External DVD burner, Firewire vs. USB 2?

Since there is nothing better than iDVD for creative menus and scene selection I am to the point I just need iDVD to work no matter how slow I adjust the speed.

For my (2012 MP) running 10.12.6 I might just replace the internal optical drive, use the Disk Image option and keep speed at 2x’s to have any chance of getting successful burns.

Old Toad has mentioned how they types of files you put into an iDVD project can also effect the chances of a successful burn. In other threads like this he has graciously answered others questions related to the files/ratio aspects iDVD prefers. Lots of great trouble shooting tips out there and great to get some guidance as to the best kind of internal/external optical burners out there to eliminate hardware from the variables that cause unsuccessful burns.

My other (2006 MP) cannot and has not had any OS upgraded since Lion. This old Mac is what I have relied on to burn iDVD’s sucefully by using Disk Image and 2x’s.

A 4X drive will run at the same speed with FireWire or USB if the computer's USB is not being heavily used by other devices. If USB hard drives are in use while burning a DVD via USB, it might slow the DVD burning.

If you have a choice, look for a DVD drive with USB 3. If you ever get a new Mac, it won't have FireWire, but will support USB 3.

An analogy to go along with what Malcom replied might be…..Your in a car that cant go faster than 40mph--- You have to choose a highway to escape a hurricane. You can drive 40 on a congested USB 2.0 road where other USB devices can can weigh you down or drive 40 on a more open FW-800 highway. I just want to give my self the best chance of getting to my destination no matter how slow. I want to escape hurricane multiplexor!!

Yes, Verbatim is a great media.

There are several of these Firewire 800 drives on eBay & Amazon.

Does anyone know if they are worth the extra ~15 bucks for someone that wants more reliable burns?

Thank you for your replies. I tried to preface my comment by saying speed is not what im after. I just want reliable burns and if a faster cable/interphase might help the encoding/burning process then im all in.

iDVD is very unreliable on one of my computers (MP 2012) and only works by creating a Disk Image on my other MP 1.1.

Its my Mac Pro 1.1 that is maxed out and can no longer be upgraded that causes me to think this is a drive issue and not a software/OS issue.

I cant believe that iDVD is still king for those that want professional looking menues/scene selection despite being out of print for almost 5 years now. Anybody stumbled onto anything better? Toast IMO looks way to amature.

Michael—I didn’t realize that burning via USB could be bogged down by other active USB devices. For that reason alone I would be willing to invest the extra bucks to get a FW-800.

I am going to call OWC tomorrow to find out what it would take somehow get their “Thunderbolt 3 Dock” to connect to my Mac Pro (mid 2012). This expensive ($300) dock might help me with my flickering (6) multi monitor set up as well.

Thank you in advance!!! 🙂

Correct. If I had a Thunderbolt port I wouldn't need to call. I know they have some creative cables (eSATA etc) that connect to the logic board and out to the graphics card slot. Hoping there might be some creative options there.

$300 is a lot just to be able to use USB 3 optical drive but if it will enable me to use iDVD with more reliablilty-- it will be worth it. Anybody know if you can plug extra monitors into a "Thunderbolt Dock?"

Anybody found anything better than iDVD for creative menus and scene selections that use chapter markers set in Final Cut?

Thx!!!!!!! 🙂