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+R DVD and -R DVD - what's the dif?

DVD Backup question

I do have a question for you guys, though...

Can I make backup copies of my commercial DVDs using toast?
 
stuff..

masterjedi73... In response to your question..... No.

There is a way to make a backup copy of your discs, but it may take some coaxing to get the answer from here.

MacRAND... Thanx for not being upset at my response. I have a DA 733 PM with a built in A03. I later added a A05 by putting it in a cheap(er) FW case. I have had excellent luck with the A05 in this manner.

I can add a link to the case if interested. They are about $40.

Max.
 
Re: DVD Backup question

Originally posted by masterjedi73
Can I make backup copies of my commercial DVDs using toast?
Click to expand...
Like...movies?
RULE: Do not steal. (It's one of the Big Ten.)

If software (movies, applications, digital images, etc.) is Copy Protected, unless you go through a lot of trouble, hacks, etc., NO you probably CANNOT.
If you spend enough money on hardware and software, it's always possible.
If the DVD is over 4.7 GB it is pretty hard to use Toast to copy the disc on a Mac.
If the total data is under 4.7 GB and not Copy Protected, maybe you CAN.
If you duplicate an unsophisticated non-copy protected porn DVD will it play? Maybe. You'll probably create a few "coasters" trying.
Can you transfer analog VHS (Hi-8, & beta) movies (personal or commercial) to digital and burn them to a DVD? With an anolog-to-digital converter ($350 - $150) and enough Hard Disk space on your G4 Mac, and Toast, iMovie or FinalCut Pro, iDVD or DVD Studio Pro? -- absolutely!

MAY you legally duplicate (dupe) copyrighted (commercially protected) material? No, not really, unless you own the copyright to the intellectual property or have written permission from the Owner.
Federal copyright infringement is pretty strictly enforced for video movies and music audio.
Better to go the PepsiTunes or iTunes store route.
(BTW, you do know who all the kids on the Pepsi-iTunes commercial are, don't you?)

Ripping a music CD is easily done, but you are limited to "backup" for personal use.
Real "backup" as intent may fly legally. I'm an attorney and I'm not sure. It's complicated at the very least, and it depends on who you are messing with.
When I burn a "mix" it's to remove unwanted tracks, AND
so I can use a Copy in my automobile CD cassette player instead of ruining an Original, especially during the summer when the sun bakes and warps CD plastic... and kills kids left in cars too long @ 200º+. I'm in AZ.

Like photo copying $100 bills, you can always try.***
The penalty for getting caught is kind of nasty. Mostly federal law applies, but some state criminal counterfeit laws can also apply. Think: Fines & inprisonment.

***Adobe Photoshop CS has been secretly modified to include special image recognition software code that reportedly prevents the duplication of images of domestic and some foreign currency. Adobe "cooperated" with the government since their software was being used a significant portion of the time to create counterfeit money. So if you want to scan money, stick with Adobe Photoshop 7 and earlier. Not recommended. :( The U.S. Secret Service investigates.
 
Hmm....I didn't really need the sermon there, but maybe someone else does. I'm fully aware of all of those laws. I was simply asking if there was a way to make a backup copy of DVDs I already own.

thanks, though.
 
Re: stuff..

Originally posted by maxvamp
masterjedi73... In response to your question..... No.

There is a way to make a backup copy of your discs, but it may take some coaxing to get the answer from here.

MacRAND... Thanx for not being upset at my response. :cool:
I have a DA 733 PM with a built in A03.
I later added an A05 by putting it in a cheap(er) FW case.
I have had excellent luck with the A05 in this manner.
I can add a link to the case if interested. They are about $40.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Max; maybe I'll do it...

Can you use one or both of your SuperDrives with iDVD?
What speed are the A03
and A05 (2x?) respectively?
I don't keep track except A06 is 4x and A07 is 8x.

