Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-111D drive/Mac Pro question

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Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-111D drive/Mac Pro question

I am currently using OS10.5.8 on my Mac Pro 2.66GHz Dual Core Intel computer. It came with a PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-111D drive in it.

When using Toast Titanium 10, it won't burn DVD R DL made by RiDATA. I can burn any other kind of DL DVD disc as well as single layer DVD or CD.

I was thinking it might be a Firmware issue. How can I find an update or even know if I need an update? My current Firmware is: AB09.

Thank you for your help!

Mac Pro Dual-Core 2.66 Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 4GB RAM, MOTU Digital Performer

Posted on Feb 29, 2012 4:38 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

127,105 points

Feb 29, 2012 4:45 PM in response to Debbie

it won't burn DVD R DL

The plusses and Minuses are different formats. You need to note carefully, then look in:

About this Mac > ( More Info ) > Disc Burning...

... you will get something like mine:

HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GH41N:

Firmware Revision: PQ05

Interconnect: ATAPI

Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)

Cache: 2048 KB

Reads DVD: Yes

CD-Write: -R, -RW

DVD-Write: -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW

Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO

Media: To show the available burn speeds, insert a disc and choose View > Refresh

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Answer 2

Debbie Author

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35 points

Feb 29, 2012 5:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hello Grant

Yes, I looked into that and it states that it will burn DVD +R DL.

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-111D:

Firmware Revision: AB09

Interconnect: ATAPI

Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)

Cache: 2000 KB

Reads DVD: Yes

CD-Write: -R, -RW

DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW

Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO

Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

Still, I always get an error message when I try to burn to the disc. Any other suggestions??

Message was edited by: Debbie

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Answer 3

Feb 29, 2012 6:39 PM in response to Debbie

OK, you posted what the drive can do.

What kind of DL discs are you trying to burn?

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Answer 4

Debbie Author

Level 1

35 points

Feb 29, 2012 8:35 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

I am trying to burn video files as a movie to RiDATA brand DVD +R DL discs. I was using Disc Makers DVD - R DL discs previously but, I ran out of those and was hoping to use the RiDATA discs. I don't understand why they are not working.

Again, I am trying to make a video disc.

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Answer 5

Feb 29, 2012 9:05 PM in response to Debbie

But the drive does not say it can make DVD -R DL discs ??

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Answer 6

Debbie Author

Level 1

35 points

Mar 1, 2012 9:51 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

I'm not sure I understand your question. I'm sorry.

I have NO problems burning DVD-R DL discs. My problem is getting the DVD+R DL discs to burn.

In my previous post, I listed the error message that I get AFTER encoding is done (but before it starts to write. It never starts to write. I just get the error message.) when using a DVD+R DL disc.

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Answer 7

Mar 1, 2012 10:10 AM in response to Debbie

If you:

Media: Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

with one of these discs, what does it say as the available burn speeds?

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Answer 8

Debbie Author

Level 1

35 points

Mar 1, 2012 10:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

This is the information I get on the disc.

If I understand it correctly, the burn speed is 2x. However, I came about that information differently than the way you described. I inserted the blank disc, opened Toast and checked on the Medium from there. I wasn't sure how to get the information by using "refresh".

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Answer 9

Mar 1, 2012 10:52 AM in response to Debbie

close Apple system profiler, insert the DVD and again select:

About this Mac > ( More Info ) > Disc Burning...

--------

But on the box of discs, are these ones you want to burn explicitly listed as 2x? Or are they something else like 8X?

There are multiple speed ranges for some types of discs, and the newer ones completely confuse older drives, but the drives DO NOT issue a helpful diagnostic message. Some times you get "laser power calibration failed" and other helpful messages instead.

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Answer 10

Debbie Author

Level 1

35 points

Mar 1, 2012 11:30 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you, Grant!

Here is the information from the "Disc Burning"....

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-111D:

Firmware Revision: AB09

Interconnect: ATAPI

Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)

Cache: 2000 KB

Reads DVD: Yes

CD-Write: -R, -RW

DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW

Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO

Media:

Type: DVD+R DL

ID: RITEK S04

Blank: Yes

Erasable: No

Overwritable: Yes

Appendable: Yes

Write Speeds: 2.4x

To answer your question, yes, the box does say 8x.

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Answer 11

Mar 1, 2012 1:39 PM in response to Debbie

I think those discs are wrong for your drive. The ones you want will probably say "2.4x" or similar on the box.

I bought some of those 8x ones, and the drive gave me that goofy calibration error. Replace with 2.4x, which more closely matches the drive, and they work fine.

It sure would be nice if there were better error messages, or warnings on the box that these REQUIRE a particular speed drive.

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Answer 12

Debbie Author

Level 1

35 points

Mar 1, 2012 7:42 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

I agree about the warning on the box!! I always assumed (silly me) that the 8x simply meant that the DVD's would record UP TO 8x, NOT that it ONLY would record at 8x.

Okay, so, I have a 50 pack of coasters........ I guess I'll have to throw a party! 😉

In any case, thank you for all your help!!

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Answer 13

Mothra

Level 1

60 points

Mar 5, 2012 10:48 AM in response to Debbie

Hmm so does the 8x defintely mean that the discs will ONLY burn at 8x and not variable???

I was just about to post a similar thread but came across this just now..

I have a 2x2Ghz Mac Pro and last week took out the Sony drive that came with it and popped in my Pioneer 111D (it was a 111A-XL originally that I flashed to a 111D years ago) from my G5 since the Sony sounds like its about to take off into space.. So far Ive had no trouble burning regular DVD's, but last night I wasted 5 +R DL discs trying to burn something. They all failed during the lead out part of the burn.I tried Toast 11, which failed twice, then Toast 10 which failed, and finally good old Disc Utility which also failed twice (although the last disc that failed is actually mounted and looks like it might be ok). These were 8x Memorex (not the best brand I know but they were free), but I know the discs cant possibly be bad as we were burning with em like crazy at work yesterday.

On top of my 111D in the Mac, I also tried my Lacie d2 firewire burner, but that wouldnt even begin burning. Right away when I hit Write in Toast, it spit the disc back out and gave me a hardware error.. Dont know if it means anything but they were burning at 1-2x according to Toast, buffer underrun was on, etc.. I was out watching The Walking Dead while it was burning so I wasnt even doing anything on the Mac (or had any other apps running either)..

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Answer 14

Mar 5, 2012 10:52 AM in response to Mothra

Hmm so does the 8x defintely mean that the discs will ONLY burn at 8x and not variable???

That has been my experience, YES.

And the messages it issues when it cannot burn properly are junk, leaving you with no clues.

Get yourself some nice 2.4x discs, and live happlily ever after.

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Answer 15

Mothra

Level 1

60 points

Mar 5, 2012 10:57 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I guess its a good thing they were 'free' from work eh? I would be mad if I had wasted all the money on a spindle only to find out they didnt work hehehe.

Hmm we go through alot of discs at work (we ran out of all the DVD-R's we had on the shelves which is why we had to break into the DL's hehe) maybe someone will write off a slower speed spindle today. 😀

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