Pioneer DVR-A09 this month

[Epicurus8a]

So far I only burned 5 or 6 discs with my new 109. They burned at 8x in about 8min. each, and they're all error free. (My 8x Taiyo-Yudens are all reconized as 12x discs.)

The software disc that came with the drive has lots of Ulead software: DMF3.5, CD & DVD PictureShow 3 se, VideoStudio 8 se DVD, Photo Explorer 8.5 se, Burn.Now, DVD Player 1.5, Nova Backup 7.1, & DWS2 (trial). After being disappointed in DMF 3.0, I was surprised to find that DMF 3.5 actually works. So far I haven't experienced any lip-sync problems as I've had with other versions of DMF. I've played around with the other software, but haven't really put them to the test yet.

So far it seems like a good deal....

[lordsmurf]

I'm buying one tomorrow if they are in stock. My 105 died tonight after 2 years of faithful service and thousands of burns. R.I.P.

[DVD Polizei]

I foresee using my 107 until the end of this year, and still buying 4x media as well.

I really am looking forward to the day I can burn an entire image of a 120GB Hard Drive on a BR though. Talk about a perfect situation for hard drive crashes. Just format the drive and insert the BR DVD, and I'm up and running.

[budz]

lordsmurf are you buying the OEM or RETAIL? the OEM can only rip 2x speed from what I've read on the PIONEER FORUM & CDRLABS FORUM. The RETAIL can rip 12x out of the box.

[lordsmurf]

I don't rip with burner anyway, not an issue. Plus I rarely rip stuff. Use my LG ROM for IFO rip from DVD recorder. I'll probably buy retail because I want it ASAFP, not in a week or two from mail order.

[mikesbytes]

BTW, my box says DVR-A09XL.

XL means retail package with software.

Without XL means the oem, ie no fancy box and no software.

http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/dvdwriters/dvr109/index.html

http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/dvdwriters/dvr-a09xl/index.html

[tmaxwell2435]

I really am looking forward to the day I can burn an entire image of a 120GB Hard Drive on a BR though. Talk about a perfect situation for hard drive crashes. Just format the drive and insert the BR DVD, and I'm up and running.

What software do you use to accomplish this recovery? I have had no luck creating bootable DVD/CDs with Ghost.

I would like to do a bare metal recovery with a Bootable DVD but can't get it to work.

Thanks!

[mikesbytes]

I saw the A09 at BestBuy for $129.99 yesterday

Looks like they are cheaper down under. The lowest price I have seen in Australia is AU$111 OEM and AU$119 Retail. When accounting for the exchange rate, thats quite a saving, say 25% less.

[lordsmurf]

So far, RecordNow 4.x and Prassi do not see the burner. I had to uninstall Nero 5.5 and move to 6.0. Now it sees the burner.

MCC03RG20 (16x media) is seen as only 4x.

All other 4x-8x media on hand looks fine.

This silver facing is ugly as snot, so I plan to buy the OEM beige and take this one back to Best Buy. They also have black ones at BB. Not my thing, kind of an eyesore to be honest.

I'm going to miss my Prassi/RNM dupe software. Nero is NOT very good for duping. Guess I'll figure something out eventually.

I think Nero 6.6 is screwing up some of my menus to made in DVDWS2.

Ah, fun all over again.

[mikesbytes]

Sounds like I should hang out a couple of weeks before buying.

[ViRaL1]

I really am looking forward to the day I can burn an entire image of a 120GB Hard Drive on a BR though. Talk about a perfect situation for hard drive crashes. Just format the drive and insert the BR DVD, and I'm up and running.

What software do you use to accomplish this recovery? I have had no luck creating bootable DVD/CDs with Ghost.

I would like to do a bare metal recovery with a Bootable DVD but can't get it to work.

Thanks!

I use Ghost a lot to make my images but not for the actual burn process. I create a bootable disc with Nero after I've already modified a Win98 boot disk's autoexec.bat file with the necessary switches for Ghost. If you don't feel like messing with the switches it's no big deal to boot to the CD and just run Ghost from the command line.

[edlav]

Newegg has OEM for $83+3.50S&H
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-129-161&DEPA=1

[ice-berg]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/article/0,,2076_4273_128163990,00.html

pioneer has posted a recommended update for the 109. according to pionner this firmware improves the writing quality on +RW discs during buffer underrun conditions and improves writing quality on DVD+R DL and CD recordable media

[tacoman97x]

Blu Ray @ 50 gb each.. imagine a data burn of divx/xvid files... you could have a little more then 70 (700mb) divx/xvid movie files on one disc! .... awesome if they come out with a blu ray disc player with divx/xvid file support.

[lordsmurf]

This thread is about the Pioneer 109 drive. Not BluRay. DO NOT THREADJACK!