I want to pull my original 2x SuperDrive from the top box in the G4 dual and replace it with a Pioneer A07 8x DVD burner.
Then if I can use the space below it, including the 2nd door, I'd like to reinstall the 2x SD. The goal is to make the fastest SuperDrive "primary" so iDVD recognizes it first, and the other (or an external) second. iDVD is good for quick, down & dirty burning.
That would make a good Duplication Center for CD/DVD read/write ...but nothing illegal. :p
Otherwise, I already have an excellent 4x DVD in the LaCie 2d external FireWire SuperDrive, AND
a super fast FireWire Yamaha 44x CD burner with T@2 software for burning laser images as labels on dark blue CD-R discs.
$40 cost for making the old 2x internal would be borderline. :confused:
But I appreciate the offer, Max; thanks. ;)

Or, maybe I'll sell the 2x to a MacBuddy who has only a Combo or just a CD player in his early Mac G4 sawtooth and would like to move up to a SuperDrive. :cool:

In Fry's I saw a 25 spindel of GQ brand DVD blanks "printable" for about $75
and then a 25 spindel of TDK or some top brand DVD blanks "printable" for about $150.
I want some to print on with my Epson 900 CD/DVD printer, but I'm not sure of the quality of the cheap GQ, which I've had poor luck with in the past. Anyone know? It's a lot of money, and a big difference in price, to just guess at. :(
 
MacRAND

See my previous posts for speed. The A05 was the first 4x burner, and will work well as a SuperDrive replacement. All Mac Apps would see it. The A06 (4x +/- ) is about half the price, and also is compatible with everything MAC. These are drop in replacements.

Second, beware of cheap media. I like Verbatum, or Ritek. A good source is from Meritline.com.

I have used them for a couple of years now without problems.

Max.
 
Copying what kind of DVDs?

Originally posted by masterjedi73
Hmm....I didn't really need the sermon there,
but maybe someone else does.
I'm fully aware of all of those laws.
I was simply asking if there was a way
to make a backup copy of DVDs I already own.
Click to expand...
No sermon intended, just being thorough and trying to give you a complete answer.
Unless someone says something otherwise, we all assume that everyone
1. knows about copyright laws
2. do not steal or want to do anything illegal.

But, it doesn't hurt to speak the Gospel every once in a while, you know, for the sake of appearances.

That's why I broke my answer down into MAY and CAN.
My 3 daughters hate it when I say
Yes you CAN (being capable, and they are very competent & capable)
No you MAY not (not being allowed).
SORRY for being so anal, masterjedi73.
"Most sorry, am I. Yes."

Don't want to leave you hanging, did we answer your question completely enough for you? If you are talking about commercial "movie" DVD discs (you still didn't say), they are generally so large (more than 4.7GB) that it is virtually impossible to "copy" them for "backup" on a Mac, without expensive pro gear. It would be much cheaper to just go buy the movies at Wal-Mart, unless you're copying in bulk like 100 to 1000.

Example: "Earnest Goes to Camp" may be short in length and small enough in data size itself, but when the studio adds outakes, extra information, games, talent info, etc., it usually goes over the size limit of computer blanks. They ain't stupid. You can tell what the SIZE it is when you OPEN the DVD disk to look at the data on a movie DVD on your computer (not using the DVD Player to watch it) and look at the total size of all the files.
DVD software is almost always written in such a way that you can't just dump some exteraneous files on it to bring the size to under 4.7, you need all of the files...and the studio knows it. :mad:

Actually, most of us are interested in protecting our "movie software" on DVD discs, but I've never copied any of the mainstream movies. Either too big, or I just don't know how...not that I've tried, mind you. ;)
If you figure it out, let us know.
 
It can be done

The tools to do this on the Mac are cheap to free. The performance is pretty good, and the speed on a 733 isn't bad (~1Hr to shrink to 4.7 ).

I have a daughter that is hell on my discs, and I now am at the point where if they aint purple, she cannot borrow them.

Guess I am to nice of a father?

Max.
 
Re: It can be done

Originally posted by maxvamp
The tools to do this on the Mac are cheap to free. The performance is pretty good, and the speed on a 733 isn't bad (~1Hr to shrink to 4.7 ).

I have a daughter that is hell on my discs, and I now am at the point where if they aint purple, she cannot borrow them.

