Testing Pioneer Bluray Burner For Mac

• Testing Pioneer Blu Ray Burner For Machine
• Pioneer Blu-ray Burner For Mac
• Testing Pioneer Blu Ray Burner For Mac Free

One of Steve Jobs’s most memorable comments may be the way he referred to Blu-ray as “” back in 2008 during a Q&A with members of the press: “I don’t mean from a consumer point of view—it’s great to watch movies—but the licensing is so complex. We’re waiting until things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace before we burden our customers with the cost of the licensing and the cost of the drives.” As Macs users well know, things haven’t settled down (at least not from Apple’s perspective). Four and a half years after that comment, OS X still doesn’t support Blu-ray playback, nor has any Mac shipped with a drive capable of even reading or burning data on a Blu-ray disc. And given that few Macs even include optical drives these days, Apple’s never going to bring Blu-ray to the Mac.

Pioneer BDR-XS06 Slim Portable Blu-Ray Writer USB 3.0 BD/DVD/CD 6x External. Amazon.com reserves the right to test 'dead on arrival' returns and impose a. This drive is plug and play for the Mac -- no drivers needed to burn Blu-ray. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you. Best for Macs: Sea Tech at Amazon, “A plug-and-play package that's just 15.2. The Pioneer BDR-XS06 external Blu-ray writer is a solid piece of technology.

(The company can already sell you HD movies and TV shows directly from the iTunes Store, so why would Apple want to embrace Blu-ray?) While Blu-ray was in its early days when Jobs made his “bag of hurt” comment, the format has come a long way, and the Blu-ray disc is holding its own in the marketplace. True, people still buy more DVDs than Blu-ray discs, but. And even though downloading HD movies is easy, there are several reasons to buy Blu-ray discs. The picture quality is better (with higher bit rates and less compression), as is the audio (with several different mixes for multichannel systems). If you lack a fast Internet connection (or are subject to bandwidth caps from your ISP), it may be quicker and easier to buy a Blu-ray disc than wait to download a file that might top out at 8GB.

Also, even with digital extras included with many movies now, you don’t get the full complement of bonus content you do with a disc. Finally, an optical disc is a good, hard-copy backup. Sold on Blu-ray yet? Then it’s time to learn how you can watch and even rip Blu-ray discs on a Mac. The hardware portion of the equation The first step to be able to play Blu-rays on a Mac is to purchase a Blu-ray drive. You can get an external, USB Blu-ray drive for less than $50, though you might want to look around the $80 to $100 range to find a good one. (The cheaper models are usually from unknown vendors and often get poor reviews from users.) Many of these models are bus-powered, so you don’t need a power supply; just connect them to a Mac that has powered USB ports, and you’re up and running.

You won’t need any special drivers to mount the Blu-ray discs, but once they’re mounted, there’s not much you can do with them. MCE Technologies’ $79 USB Super-BluDrive includes Blu-ray playback software for your Mac. MCE Technologies sells a for $79, which includes software that can play Blu-ray movies (the same program I’m going to look at below, ).

OWC also offers both, but you’ll need to bring your own software to the party. Bear in mind that a Blu-ray drive can also play DVDs and CDs.

So if you’re planning to get an external drive to connect to a Mac that is devoid of such a device, think about getting one that includes Blu-ray support. Blu-ray playback software At first blush, there are a number of different Blu-ray playback software options for Mac users. But if you take a closer look, you’ll discover that they are often the same software but with different monikers, sold by companies with different names. I tried two such programs: ($30 for a one-year license or $40 for lifetime usage) and ($60 for a lifetime license, but discounted to $30 until July 1). These two About boxes look surprisingly similar.

That’s not the only way these two programs are alike. In my testing, I found the interfaces to be exactly the same, aside from some different colors. The Preferences windows are the same; the About boxes are nearly the same, too, with just a slight difference in version numbers. This kind of similarity is common with DVD, Blu-ray, and other types of video-conversion software. For simplicity, I’ll focus on Mac Blu-ray Player. (Note that Mac Blu-ray Player is due for a 3.0 update soon; I tested version 2.8.) First, you should be aware of a couple of things. Because the software needs to acquire the decryption keys required for playback online, you need an Internet connection for it to work.

