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NEW iMac Need opticical superdrive, Software Required??

Rhobes

Rhobes

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 28, 2004
353
6
Bigfork, MT
Hi All-

Just bought a new 2019 iMac i9 8 core retina, pretty much maxed out. Don't have it yet.

So, I need to buy an external cd/dvd superdrive, I have many reasons but not point of this post. I have eliminated the Apple right off because it isn't even USB 3.0 where many aftermarkets are.

As of now I'm looking at the OWC "Mercury Pro" for ~$69.00 or the OWC "Mercury Pro Blue Ray" for ~ $130.00 yet not sure what the difference between these two are. Leaning toward the $70.00.

I assume this new iMac will not recognize any external optical drive since it has no capabilities to play optical media. Do I need to buy software to start with, so the external drive is recognized?

I want read/write capability on CD for music, I do video editing on FCPX & would like to burn my movies onto a DVD (I think this is possible) - don't know if video could be burned in blue ray? I read the new iMacs do not recognize Blue Ray in any sense - so be it, I'm stuck with this new iMac.

Looking for recommendations on CD/DVD superdrive and software- if needed to run it.

Thanks for any suggestions !!
 
Rhobes said:
I assume this new iMac will not recognize any external optical drive since it has no capabilities to play optical media. Do I need to buy software to start with, so the external drive is recognized?

I want read/write capability on CD for music, I do video editing on FCPX & would like to burn my movies onto a DVD (I think this is possible) - don't know if video could be burned in blue ray? I read the new iMacs do not recognize Blue Ray in any sense - so be it, I'm stuck with this new iMac.
Click to expand...

All your info is wrong. iMacs that don't come with an optical drive, still fully support optical drives, just like every other Mac. DVD player is bundled with macOS, the Finder supports discs like usual, FCP X can burn both DVDs and Blu-Rays directly. You cannot play a Blu-Ray without extra software, but FCP X is capable of burning Blu-Rays. CD and DVD support is built into the OS, and so is Blu-Ray data.
 
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Rhobes said:
Hi All-

Just bought a new 2019 iMac i9 8 core retina, pretty much maxed out. Don't have it yet.

So, I need to buy an external cd/dvd superdrive, I have many reasons but not point of this post. I have eliminated the Apple right off because it isn't even USB 3.0 where many aftermarkets are.

As of now I'm looking at the OWC "Mercury Pro" for ~$69.00 or the OWC "Mercury Pro Blue Ray" for ~ $130.00 yet not sure what the difference between these two are. Leaning toward the $70.00.

I assume this new iMac will not recognize any external optical drive since it has no capabilities to play optical media. Do I need to buy software to start with, so the external drive is recognized?

I want read/write capability on CD for music, I do video editing on FCPX & would like to burn my movies onto a DVD (I think this is possible) - don't know if video could be burned in blue ray? I read the new iMacs do not recognize Blue Ray in any sense - so be it, I'm stuck with this new iMac.

Looking for recommendations on CD/DVD superdrive and software- if needed to run it.

Thanks for any suggestions !!
Click to expand...

I’ve used many different optical drives with many models of Apple computers. They have all functioned just fine as optical drives to read data/watch movies, etc. Apple software up to High Sierra works great to perform basic data burns to CD and DVD. Apple allows easy creation of a burn folder, and you just drag that folder to the optical drive icon when you are ready to burn. If you want to author discs, you can use many different third party software programs that will allow you to perform writes to rewriteable discs, or dvd. I have not done any Blu-Ray reading or burning on Apple computers. I have also not done any optical burns in years, I use USB drives for things I would have used optical discs for in the past. Using cloud more often now, over USB flash dives. I understand there may still be situations optical is needed.
 
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Thanks you guys! Especially, Casperes1996, I just couldn't find the info- I did read it would not play Blu Rays so thought you could not period. I'm all set then, having the Apple bundled software and my FCPX(didn't know it had the capability either) & if I ever need to play Blu Rays I'll look into software then.

Thanks very much everyone!
 
If you didn't already buy a drive...