Guess I am too nice of a father?
Click to expand...
Max, you are such a wuss ;)
Then again as a father of all daughters (3), we all are.

kingjr3
This site you gave us is amazing! Thank you very much!!!
http://www.wormintheapple.gr/macdvd/DVDbackup.html
I've already downloaded DVD Backup, it's perfect for what
masterjedi7 was asking about. Damn if it isn't perfect.

masterjedi7, looks like I was mistaken. You can do what you ask! and now, so can I. Live & learn.
And, I agree with the DVD Backup site that you are morally if not legally entitled to backup your own (movie) software...unless the studios are willing to replace any media that gets scratched or damaged (joke ;)) for a nominal repalcement fee.
The copy "goes with the original" (not in the same place) by the same Owner for the Owner's exclusive use. No problem with that.
Guess what I'm going to be protecting this weekend? It's perfect for burning DVD discs to take on a plane with my iBook (don't want to clutter my 40GB HD) so the original won't get damaged. Wow! Totally impressed !!!:D Cool logo for DVD Backup, couldn't resist showing it off to everyone. :cool:
 

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There is software that will burn commercial DVD's but be aware of the "Digital Millennium Copyright Act" that being said if you are coping a dual layer disk you will need 2 disks as consumer software and burners wont burn dual layers.
 
For what it's worth, I just tried to use a DVD + R in my TiBook and had no luck at all. It wouldn't write to it, and, in fact, it wouldn't even recognize it (that is - I'd stick it in, no disc icon would appear, and after a little while, it'd eject).

So at least for the last generation TiBooks, don't use +R.
Now I have to go get some -R discs. That's kindof a nuisance. Ah, well.
That's my two cents.
 
Dual Layer DVD±R burning is on the Way for Macs and PCs

MacNut said:
There is software that will burn commercial DVD's but be aware of the "Digital Millennium Copyright Act" that being said if you are coping a dual layer disk you will need 2 disks as consumer software and burners won't burn dual layers.
Click to expand...
Pioneer recently demonstrated dual-layer burning on a Pioneer 4xDVD burner, model DVR-106 with special firmware and their own driver at a show (CES). Although they said that it would be coming out soon (?) on a model after the 106, they declined to be more specific. In October 2003, both Pioneer and Philips announced their plans for aggresive development and prompt release of Dual Layer DVD/R media and burners in early 2004.

When I installed my new DVR-A07 8x DVD SuperDrive in late Feb2004, until Apple issued a security update the other day, System Profiler showed its capacity as 7.14GB instead of 4.7GB as is normal (I had copy / pasted the info exactly). 8.5GB is normal dual layer capacity, is it not? So, I have no explanation for 7.14GB except that it is now GONE and not part of the stats for the drive on OS X.

I expect 8x rated DVD media and drives will hold the spotlight for a while, then maybe DL will stir up some excitement. Philips has already announced on March 3rd that Dial Layer DVD+R burning will be part of its current models' capability and will be providing a free firmware update when the media becomes available. Likewise, Philips disclosed through a German newspaper that it anticipates releasing a new drive with 16x DVD+R burning capability before the 3rd quarter of 2004.
duallayer1.gif

http://www.dvdrw.com/press/duallayer.htm
New dual-layer DVD+R technology developed by Philips in cooperation with MKM increases DVD recordable capacity to 8.5 Gbytes
Philips will demonstrate its new dual-layer DVD recordable technology at the DVD+RW Alliance booth at the CEATEC* JAPAN 2003 exhibition in Makuhari (Chiba, Japan) from October 7 to 11. Developed by Philips Research in cooperation with MKM (Mitsubishi Kagaku Media)/Verbatim, the technology virtually doubles data storage capacity on DVD recordable discs from 4.7 Gbyte to 8.5 Gbyte while remaining compatible with existing DVD Video players and DVD-ROM drives.
Dual-Layer (DL) DVD media (DVD±R/RW DL), regardless of speed, does not appear to be available anywhere yet; however, the word on the street is look for availability in April 2004 or shortly thereafter, with Philips promising a free firmware upgrade enabling purchasers of its new 8x DVD burner to burn Dual Layer DVD+R media, and possibly DVD±R/RW DL.
Click to expand...
 
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