Forum Archive Home -> DVD & Blu-ray Writers -> Burn 3 DVDs at a time
| Burn 3 DVDs at a time | ||
| Dimava posted 2007 Nov 25 12:50 | ||
| Hi guys, I know that this is a video-centric website but some of you may know of a solution.
At work we create backups nightly and we are supposed to burn a one-day snapshot of them once a week. A full backup set is typically 4 DVDs (we use winrar to span them), and we need to make 3 copies of each. One copy stays in the office safe and two copies go home with various executives for additional redundancy. Is there any solution which will allow us to burn 3 DVDs of the same file at a time? I was looking into the DVD Duplicators, but those need a source DVD, which almost defeats the purpose of investing into one for our needs. Are there any USB duplicators or something of that nature that would allow me to burn 3 copies of the same rar file at a time? thanks, Dimava | ||
| aedipuss posted 2007 Nov 25 13:27 | ||
| i know alcohol 120% can make use of more than one dvd writer at a time. all drives all have to be the same make/model/firmware iirc. there is other software that can do it also but i can't remember which. | ||
| redwudz posted 2007 Nov 25 13:33 | ||
| Nero Burning ROM can do that using multiple burners fairly easily. :shock: Not that hard if they are all the same files. | ||
| Dimava posted 2007 Nov 25 13:33 | ||
| Thanks for the reply, I know Nero does it too, but what kind of system specs would I need to do it? I have burned 2 at a time in the past and it seemed to really hammer on at-the-time fast CPU | ||
| redwudz posted 2007 Nov 25 13:48 | ||
| Not so much a problem with the CPU/RAM speeds, but may be a fair load on the IDE interface. With XP, I would use 1GB RAM, a CPU in the 2Ghz or more region and put the files on other than the boot drive and it shouldn't be a big problem. Most any new computer should handle it fairly well. Also watch out for background virus scanners or other programs running that may be dragging down the system. | ||
| Dimava posted 2007 Nov 25 13:56 | ||
| Do you think that one 7200 rpm drive should be able to support all three to be burned at the same time? I just spec'ed out a system using all SATA connectors, but only using one 7200 rpm drive | ||
| videobread posted 2007 Nov 25 14:05 | ||
| I burn to multiple drives using Instant Copy 7. The content is not protected. It is my own. Drives need to all be the same with the same firmware version to work. | ||
| redwudz posted 2007 Nov 25 14:26 | ||
| Having a hard drive separate from the boot drive can often make a big difference. You don't need a super fast hard drive. Optical drives are slow devices in comparison. Even using SATA connections. Nero and similar burning programs buffer (cache) the contents of your burn data to a hard drive, so a separate drive can help considerably with most setups. You can set the cache location in Nero in 'Preferences'.
As mentioned, the best performance from multiple optical drives is when all drives are exactly the same, including firmware. | ||
| Richard_G posted 2007 Nov 25 18:15 | ||
| Duplicators can be had which include a hard drive and USB connection.
http://www.edgedupe.com/05_edgedupe/edgedupe_systems_13_n551.html or http://www.acard.com/english/fb0101.jsp?type1_idno=4 | ||
| seadoxpl posted 2007 Nov 25 21:40 | ||
| Why not just get 3 seperate usb hard drive setups and set up auto backups then take them to their off site locations nightly?
Probably even costs less then dealing with all of the duplicator price and hassle. | ||
| dun4cheap posted 2007 Nov 25 23:08 | ||
| Buy some external firewire case and put the drives in them. The firewire bus does not utilize the processor so it does not tax the system. I have burned to 4 at a time using this method. I have since moved to a duplicator but still the other method worked well. | ||
| sandralink posted 2007 Dec 02 02:56 | ||
| I would opt to an external firewire drives or dvd duplicator
1-to-3 should be fairly inexpensive, for example http://www.editordirect.com/Editor-Direct-Pioneer-Standalone-13-T ... WEDEGG.htm or search on amazon. | ||
| obs posted 2007 Dec 13 04:10 | ||
| Psst ... eSATA, not 1394.
