Sony DRU-500A & 4x burning - can't do it - firmware &

[goober22]

I have a Sony DRU-500A. I cannot get media to burn at 4x. I have tried Meritline, Optodisc, Accu, Be-All, Ritek. I have had maybe 8 out of 300 burn at 4x, the rest go at 2x.

I have tried firmware 1.0D all the way up to the current 2.0H.

I just picked up a new batch of Ritek "Ridata" 4x -R discs identified as G04. They have Ridata stamped on the hub, they still burned at 2x with firmware 2.0H.

I just rolled back to firmware 1.0F, I'll try moving up each firmware release and see if I can get them to burn at 4x.


If anyone has had luck burning them at 4x, can you tell me which firmware you have used? What brand of discs?

Thanks.

[sumibas]

Hi have the Same drive woth 2.0g Firmware. I always buy name brand most memorex or imation ot tdk or verbatim. and most of them are richo japan (dvd+r) amd i always Burn at 4X ie in 15 min. ?I have not tried any dvd-r 4X yet.

[mob]

that sony drive is horrible.

i have it too, and i cant burn those riteks at 4x.... i have never burnt any dvd at 4x yet, only 2x.

i guess the sony drive only supports name brand media that u can buy at the store... too bad.

[dmagic1]

Riteks are picky with the Sony but the others should burn at 4x fine.

What software are you using?
Do you have DMA enable for the IDE controller that the drive is on?
Do you have DMA enable for your Harddrives also?

Check those things.

[jaxxboss]

I have the sony cousin - ldw400 (POS), but I always been able to burn it at 4x +R and with the D-fw update I did a few -R at 4x. Its on my clunker win98 machine. was keeping it around in case i had to use it for -R, but my khypermedia will be able to do both now. Speaking of....dmagic1, any word on the -r4x update flash for our jewel ? just wondering if we'll get it before benq has the dual layer burners.
I MUST STOP BUYING DVD WRITERS !!

[Redd]

I have the Sony DRU500AX with firmware ver. 2.0c
I've been able to burn -/+ R Ritek, Fuji, Sony, TDK and Verbatum.

What I wish this writer would burn is X4 -/+ RW. I always burn to /RW first to prevent coasters. If I' satisfied with my project, I'll then copy to +/- R. Problem is that this drive will only burn at X2 for /RW. I'd love to see a firmware to fix this.

[dmagic1]

@jaxxboss

No sign yet. I check the site almost daily. I'm pretty eager too.

[dmagic1]

I MUST STOP BUYING DVD WRITERS !!

Your telling me. I think I have control now, but a little too late.

My DVD burner list:

Sony DRU-500A
Plextor PX-708A (sold)
Lite-On LDW-811S
NEC ND-2500A
BenQ DW800A

[fslove]

I have the same DVD burner and I have never had any problems burning at 4x. I almost exclusively use Memorex DVD-R 4X's and have had 100% good burns @ 4x (this is over 500 DVD-R's). I am using firmware 2.0f (no need to update to new formware since it works perfectly now).

Are your programs not giving you the option to burn at 4x or are the burns you do at 4x bad?

[ianmcv]

Want the best tip for your sony . Scrap it and buy a Pioneer. I had a Sony DRU500AX and tried for months to get it to burn at 4X with no luck. When I contacted sony all I got was the standard tech support replies of have you uninstalled the device and them reinstalled, upgraded the firm ware, have you tried to burn a disk with our Record now max crap.
I eventually got a return number from sony after alot hard work to get them to admit the drive might be faulty then I sent it back to them. While the drive was away I bought a pioneer 106 and have no problems burning at all. Every Ritek disc I have used has burnt fine at 4X. I wasted £200 on this piece of crap. That was the last Sony product I will ever buy. I got a different drive back from sony and did not even try it, I gave it to a friend of mine and told him that if he had any problems with it not to contact me.
Sorry for thr rave but it had to be said, again!
Take your sony back to the shop and change it for a pioneer drive, you wont be dissapointed.

[goober22]

@mob

i have it too, and i cant burn those riteks at 4x.... i have never burnt any dvd at 4x yet, only 2x

I feel your pain! I just went with the Riteks because everyone "swears" they burn at 4x with the 500A.

@dmagic1

What software are you using?
Do you have DMA enable for the IDE controller that the drive is on?
Do you have DMA enable for your Harddrives also?

Nero 6.3.0.3 currently.
Yes.
Yes.

@fslove

I have the same DVD burner and I have never had any problems burning at 4x. I almost exclusively use Memorex DVD-R 4X's and have had 100% good burns @ 4x (this is over 500 DVD-R's).

