Why Only 2X Rip Speed? - Sony 510UL - External/FireWire

[EricS]

Hi All -

I have a Sony 510 UL - it is external and I am attaching it to my computer via FireWire. DVD Decryptor is only ripping at 2X. Drive is rated for read at 12X.

I have seen some other posts that Sony drives are locked at 2X rip. Is this true? Any one have any advice on increasing rip speed for this drive or a cheap external firewire with fast rip speed? I am using a Sony Vaio notebook computer with USB 1.1, so firewire is my only choice for high speed.

Thanks,

E

[poopyhead]

is that a DVD burner you're using to rip...

if it is, then that could be the problem. dvd burners are not very good at ripping...so most max out at 2X.

also, if it is a dvd burner, don't use it to rip. you will shorten its life....it's much more expensive to replace a broken burner than a broken 16X DVD-ROM

[EricS]

Good point about not ripping with the burner, but I would like to not have to but another drive right now - I have a laptop and can only use externals.

Anyone have any other info?

E

[Vejita-sama]

Do a forum search, there have been several treads about this. Basically the problem is that a fair number of DVD-ROM drives are locked at 2x rip speed for DVD Video discs? Why? Because you only need a 1x drive to actually play a DVD.

The Lite-on drives are not locked (again forum search for model number) and neither are a few others. I got a 16x Lite-on and rip DVD5 discs at 8-15.5x, and DVD9 discs at 4-8x.

[poopyhead]

The Lite-on drives are not locked (again forum search for model number) and neither are a few others. I got a 16x Lite-on and rip DVD5 discs at 8-15.5x, and DVD9 discs at 4-8x.

not bitching about lite-ons..as it's one of the few taiwan brands that has a pretty good reputation...

but lite-ons do have their fair share of ripping problems with certain DVDs

[EricS]

Thanks for the info.

[mkelley]

Actually the posters have not quite given you the whole story..

The truth is that most DVD-ROMs nowadays are *not* locked to 1 or 2x speeds -- but the burners are. This is a nod to the movie industry who are worried as hell about DVD copying. Sony in particular is both a studio as well as a technology company, so they need to be sensitive to both sides of the fence.

But you can pick up a DVD-ROM for less than $40 (I got my Sony for $35) which will rip at a *much* higher speed. Almost any DVD-ROM will rip at 8x or better (my Sony does it around 9x for most disks). If space in your computer is a factor, rip out your floppy drive, which you'll never need again anyway <g>. Your burner will last longer, your backups will go faster, and you'll live happily ever after.