I've written three discs at the same time (1 SATA, 1 IDE, 1 USB), but only at 4x (I prefer writing at CLV speeds), using Nero 7. I don't think 8x would have been a problem, though. | ||
| filmboss80 posted 2007 Dec 13 09:37 | ||
| I built my own 1-to-3 dvd duplicator for cheap. Check out this site: http://www.ocie.com. | ||
| danielheldman posted 2007 Dec 19 16:47 | ||
| I found one for $509 using Sony drive
http://www.musiciansbuy.com/Ezdupe-16X-DVD-Duplicator-3-Target-So ... 3TDSO.html Another one for $354 using Pioneer http://www.timelinedigitalinc.com/standalone-pioneer-duplicator-t ... -p-48.html I guess there is no difference between Sony and Pioneer. Can anyone tell? | ||
| Richard_G posted 2007 Dec 19 18:23 | ||
| Most Sony writers are rebadged other manufacturers and not particularly good either. Pioneer writers are widely regarded as one of, if not, the best you can get. Pay less money for a better product and an 80GB hard drive too.
I can tell the difference, about $145..... | ||
| danielheldman posted 2007 Dec 19 22:45 | ||
| My Sony DVD reader can not read most of my backup DVDs and after I switch to Acer, there is no problem at all.
What about the burner compatibilities with cheap DVD media? | ||
| [_chef_] posted 2007 Dec 24 08:30 | ||
Has really nothing to do with that, the most important thing is the used burner / media combination. | ||
| danielheldman posted 2007 Dec 26 13:39 | ||
| Any suggestions on the media? | ||
| [_chef_] posted 2007 Dec 26 13:45 | ||
| Verbatim and TY. :) | ||
| classfour posted 2007 Dec 26 13:59 | ||
| I've burned to three differently branded/speed drives with Alcohol without issue. I wouldn't brave that with Nero. Media is always TY or Verbatim.
I built my latest 1 to 3 duplicator unit using a barebones system from copystars.com and three NEC and an Asus drive that I had laying about. Have about $300 in it. | ||
| danielheldman posted 2007 Dec 27 18:54 | ||
| NEC burner!!!! I got bad luck with NEC in the past. | ||
| classfour posted 2007 Dec 27 21:02 | ||
| NEC: The only issue that I've seen with any thus far was a stuck drive - the tray wouldn't eject: Which I fixed in very short order without a disassembly. Burn quality has been good, no coasters. The one criteria that I have adhered to is to not max out the drive: I will burn media below the rated speed, and have never exceeded 8X with any drive. To date: I have yet to have a DVD burner fail, from the likes of NEC, Panasonic, Plextor, LiteOn and Sony.
BTW: The burners in the duplicator are all identical NEC 3520A's, so maybe that is why I haven't any problems with that particular device. But with the one exception that I mentioned, I haven't had a problem with an NEC. I did have problems with a Benq drive that I installed a couple years back, but it was crap right out of the box - a firmware update cured that. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2007 Dec 27 21:16 | ||
| I found one for $509 using Sony drive
http://www.musiciansbuy.com/Ezdupe-16X-DVD-Duplicator-3-Target-So ... 3TDSO.html Another one for $354 using Pioneer http://www.timelinedigitalinc.com/standalone-pioneer-duplicator-t ... -p-48.html Check again, timelinedigital is selling $319 not $354, where di you get the number from? | ||
| harrisonford posted 2007 Dec 27 21:51 | ||
| Do not use celron, they have issues over time with alcohol 120, another program that works is discjuggler.
Have at least 512 meg of main memroy unshared, 1 gig will work better, duo CPU will make using IDE 4 burners more stable. CPU with at least 512k of L2 Cache, One meg and 2 meg are better. Of course most important is .... having no programs running in the back ground. Japanese made disk are best, second Ridata as long as you don't run the last 400 meg, the edge does not play well on alot of dvd players, Sony RCA Toshbia Panasonic tend to be the worst type of DVD players. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Jan 09 12:25 | ||
| Japanese made disk are best, second Ridata as long as you don't run the last 400 meg, the edge does not play well on alot of dvd players, Sony RCA Toshbia Panasonic tend to be the worst type of DVD players. <<<<<<<<
What about OptoDisk? I heard they do OEM for SONY. | ||
| lordsmurf posted 2008 Jan 09 14:25 | ||
| Ridata is not great.
Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden are the best two discs. Daxon OEM's for Sony, to Sony's specs with SONY codes. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Jan 11 14:50 | ||
| What about white inkjet printable media?
