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mactropolis · Sep 14, 2005, 07:43 AM

Hello,
I would like to know if Mac OS X supports DVD-R DL (Dual Layer/Double Layer; aka DVD-R9) technology? I have been a longtime LiteON DVD Burner user on OS X, and I recently bought my 2nd LiteON DVDRW Drive. This latest version DVDRW Drive (SOHW-1693S) is identical to the previous revision except that it now supports 4x DVD-R DL (not to be confused with DVD+R DL). However, I was surprised that OS X recognized all the functionality of the burner except its DVD-R DL ability. Granted DVD-R DL is new, but does Apple need to add support in the OS for this new technology to be functional in burners? Are their any other programs known to support DVD-R DL on the Mac?

Best Regards,

angelmb · Sep 14, 2005, 09:56 AM

From Apple's G5 PowerMac site:

Double-Layer Drive
The 16x SuperDrive built into every dual-processor Power Mac G5 now supports double-layer (DVD+R DL) discs. While single-layer DVD discs hold up to 4.7GB of data, double-layer discs have two layers, allowing the SuperDrive laser to read from and write to both layers, almost doubling the storage capacity to 8.5GB. Use iDVD — included on every Power Mac G5 — to author discs with up to four hours of video content. Or use DVD Studio Pro 4, Apple’s professional DVD authoring application, for your commercial-grade titles and high-definition DVD projects.

So, DVD+R DL support is there, looking for DVD-R DL support I have found that Toast supports it since the version 6.1 so I guess the new Toast 7 can do the same or better.

angelmb · Sep 14, 2005, 09:59 AM

BTW, what differences DVD-R DL from DVD+R DL ?, I have a dual layer Philips burner but I have never used it in dual layer mode.

Thanks.

OreoCookie · Sep 14, 2005, 10:07 AM

Both are technically slightly different disks. The DVD+ forum was founded to avoid licensing costs and increase the speed of development. All drives sold nowadays support both. So it depends solely on what disks you buy

SirCastor · Sep 14, 2005, 01:05 PM

Is DL burning in the Finder supported?

mactropolis · Sep 15, 2005, 03:09 AM

So DVD-R DL is supported by Toast 6.1+ but not by Tiger itself (Finder/Disk Utility)?

I assume that Apple needs to add DVD-R DL support to the OS because of the fact that Apple's top-of-the-line PM G5 Superdrive lacks DVD-R DL support itself. A theory is that when Apple ships a Mac with an updated Superdrive that actually supports DVD-R DL is only when we'll see DVD-R DL support for third-part DVD burners included in the OS. Does this seem likely or will Apple include DVD-R DL support for 3rd-party burners before that technology is included in one of its Superdrives?

OreoCookie · Sep 15, 2005, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by mactropolis

So DVD-R DL is supported by Toast 6.1+ but not by Tiger itself (Finder/Disk Utility)?

I assume that Apple needs to add DVD-R DL support to the OS because of the fact that Apple's top-of-the-line PM G5 Superdrive lacks DVD-R DL support itself. A theory is that when Apple ships a Mac with an updated Superdrive that actually supports DVD-R DL is only when we'll see DVD-R DL support for third-part DVD burners included in the OS. Does this seem likely or will Apple include DVD-R DL support for 3rd-party burners before that technology is included in one of its Superdrives?

They already ship Superdrives with double layer support for quite some time now …

mactropolis · Sep 15, 2005, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

They already ship Superdrives with double layer support for quite some time now …

Yes they DO ship Superdrives with double layer support. But it is DVD PLUS R DL (DVD+R DL).

DVD DASH R DL (DVD-R DL) ("Dual Layer", not "Double Layer" btw) is an entirely different bag of tricks that needs to be implemented in the hardware level. Because it supports DVD+R DL in no way means it also supports DVD-R DL also.

OreoCookie · Sep 15, 2005, 05:07 AM

So why is it important if +/- DL burning is supported?
I know the difference between DVD+ and -, but for me, there's little practical difference, if any. Both cost about the same where I live, only that my (older) Toshiba DVD burner seems pickier with DVD+R discs. But other than that, what's the difference to you?

As DL burning was supported first by the DVD+ consortium, Apple decided to go with what's available. In fact, AFAIK there are only a few DVD-R DL burners sold right now (e. g. Pioneer's and Nec's latest drives). I don't think it's a technical or even strategical limitation. Apple just offers what they could get in volume some time ago.

mactropolis · Sep 16, 2005, 01:28 AM

I wanted to perform a DVD-R DL burn to conduct a series of test for an comparitive piece I was working on. I have a drive that supports -R DL (the LiteON) and also purchashed some (yes expensive) -R DL media. I wanted to keep my procedure standard across all media by always using Tiger (Finder/Disk Utility) to burn, instead of throwing Toast into the mix. Correct, +R DL and -R DL are technically very similar by design. And Apple supported +R DL first only because the Pioneer and Sony OEM drives included in Mac's supported +R DL first. I expect Pioneer to support -R DL (if it doesn't allready) very soon, as this is its own standard.

alphasubzero949 · Sep 16, 2005, 03:40 AM

I have a Pioneer DVR-K05 in my PowerBook and it already supports DVD-R DL. However, even with PatchBurn, only DVD+R DL is supported by Tiger.

Tsilou B. · Sep 16, 2005, 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

So why is it important if +/- DL burning is supported?
I know the difference between DVD+ and -, but for me, there's little practical difference, if any. Both cost about the same where I live, only that my (older) Toshiba DVD burner seems pickier with DVD+R discs. But other than that, what's the difference to you?

I always use DVD-R disks, because I have two (different) DVD players from Sony that are already a few years old and these players refuse to play DVD+R disks. My grandma's DVD player doesn't play DVD+R, either. I have never seen any DVD player that doesn't play back DVD-R disks.
However, I don't have a DL burner yet and I don't know if it's the same with the dual layer disks. I don't think my DVD players will play back DVD+R DL if they cannot even play single layer DVD+Rs, but I'm not sure if they will play DVD-R DL.

mactropolis · Sep 18, 2005, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by alphasubzero949

I have a Pioneer DVR-K05 in my PowerBook and it already supports DVD-R DL. However, even with PatchBurn, only DVD+R DL is supported by Tiger.

Yeah, I just saw from Pioneer that a good bit of their DVD Burners do allready support -R DL. Its only a matter of time now until Apple standardizes on one of these drives and adds -R DL functionality to OS X. Their's mixed reports that Toast supports -R DL, if you want to play with it before its officially supported by Tiger.

mediahound · Sep 19, 2005, 12:52 AM

my new G5 Dual 2.3 has a Pioneer DVR-109 Superdrive in it
http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/compute...riters/dvr109/

Does that mean I can't burn DVD-R Dual Layer and only DVD+R Dual Layer?

I suppose I should try it with Toast and it will work?

alphasubzero949 · Sep 19, 2005, 02:55 AM

+R DL is only supported by Tiger. I'm not sure if -R DL can be done in Toast (haven't tried).

mactropolis · Sep 19, 2005, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by mediahound

my new G5 Dual 2.3 has a Pioneer DVR-109 Superdrive in it
http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/compute...riters/dvr109/

Does that mean I can't burn DVD-R Dual Layer and only DVD+R Dual Layer?

I suppose I should try it with Toast and it will work?

You have no worries as according to that webpage, your drive allready supports DVD-R DL.

Any idea on when Apple will add -R DL to OS X though? Will we get it in a 10.4.x Update or not until 10.5?