVD!

My OWC dock:

https://www.owcdigital.com/products/thunderbolt-3-dock-14-port

Has software to let it use the Superdrive:

(Of course, you could just check the superdrive and get a generic drive, they generally work fine.)

It's well known that the Apple SuperDrive will only work when connected directly to the M1 Mac. And then only at the slower USB A speeds.

If you're going to do a lot of ripping (not important for burning as better burns are achieved at the slower rates) I suggest you look at the self powered, drawer loading optical drives from OWC (MacSales.com). Those could connect via hubs.

In addition, the data on a CD-RW disc can be erased and recorded over numerous times. There are no additional burns to a RW disc.

Personally for archival storage of data files I suggest using a bare SSD and an USB/SATA adaptor like this:

It's much faster than a RW disc and more reliable. You can add folders whenever you need to add additional files. No copying the contents, erasing and adding the contents back with the additional files. And a single drive is easier to search for a specific file rather than sorting thru multiple discs. It would take 40,000 discs to equal a 1TB SSD. A 1TB SSD from OWC is only $129. Just some food for thought.

I have a similar issue. I got the MacBook Pro (16 inch, 2021, Apple M1 Pro chip) & also got the USB SuperDrive. I can ONLY connect the SuperDrive with the USB-C to USB-A dongle that I bought from Apple. When I connect any kind of USB hub to the dongle, then connect the SuperDrive to the hub, it won't work. It says it needs to be powered. >:-[ Even when I just put a USB stick into the hub that's connected to the dongle, that won't work! (One did, one didn't.) I need to be able to plug in more than one USB-A item at a time. I don't want to spend more money, but at this point I'd give Apple more of my money if they'd make a powered USB hub. Does anyone know if such a thing (whether it's Apple brand or not) exists? Just buying another single dongle won't help; I need to connect more than 2 USB devices at once. Any suggestions would be very welcome! Thank you.

-Alicia

There are plenty of powered hubs but the Apple Super Drive will only work connected directly to the Mac unless you get a specific hub with software as mentioned by Keith Barkley. Most USB devices work fine connected through a powered hub so you have many to pick from. I use a Kensington dock that has TB ports and USB ports and have no iisue with any hardware (except Super Drive)..

After burning a JPEG file to a CD-R disc and ejecting it, I cannot re-load the disc and add more files. Do I need CD-RW discs? I have never really worked with optical discs in the past. I need to submit artwork soon on disc as JPEG.

If you get a new M1 iMac you'll have to get a new dock so you can plug in all of your externals. The new M1s have limited ports. The better docks are at OWC (MacSales.com) and are not inexpensive. That will definitely need to be taken into consideration when budgeting for a new Mac.

Thx Toad, I've had a 1TB external, though not SSD, for a few years now. Interesting how the new systems don't have more ports to connect external devices. Typically, sure I use a Trackpad, but also a third party trackball. The Smart Mouse is useless for me. So, external on site backup drive, trackball, external optical drive, etc., etc.

With one of these:

USB-C to USB Adapter - Apple

My dock has available software to use a Super drive.

You can also get a USB-C disk drive that might plug directly into your computer and not require an adapter of hub.