Cannot burn video files from my MacBook Pro to USB SuperDrive DVD-RAM. Help!!

I have looked at numerous articles on the web, Apple support and Mac communities, but I can't find one that articulates my very simple problem. Very simply I just want to drag and drop files to my DVD and burn. Here is the Apple support article that says it should be this easy. Store information on CD and DVD discs on Mac - Apple Support It doesn't work at all.

I am using a MacBook Pro 2017 13". Here are the stats:



I am using an Apple USB SuperDrive connected to my MacBook with an Apple USB-A to USB-C adapter. Here are the stats and info on my SuperDrive:


Here is the information about the Disc I am currently using when it is looked at using the Apple disc utility. It displays as MEI_UDF. UDF is Universal disc format, I can't determine if that is compatible.


And finally here is a snapshot of the DVD-RAM disc from Panasonic I'm using.


I have determined there are 3 possibities this will not work.


  1. My MacBook is not compatible with the SuperDrive for some reason. This seems to be the least likely outcome. I can see the DVD show up in my Finder Window and right click the Info. But I cannot drag any data or video files.
  2. My SuperDrive is defective. I have no way to verify this. Since the only disc I have on hand are these DVD-RAMS. The format is UDF which I cannot change or reformat using the Disc utility. Is this compatible?
  3. The DVD-RAMs I'm using will not work with this drive. That would seem strange. DVD-ROMs are for one time burning of the disc where DVD-RAMs allow you to burn over the same disc again and again. Is this drive not capable of burning to DVD-RAM?

Anyway, it's all very frustrating and most of the Apple support articles are useless and nobody seems to have the right information in these communities.


[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Jan 5, 2024 1:41 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 5, 2024 8:25 PM

flymiester wrote:

3. The DVD-RAMs I'm using will not work with this drive. That would seem strange. DVD-ROMs are for one time burning of the disc where DVD-RAMs allow you to burn over the same disc again and again. Is this drive not capable of burning to DVD-RAM?


This is the most likely problem. There are several types of writable optical discs. According to the System Report screenshot, the USB SuperDrive is compatible with these types of write-once discs:


  • CD-R
  • DVD-R
  • DVD-R DL
  • DVD+R
  • DVD+R DL


and these types of rewritable ones:


  • CD-RW
  • DVD-RW
  • DVD+RW


There is no mention of compatibility with DVD-RAM. DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM are all rewritable, but they are not interchangeable (as far as a burner is concerned). DVD-RAM discs are less common than DVD-RW or +RW ones. An article I found on the Web says that even though they are the best-suited rewritable DVDs for computers, they are not compatible with most drives and players. (Other than that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?)


Nordex Media – Explaining the Different DVD Disc Types


Ditch the DVD-RAM discs and get some rewritable DVDs of a type (-RW or +RW) that the drive supports.

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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 5, 2024 8:25 PM in response to flymiester

flymiester wrote:

3. The DVD-RAMs I'm using will not work with this drive. That would seem strange. DVD-ROMs are for one time burning of the disc where DVD-RAMs allow you to burn over the same disc again and again. Is this drive not capable of burning to DVD-RAM?


This is the most likely problem. There are several types of writable optical discs. According to the System Report screenshot, the USB SuperDrive is compatible with these types of write-once discs:


  • CD-R
  • DVD-R
  • DVD-R DL
  • DVD+R
  • DVD+R DL


and these types of rewritable ones:


  • CD-RW
  • DVD-RW
  • DVD+RW


There is no mention of compatibility with DVD-RAM. DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM are all rewritable, but they are not interchangeable (as far as a burner is concerned). DVD-RAM discs are less common than DVD-RW or +RW ones. An article I found on the Web says that even though they are the best-suited rewritable DVDs for computers, they are not compatible with most drives and players. (Other than that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?)


Nordex Media – Explaining the Different DVD Disc Types


Ditch the DVD-RAM discs and get some rewritable DVDs of a type (-RW or +RW) that the drive supports.

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Cannot burn video files from my MacBook Pro to USB SuperDrive DVD-RAM. Help!!

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