Second, registering the software imposes constraints. When I registered Mac Blu-ray Player on my laptop, I couldn’t use it on my desktop Mac. And, when I switched the registration back to my desktop Mac, the software told me I had activated it two out of five times. As the company’s website explains it: There are five times each year for Macgo registration code activation.

If registration code activation is outnumbered, it will present a tip “Registration failed. Your registration code activation limit is reached.” Executive Editor Jonathan Seff looked at Mac Blu-Ray Player, and found it quirky and unreliable. Since then, the company has definitely improved the software. When you insert a Blu-ray disc in a drive and launch the software, it detects the disc and displays a spartan “menu.” Mac Blu-ray Player can’t reproduce the menus on a Blu-ray disc; instead, it presents this limited display. Sometimes, there is no cover art, just a generic Blu-ray logo. In watching half a dozen Blu-ray movies with the software (all recent releases, ranging from Sucker Punch to a just-released disc of Bach’s “St Matthew’s Passion”), I encountered none of those early problems with playback or stability. Video playback was smooth, with no artifacts, in both a window and in full-screen mode.

Audio was similarly fine, although the app crashed once when I turned on subtitles for a movie that wasn’t in English. I tested the app on both a late 2011 Mac mini (2.7GHz Intel Core i7 with 16GB of RAM) and an early 2013 MacBook Pro (2.5GHz Intel Core i5 with 8GB of RAM), using my 4X Blu-ray drive (discontinued but still available for around $100 online). The software offers the standard play/pause controls, but also lets you skip forward or back in 30-second chunks; change audio track and subtitle synchronization; adjust brightness, saturation, contrast, gamma, and hue; and much more. I found nothing lacking in the software’s functionality. Ripping Blu-rays In addition to simply playing your Blu-ray movies on your Mac, you may want to copy them to your Mac to watch on your laptop when traveling, or convert to a format you can watch via an Apple TV, for example.

Editor’s note: The MPAA and most media companies argue that you can’t legally copy or convert commercial DVDs or Blu-rays for any reason. We (and others) think that, if you own a disc, you should be. Currently, the law isn’t entirely clear one way or the other. So our advice is: If you don’t own it, don’t do it.

If you do own it, think before you rip. There are two methods you can use. The first involves decrypting and copying the entire disc to an.iso disc image.

This file will be the same size as the original Blu-ray—about 30GB to 40GB—so you may run into space issues pretty quickly. I used Aurora Software’s free, and this app copied my Blu-ray discs in roughly real time; a 2-hour movie took about two hours to copy. You can then play the copy by mounting the disc image, and using Mac Blu-ray Player. In that app, choose File Open File, or click Open File in the main window, and select the BDMV file in the disc image. You can also open BDMV files with the free. MakeMKV can rip Blu-ray discs and create MKV files, that you can play back on your Mac.

The second method is to make an MKV file (MKV is a file container format that can hold video, audio, picture, and subtitle tracks in a single file). Using GuinpinSoft’s —free while in beta, which it has been for several years (visit to find the current temporary beta key)—you can decrypt a Blu-ray disc and save whatever parts you want (if you don’t need the 7.1-channel audio mix, for example, just uncheck it) into an MKV container. This takes about half the duration of the movie; when the decryption is finished, you have an MKV file that you can play back with VLC or other software. If you want more manageable file sizes, you’ll need to convert the MKV to a smaller file—in the same format, or in a different format, such as an iTunes-compatible MP4—using a tool such as.

Into the blu That’s pretty much all there is to it. You may encounter certain discs that don’t work due to new and varying copy protection, but in general the process is pretty easy if you’re willing to invest a little time and money.

