Turn PC into DVD duplicator?

[siratfus]

I've always wondered about this, but can some expert please confirm that it's a pipedream. Without reverting to buying a duplicator....Can you add a second dvd writer in place of your regular dvd/cd rom.... and burn two disc at the same time with files or disc images saved on your computer? This doesn't seem possible to me because whatever burning program you use, you choose the source and the 1 destination (your hard disc or your writer). Is there a program where you can choose your source and then burn it to two destinations if you install two dvd writers?

Please forgive me, I really don't know much about computer, yet I'm always surprised and amazed at the things you can do. So it wouldn't surprise me if someone here says it's doable. Yet, logic tells me you can't.

[Hardcoreruss]

This has been discussed before in the past. I know that it IS possible but am not sure of the specifics. Do a forum search and you will find some posts that will undoubtedly help you.

[siratfus]

Hey thanks! Now I know I'm not so crazy after all for pondering about this.

[Jukka]

I believe Nero can burn to more than 1 drive at a time.

Jukka

[BJ_M]

ive burned as many as 6 at a time .. those were with 2x burners though on firewire ...

if they were internal on a good ide buss on a decent system with a fast feeder or raid drive ... you should be able to do 6 (same as many duplicators) ..

i do 2 and 3 all the time at 4x now .... still on firewire ...

nero and prassi both support multiple burners (special version nero for over 2 burners i think -- i use prassi duplicator editiion myself) ..

[siratfus]

ive burned as many as 6 at a time .. those were with 2x burners though on firewire ...

if they were internal on a good ide buss on a decent system with a fast feeder or raid drive ... you should be able to do 6 (same as many duplicators) ..

i do 2 and 3 all the time at 4x now .... still on firewire ...

nero and prassi both support multiple burners (special version nero for over 2 burners i think -- i use prassi duplicator editiion myself) ..

Well, I don't need 6 at the same time. 2 will suffice, but it's good to know you can do that many. For now, I just want to replace my dvd rom with a second dvd-writer. I have Nero 6... this program can do it? Right now when you click on the destination drive box, I can only see image recorder and my lite on writer. So you're telling me this drop down box will show both writers if I have it installed and burn to both drives?

Lastly, do you recommend even trying this ona P3 866mhz with 512ram. I use my 8x liteon, and never have experienced any problems. But burning two at the same time, is that wise? Or should I buy a new computer before trying this?

[BobK]

RecordNow DX can burn 2 at a time. It does recommend that both burners be the same model with the same firmware, and that's all I've used.

[BJ_M]

ona P3 866mhz with 512ram

on that system -the throughput may not be enough ... slow buss speed , etc ..

2 should be ok -- maybe .. don't be doing anything else though ..

[siratfus]

Hehe... Well when I installed my DVD writer, I had taken out my plextor cd writer. I decided to install it back in to give it a try. I downloaded the nero demo... I have the nero 6 oem, and you can't burn to multiple writers with OEM. So I downloaded the demo version and been making VCDs flawlessly, spitting out two discs at a time. And I'm surfing at the same time, it is burning at this moment as I'm writing. My system is only a P3 866, 512ram. I'm very giddy and amazed. I guess I'll be having super fun once I buy a new computer.

BTW, nero 6 says you can burn to 4 writers at the same time with their full retail version, demo version, only 2. They also have upgrades for 7 and even 32 discs. But dang, 4 is enough.

Thanks for all your help. If not for you guys telling me this is possible, I wouldn't have tinkered with my computer today.

[siratfus]

I don't know what happened. I was burning to two writers at the same time at 40x.... It would finish at around 3 minutes which is about right. Somehow, it has slowed down.. Now it takes 6 minutes to burn 2 discs at 40x.... That's not right? I tried burning just one disc, and now it takes me 5 minutes to burn one disc at 52x.. Burn completes and says "successful 52x" but we all know 5 minutes for a cd is not 52x.

Does anyone know what might have happened? I didn't touch anything or download anything. The program I'm using is nero 6 demo... it just slowed down like a turtle. Even buring one disc at a time now is a pain. What shoud I do?

Does spyware effect these kinds of things? I've been having problems with spyware. Though they just bother my internet connection, I don't see how spyware is causing my burners to slow down.