I use a bulk ink system for epson and don't know if Taiyo yuden media works out well or not. It is about 47 cents each.. OUCH!!!! | ||
| obs posted 2008 Jan 17 04:23 | ||
| Verbatim makes hub inkjet printables that you can find in big box stores. Wait for sales :). Might have to wait awhile, though ... :( | ||
| lordsmurf posted 2008 Jan 17 07:47 | ||
Ouch? I hope you're joking. :? Compared to all other forms of media (CD, VHS ... paper, ever), 47 cents per piece is super cheap. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Jan 21 18:28 | ||
| I thought it should be somewhere around 35 cents | ||
| classfour posted 2008 Jan 21 19:23 | ||
| TY inkjet = good media. Have burned and printed over 1,000.
Verbatim inkjet = good medi. Have burned and printed over 600. No coasters that weren't my fault. I do like the coating on the Verbatims better, less drying time. Can't burn 3 at a time on new Dell without plugging in an external, LOL. BUT: It'll still burn 3 at a time - haven't done 4 at a time, yet. I did check www.copystars.com today. You can start a 1 to 3 barebones for a little more than $150 shipped. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Feb 20 12:21 | ||
| I found one selling barebone 3 target duplicator for $149
http://www.timelinedigitalinc.com/timeline-digital-duplicator-bar ... p-285.html and complete system 1 to 4 for $349 http://www.editordirect.com/Editor-Direct-Pioneer-Standalone-13-T ... WEDEGG.htm I guess both company are using ACARD controller which I think is reliable. any suggestion on different controller? | ||
| wtsinnc posted 2008 Feb 20 22:56 | ||
| DIMAVA:
I know we have been told that duplication requires all of the burners to be identical; same model with the same firmware revision, but it just isn't true. While I rarely need to do so, I have used Alcohol 120% to burn three copies simultaneously using three different burners from two different manufacturers. Just yesterday, I burned three 16X Verbatim DVD-Rs using a Pioneer DVR-115, an LG GSA-H10N, and an LG GSA-H42N (the LGs using different firmware versions). My computer is nothing special (Dell E510/Pentium 4 Prescott 630/2.5GB DDR2 PC2-4200 RAM running XP Home/sp 2 or XP Professional/sp 2). Two of the drives are internal IDE, the third is connected via an IDE to USB adapter. Last year, I used on several occasions Alcohol 120% with an LG GSA-4166B, the LG H10N, and an NEC ND-3550A. The point is you don't need a stand alone duplicator or identical drives to make multiple DVD backups. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Feb 21 20:15 | ||
| I do agree that there is no need to use a stand alone in order to burn 3 DVDs at a time.
did you test it while you surf the internet or playing games? | ||
| wtsinnc posted 2008 Feb 21 20:19 | ||
| No. Whenever I am involved with creating a backup, I stay with the burning program and monitor the progress until the job is finished. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Feb 27 18:52 | ||
| Anyone trying to burn blu ray DVD yet? | ||
| classfour posted 2008 Feb 27 19:10 | ||
| I thought about it, but didn't want to get tossed out of blockbuster for torching their rack. | ||
| brucejackson posted 2008 Feb 27 20:10 | ||
| True, reason asking that was, I am doing HD wedding filming and want to offer blu ray dvd solution. | ||
| [_chef_] posted 2008 Feb 29 13:54 | ||
Doesnt even exist.... :D | ||
| gmo posted 2008 Mar 30 21:31 | ||
| Dimava = when you say "Are there any USB duplicators or something of that nature that would allow me to burn 3 copies of the same rar file at a time? " do you mean something like this - http://www.nexcopy.com/usb-duplicator-pc-based/ ? | ||
| danielheldman posted 2008 May 16 18:34 | ||
| found a good deal on dvd duplicators on AMAZON
1 to 5 dvd duplicator $376 http://www.amazon.com/Editor-Direct-Standalone-Duplication-Replic ... mp;sr=8-11 1 to 7 dvd duplicator $468 http://www.amazon.com/Editor-Direct-Standalone-Duplication-Replic ... amp;sr=8-4 1 to 3 dvd duplicator $276 http://www.amazon.com/Editor-Direct-Standalone-Duplication-Replic ... amp;sr=1-1 1 to 10 dvd duplicator $699 http://www.amazon.com/Editor-Direct-Standalone-Duplication-Replic ... mp;sr=8-21 | ||
| danielheldman posted 2008 Aug 05 15:31 | ||
| Any suggestion on USB or firewire duplicator? |
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