[mikesbytes]

Whats the software like? It's only an extra AU$8.

http://www.msy.com.au/Parts/non-PARTS.pdf

[mikesbytes]

The firmware update has arrived. Time to try your disks again Lordsmurf

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/11298

[lordsmurf]

Old news. I already did that the day I got it. I'm currently on fw 1.09

I got the RecordNow 6.5 trial to see and duplicate with the drive. FINALLY! No underruns or other pains in the butt. The 4x is NOT a true 4x, closer to 3.8x, a bit slower, so burns are about 17 minutes long instead of 15-16. I'll try 8x tomorrow. The older 6.5 (though using NEW pxengine) sort of sucks, as it only gives 1x and MAX as the two speeds to use. Since it's the same px, I'm not sure 7.2 will be any better. No DVD-ROM issues like with Nero.

Nero 6.6.0.6 angered me, so it's temp uninstalled, but when I had it, it was doing DVD-Video discs just fine (though I had some goofy fluke on one burn! ... but could not repeat the results ... hope to NEVER see that again!).

So.... I think I may have found my software. Sort of.

This is so DEJA VU to 2001 (Pioneer 103) and then again to 2003 (Pioneer 105). It'll probably take 3-4 months for all software, firmware and media support to catch up to the drive.

At last the 6x MKM +DL is working well, according to reports. I'll get to those tests later.

I'm still not 100% comfortable with this, so I may end up getting an older drive used as a security blanket. I have case space.

NOTE: NTI software sucks, VSO software sucks, Prassi ONES sucks. Those programs were entirely uncooperative, and at least one of them was more like a VIRUS on the computer than burning software. They insisted on screwing with the system properties and drive interfaces. Yuck!

[mikesbytes]

So I shouldn't bother with the bundled software?

[Epicurus8a]

So I shouldn't bother with the bundled software?

If your computer profiles are correct, you'll probably get bogged down with the bundled software. I didn't jot down the minimum requirements, but imagine its 1.0G Mhz or faster. (Hopefully someone will have the precise figure.)

The software includes the following Ulead goodies:
DVD MovieFactory 3.5 Suite Deluxe
CD & DVD PictureShow 3 SE
VideoStudio 8 SE DVD
Photo Explorer 8.5 SE
Burn.Now
DVD Player 1.5
Nova Backup 7.1
DVD WorkShop 2 (30 day trial version)

[mikesbytes]

If your computer profiles are correct, you'll probably get bogged down with the bundled software. I didn't jot down the minimum requirements, but imagine its 1.0G Mhz or faster. (Hopefully someone will have the precise figure.)

Couldn't see the computer specs on their site.

Basicially I'm been a bit lazy with updating the computer and its probably time to swap the motherboard. Trouble with upping the specs of the computer, is that encourages the kids to play more games.

From what I gather, its more the hard drive performance thats important for burning.

[lordsmurf]

The bundled software disc makes for a nice coaster. The only good stuff on there is demo-only, which you can get off the ulead.com site for free too.

Actually, I could never find the "Burn.Now" software on the disc. I would have tried it, had it been there.

[Epicurus8a]

LordSmurf is right, Burn.Now isn't on the disc, although the disc says it's included.

Minimum requirements for the software: PIII 933MHz, 290MB HDD space, 256MB RAM, 16MB AGP video card, 800x600 resolution, sound card, 10 GB (or more) HDD space for video files.

I checked Movie Factory and it seemed to work, but it didn't support AC3 audio.

[lordsmurf]

I put Nero back, just FYI. Working okay so far.

[mikesbytes]

Does it come with Nero

[lordsmurf]

No. I've owned Nero 6 since it came out. Just never had a reason to use it.

[RickTheRed]

I'm still not 100% comfortable with this, so I may end up getting an older drive used as a security blanket. I have case space.

Humm, what made you choose a 109 over a 108?
DL-R?
If you're not happy with the 109, I'll suggest the 108.

[lordsmurf]

DVD-R DL ... I wanted the drive eventually ...
was just forced to buy it when the 105 died.

I would have bough any cheapo (well, almost, I'd NEVER get the BenQ drive) drive had the 109 not been out. Probably another BTC.

"not happy" is also not the same as "not comfortable".

[stiltman]

DVD-R DL ... I wanted the drive eventually ...
was just forced to buy it when the 105 died.

I would have bough any cheapo (well, almost, I'd NEVER get the BenQ drive) drive had the 109 not been out. Probably another BTC.

"not happy" is also not the same as "not comfortable".

So far I dislike my BTC/Emprex

I'm gonna buy another drive today to replace it. I still have $90 gift certificate at Frys

[banger298]

tryed this wrighter ,got this wrighter it's not bad considering that the 108 was very bad when it first came out ,and how do you get it to wright above 8x sorry keep at 8x would be nice (using same disc's as i would on 108 that do's them 12x) hope they are fixed in firmware releases to come (letts hope)come on pioneer you can do it we now get it right (sorry a little rant)
had from monday 1.2.05