I haven't tried memorex after a bad experience with some cd blanks a couple of years ago.

Are your programs not giving you the option to burn at 4x or are the burns you do at 4x bad?

I have the option to burn at 4x, they say they are burning at 4x but they take 28-30 minutes to burn. I use Nero 6.3.0.3 (with ImgTool 1.1.2 at times) and Ulead MovieFactory 3.0 (was 2.0). Both give 4x option but no go.

@ianmcv

Want the best tip for your sony . Scrap it and buy a Pioneer.

This is what I am leaning towards. The Sony is 14 months old and has virtually never burned at 4x. About ready to call it quits. Heck, 8x drives are coming out and I still can't get my 4x to burn faster than 2x!

Thanks for all the ideas. I may try some Memorex next time just to see.

[dmagic1]

Have you tried DVD Decrypter?
Also Discjuggler is another app I found to be good at forcing write speed.
Try these if you can with any of the disc except the Riteks. Chances of getting you burning 4x with the Riteks aren't good. With any of the other disc you stand a better chance.

I feel you about the Memorex. I game up on Memorex CDRs a long time ago because of bad experiences. There DVDR products are better though.

[langland]

Hi!

I have the very same problem. Currently I am using Ritek G4 media and have found one kind of disk that actually burns in 4x, where the other batches do not. The media code is identical, my success rate (burning 4x) with the “good” disks are 100% and with other Ritek G4 media everything burn at 2x. Strange.

This will not help you.

But I have burnt a various media at 4x with my SONY burner; I just had to convince it that it was a LiteOn LDW400. I found a hacked firmware doing this transformation and in the same package another one making the drive a SONY again.

Currently the drive is using the firmware it’s maker intended, because otherwise some of the programs bundled with the drive do not install.

I am not saying this WILL help, it might even be bad for your drive, but my limited experience (one drive) is positive.

Try a search on this forum or at doom9.org to find the updater. If you don’t find it I have it here .....somewhere ......maybe...I’ll look for it.

Regards
/Thomas

[handyguy]

Whats so how about 4x? left column, dvd writers or media, you see that people get the most reliable writing at 2x or under. at anyrate, to get 4x just check those areas.

[stillmars321]

I have been doing 4X burns for a long time on Ritek's using the CloneDVD DVD File writing option. Firmware G. Even when I transcoded with DVD Shrink.

[dun4cheap]

Well I have been burning my Riteks at 4x for some time. My last project was buirning with Alcohol using 3 sony burners, 2 on fire wire and 1 on ide. 1 DRU500a and 2 OEM UA14 and I didn't have any problems. I burned 40 disc in a matter of a few hours.

[rhegedus]

Never had any problems burning TDK or Verbatim at x4 with my Sony (2.0g).

[masterpug]

I had problems with newer firmware, but once rolled back to 1.0f 4x every time...AND with only 2x dvd-r's from http://www.yesbuy.net!!!
the plain dvd-r (generic silver top, purple bottom that sell for $50 right now for 100spindle 2x dvd-r's). You heard me right...2x media burnin' every single time at true 4x (14-15min for full disc burn, so nero recode of dvd-9 to dvd-5). Also, been doin' this for over a year for backups of my home collection and sitcoms authored to dvd and no problems and the first ones i did still play fine today. no worries about the "cheap" price/media as it's proven quality and time. here's some programs i've used that burn at true 4x with this media: sonic mydvd vs4 and vs5, ulead dvd movie factory 2, recordnowmax 4.5, dvd decryptor all versions, and of course nero 6.xx as well as it's included nero recode. as a rule, i generally like to compile projects and save to video_ts folder and then burn dvd-video w/nero. if you have same burner/firmware and yesbuy.net media i spoke of and can't get 15min or less 4x out of the 2x brand, then you have something else going on with your computer setup or outside chance burner is defective...but that's a very slim chance. good luck!

[goober22]

Have you tried DVD Decrypter?
Also Discjuggler is another app I found to be good at forcing write speed.
Try these if you can with any of the disc except the Riteks. Chances of getting you burning 4x with the Riteks aren't good. With any of the other disc you stand a better chance.

I haven't tried with DVD Decrypter, I may do that later and see. I currently only have Riteks, I'll have to pick up something else later.

@langland

But I have burnt a various media at 4x with my SONY burner; I just had to convince it that it was a LiteOn LDW400.

I haven't found any discs that burn at 4x more than once or twice in a 25 - 50 pack. I found that LiteOn hacked firmware as well and tried it a few months ago but it made no difference for me.

