Sony DRU-700a

donwidener wrote on 5/22/2004, 1:04 AM
I just bought the latest Sony DVD drive. I also upgraded to DVDA2. After spending several hundred dollars, I am right back where I started; you put in a "-" disc, the software won't recgonize the drive. You put and a "+" disc, everything works fine. Nero and 2 other programs will burn "-" fine. Sony, will you PLEASE support your own Hardware, or a least offer a "fix" so we can burn "-" discs?? Help!

Comments

farss wrote on 5/22/2004, 5:23 AM
You really need to lodge a formal support request. Problem is the Sony devision that makes the DVD burners has nothing to do with the devision that writes Vegas, or the one that builds cameras or laptops.
westside wrote on 5/24/2004, 10:59 AM
I have the same problem with another brand new Sony DVD player.....I am pissed.
rontvs wrote on 5/24/2004, 5:46 PM
I was looking at the specs. for the DRU-700a and it appears that you can only burn +R/RW DVD discs and DL+R, not "-" dics.

Edit: It does burn "-", I found another spec page and it will indeed burn "-".
Sony_DaveS wrote on 5/25/2004, 6:54 AM
The DRU-700a is the new dual-layer burner. You must have been first in line to get that.

We are looking into it. Thanks.
donwidener wrote on 6/12/2004, 12:14 AM
Has anyone heard anything about a fix?
mike_2004z wrote on 6/12/2004, 4:02 PM

Hi,

Output to hard-drive and use Nero (or which ever DVD burning program that recognize your drive) to burn the DVD. It's another step but hardly annoyance.

donwidener wrote on 6/12/2004, 7:18 PM
MIke,
Thanks! I really appreciate the advice!
Thats what I will do!

don
dvdude wrote on 6/15/2004, 12:42 PM
Have you actually managed to locate DL media? If so, does it work ok?
SpaceGhost79 wrote on 6/17/2004, 8:08 AM
I think Verbatim is the only company that currently sells 8.5GB DVD+R DL (Dual-Layer) and they cost $15 a piece.

I just bought a new NEC ND-2510A DVD burner that has dual-layer burning capabilities (and it only cost $88, too...OEM version), but I'm not about to shell out $15 for one DVD.

I'm still using DVD Architect 1.0. Will there be any upgrades necessary to use the new dual-layer DVDs? I know right now in the preferences settings there's an option to choose 3.8GB or 4.7GB DVDs, but not an 8.5GB, so I'm guessing something will need to be changed.
donwidener wrote on 6/17/2004, 1:56 PM
I have not bought the dual layer media. I recieved an e-mail from sony that they are fixing the issue with "-" burning, and will be trying a fix they are working on. Tech support is great...I will ask about the dual layer support...I just got an e-mail for Sonic (myDVD), they have added dual layer support to their software. Thanks guys.
farss wrote on 6/18/2004, 4:32 AM
Just a bit of news, could be quite wrong but I think my source is fairly reliable.
-R media is going to loose out to +R, one of the main reasons being that they cannot get -R to burn faster than 4x, +R will be pushed soon to 8x. This maynot make much difference to us here but it makes a big difference in the STB recorder market. Now OK they only burn at 1x mostly but the issue is the finalisation time of -R media in these devices. The marketing guys see this as a big negative for the average consummer who wants to record a DVD and be able to play it back instantly, not have to wait around for another process to happen.
And oh yes , I think the same source said they'll never make DL -R media.
Like I said this could be totally wrong and +R end up the same as Beta, should be interesting.
dvdude wrote on 6/18/2004, 8:27 AM
Farss,

According to Sony's specs the DRU-700A can do -R at 8x, +R 8x media is already well established.
donwidener wrote on 6/18/2004, 10:22 AM
You are correct. It will do + or - , and it does a GREAT job. However, using DVDA it will not burn a "-" disc; it will burn "+" only. I have used it several times with Nero and it will burn both media so (obviously) the problem is with DVDA versions 1 and 2. I, too, believe teh '+" media will be teh gold standard, but I have friends whom I share personally authored DVDs with that need the "-" to play correctly in their players. Thanks for the input, all. Sony is working with me on a fix...they do a good job with tech support
farss wrote on 6/19/2004, 10:58 PM
You're right I believe, the unit will burn -R at 8x. Look I burn -R exclusively because of compatability reasons so I'm no great fan of +R even though I can burn both. What is now on the horizon is 16x, it'll be interesting to see if -R can keep up with that.
One thing I would add that seems to confirm what I've been told. +R 4x seems to take less time overall to burn than -R 4x media by a significant difference. Interested to know if anyone else has noticed this.