I suggest you get one that also has M-DISC burning capabilities.
Price should be same as others.

The advantage of M-DISCs (for archiving) is that they use non-organic surface material, which gives them a [claimed] life of hundreds of years.
M-DISC discs (once burned) can be read on ANY drive (whether it can burn M-DISCs or not). But you need an M-DISC capable drive to burn them.

Of course, get Bluray, too.

Insofar as "software" is concerned:
I'd worry about that later.
Once you have good hardware, you can find the software, too.
 
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I use both the Apple Superdrive and a Sony Blu ray recorder on my 2015 iMac. Toast is the gold standard for CD/DVD burning on the Mac and I'd recommend buying the latest version that is (finally) a 64 bit program. I would also buy Compressor as you can use it to create both DVDs and Blu rays.
 
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I think I have it covered, including the M-disk and Blu-Ray with this OWCMercury Pro16X Blu-ray, 16X DVD, 48X CD Read/Write solution ( https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MR3UBDRW16/ ). I have FCPX and Compressor. I think I'm covered with software with the bundled Apple ware and FCPX's. Like Fisherrman says, I'll worry about any other software after I see how it all works with what I have to this point & if I need something, yes, I'll have "Toast"...

Now, don't tell me the OWC choice is bad cause it's on the way, so to with the new iMac 27", i9, 2TB SSD, 96GB OWC ram, and Radeon Pro Vega 48 GPU graphics card; June 20-24th delivery! Can't wait-
 
Rhobes said:
Thanks you guys! Especially, Casperes1996, I just couldn't find the info- I did read it would not play Blu Rays so thought you could not period. I'm all set then, having the Apple bundled software and my FCPX(didn't know it had the capability either) & if I ever need to play Blu Rays I'll look into software then.
Click to expand...


You're very welcome :)

In the export menu in FCPX, there's a button called something like "Burn Blu-Ray". Think it's there by default, but my require a trip to preferences.

As per codec licensing costs and such, free Blu-Ray playing software isn't super easy to come by. But it's possible to configure VLC for Blu-Ray playback, at least for a list of "known" Blu-Rays.
There's also a product, Leaway? Leawood? Something like that. It's in the App Store if you search for Blu-Ray. I think it has both a paid and free version. I've used both with various success based on the specific film. You may have better luck if you're willing to pay for a player, but I was a cheapskate on that front, haha.
 
The hardware will be fine. If you need additional apps, I'd start with Toast and the BlueRay plug.

No one pays full price for Toast—someone always has a sale within a month or so of the next release. The current version is 17.

Cult of Mac has it for $35.95 after 1st time 10% coupon, for example, That's less than the normal upgrade.
https://www.cultofmac.com/615808/corel-creative-mac-bundle-toast-17-titanium/
 
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Rhobes said:
I think I have it covered, including the M-disk and Blu-Ray with this OWCMercury Pro16X Blu-ray, 16X DVD, 48X CD Read/Write solution ( https://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MR3UBDRW16/ ).
...
Now, don't tell me the OWC choice is bad cause it's on the way ... June 20-24th delivery! Can't wait
Click to expand...
I am also looking for an external disc reader/burner going from CDs all the way up to M-DICSs. This OWC unit seems nice. My main worry (for my personal use I mean) would be possible mechanical noise during playback. Could you please report back here when you will have tested yours?
 
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PBMB said:
I am also looking for an external disc reader/burner going from CDs all the way up to M-DICSs. This OWC unit seems nice. My main worry (for my personal use I mean) would be possible mechanical noise during playback. Could you please report back here when you will have tested yours?
Click to expand...

Hello PBMB, It will be awhile before I get my new system all together (weeks) so I can't get back with 1st hand knowledge on your question anytime soon. I know I did read, probably on the OWC webpage, "Reviews". I remember some saying there is a little noise yet didn't seem to bother anyone to any extent. I also think there were those who said it was so much quieter then others they have had. Maybe check the website for reviews, also see if there are reviews on the model below this one (without the Blue ray).
 
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