@masterpug

I just tried 1.0F and it burnt the Ritek G04 at 2x (took 26 min). I just loaded 1.0G - will try it on the next burn.

I get reliable 2x burns with whatever discs I use, just can't get 4x. I would be happy with that but I PAID for a 4x burner, bought 4x media and cannot get 4x burns.

You think Sony will give me half my money back since I can only burn at 1/2 rated speed?!

[CT2]

Where can I get the older firmware? My 500 only burns at 2x while my 510 burns at 4x everytime. I have recently "Updated" the firmware and have had problems with the 500 ever since (as far as 4x burning).

[masterpug]

Easiest way to tell if it's your computer setup/settings hampering write speed or if Sony drive itself may be the problem is to try writing max/4x using Memorex or Maxell dvd+r 4x media. If they don't work 100% of the time at true 4x, you've very,very likely got a setup/settings problem like DMA not enabled for hard drives and burner, sloooww processor and too little RAM and/or hard drive space, motherboard is old and/or needs bios upgraded/flashed...something like that. You are more than welcome to send me your drive and I'll let you know if it's got a problem. You would first install firmware 1.0f like I'm using then send it to me. I'll test it the week I get it, send it back to you and reply with test results. Easy and happy to do it! If that sounds like an interesting option for you, you can check out my user feedback on ebay "fordmj" username. That should give you info for my reliability,etc. Just a thought....

[CT2]

Thanks, but it used to work at 4x. I did something to the computer and had to diasble the DMA and I downloaded the new firmware and now 2x is all I get. How do I enable the DMA again? I don't remember why I had to disable it in the first place though.

[masterpug]

enable dma:

right click "my computer"
click "properties"
click "hardware" tab
click "device manager" button
expand "ide controllers"
right click on "primary ide channel" and click "properties"
click "advanced" tab
set options to enable auto/dma

done...

[TheDogzBollox]

Hey all, i have eventually come accross a fix for this problem - having had my drive and scroured the net for a resolution to the 4x but 2x burnt problem here it is... i recently had to purchase a new HDD and given the chance jumped at oppurtunity to buy a SATA drive since i have rebuilt my system using th SATA drive as the OP drive evey disk burns at 4x even sometimes Alc 120% tells me its doing 4.5%!! i have the latest version of frimware from sony on the writer also - not a cheap fix but i have had this drive since it was released and have never found a fix so as you can guess i nearly creamed myself when i cam accross this 8)

[handyguy]

"Where can I get the older firmware?"

Ah, you didn't keep your old one? Sony doesn't keep them for download ( I asked). Always keep the old ones around you never know what happens when you put a new one on. My accus went from 2x to 1x so I put the old FW backon.

[TheDogzBollox]

Its not a case of putting the old firmware back on (you can get a hold of most of it not from Sony though) the drive when first bought burnt at 2x then they releasd a frimware update to let you burn at 4x but it never did well on the odd oaccasion and that goes for everyone but as i say with a SATA drive i can use the cheapest of media (gen use Bulkpaq 4x) and they all burn at 4x and as of yet no coasters out of about 100 ish burns since a couple of weeks back

[dmagic1]

Here are all the Sony firmwares I have. There is a bandwidth limit on this location so if its down, try the next day. I'll leave them there for a couple of days.
Link

[jurynel]

My pence of thought is the same - the computer plays a big role in the burning process. I never had a whimp of a computer under any of my DVD writers. And they refuse to burn coasters... The golden rule I use is:

Another thing I notice (and I am guilty of the same) is how many people is out there with multiple of burners. I can't remember the same tendency with CD-writers when they hit the market ten years ago? And it's usually something like 1)Sony 2) Pioneer 3) Lite-on 4) BTC 5) NEC.

[jurynel]

Let's see if I can get the golden rule in...

Minimum system requirements x 4. Or else you are just going to suffer.

Yea sure, Min Sys Spec says 256Mb of RAM, why do you need 1 Gb? Well, everything runs better. It almost runs smooth! same with CPU, HDD, ect.

It's not eccessive, but in all 5 years I have been doing video editing, every computer I built to do video editing with, the Min Sys Spec was always good enough to give me late nights looking for reasons why everything doesn't work like it should.

And remember - computers are not smarter than us, they only think they are!

[masterpug]

Jurynel,

I have AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1gig cpu and 512sdram. Will I see/feel significant speed increases by just upgrading to 1gig sdram? Motherboard is dual front side 66mhz I think and 7200rpm WD HDD.

**main computer use is re-encoding mpg's using CCE or Mainconcept's Mpeg Encoder.

If not, what do you recommend for best cost/benefit on a newer system?

Any help appreciated! Thanks!