Overview The BDR-XD04 is one of the world's smallest and lightest BD/DVD/CD portable burners supporting BDXL. The ultra-compact clamshell type drive can read and write to all BDXL discs 1 including BD-R triple-layer 100GB media, BD-R quad-layer 128GB media, and BD-RE triple layer 100GB media, as well as conventional Blu-ray discs (single-layer 25GB media and dual-layer 50GB media). The portable device, measuring only 5.2' (W) X 0.55' (H) X 5.2' (D) and weighing a mere 8.46 ounces, also has the ability to be powered directly via USB.

The BDR-XD04 is bundled with CyberLink Media Suite 8, which includes PowerDVD ™ 10 BD3D, PowerDirector ® 9, and Power2Go ® 7. PowerDVD 10 BD3D delivers award winning playback software and supports playback of Blu-ray Disc 3D titles. PowerDVD will even convert your 2D video files and DVDs into a 3D experience, and will upscale standard-definition content to high-definition quality.

PowerDirector 9 allows you to import your home movies, edit them, and then author them to Blu-ray Disc or DVD, or upload them to social media sites. Power2Go 7 gives you the ability to burn your valuable files to Blu-ray (including triple and quad layer BDXL discs), DVD or CD media. With BDXL support, you can now back up your files with fewer discs than ever before, and since the drive is portable and USB bus powered, all of this can be done virtually anywhere. The BDR-XD04 can write up to 6x 2 on BD-R and BD-R dual-layer (DL) media. One BD-R DL disc can hold the same amount of data as 10 DVDs (single-layer).

The drive can write up to 4x on BD-R triple-layer (TL) and quad-layer (QL) media. One QL disc can hold the same amount of data as 27 DVDs (single-layer). The drive is also backward compatible to read and write to most DVD and CD recordable media. Click on the 'Specifications' tab to see all supported media formats and the read and write/burn speeds achievable for each format. The BDR-XD04 also has unique features such as PowerRead™, Auto Quiet mode, and PureRead2+. PowerRead can provide smoother movie playback when a disc has fingerprints or minor surface scratches.

Testing Pioneer Blu Ray Burner For Machine

Auto Quiet mode intelligently adjusts the disc rotation speed to reduce noise (useful while watching movies or listening to music), and PureRead automatically adjusts the drive parameters to minimize sound glitches during music playback. Auto Quiet mode and PureRead can be configured as well as enabled and disabled with the Pioneer BDR-XD04 Drive Utility. The utility is provided on the CyberLink software disc, but is not automatically installed with the CyberLink software.

Drive Features Store more data Up to 156% more data storage capacity than a 50GB Dual Layer Blu-ray Disc. The BDXL™ format supports BDXL Blu-ray media (including 128GB Quad Layer (QL) and 100GB Triple Layer (TL) Blu-ray Disc™). Watch 3D movies The BDR-XD04 is 3D compatible and comes bundled with 3D playback software. All you need for your 3D experience is a 3D display system 3.

Faster burning 6x 2 writing on BD-R single-layer and dual-layer discs. 4x writing on BD-R triple-layer and quad layer discs. An eco-friendly drive. Smaller packaging - saves resources and fuel for transportation. Reduced power consumption on external USB drives which allows for eco-friendly USB bus-powered drives. Smooth movie playback Scratches, fingerprints and other abnormalities on the surface of a disc can sometimes cause Blu-ray and DVD movie playback to stop.

When a PowerRead enabled drive is not able to read through obstructed areas of a disc, it will attempt to quickly move forward to the next available data point, resulting in smoother Blu-ray and DVD movie playback 4. A smarter drive Pioneer drives with Auto Quiet mode, monitor how they are being used and will adjust their speed automatically – high speed for data transfer, and low speed for music or movie playback.

A better music experience Scratches and fingerprints on your CDs can cause them to skip. A drive normally makes a calculated guess at the unreadable data and attempts to correct this to match the original music. However this is not 100% accurate. PureRead, when enabled, makes the drive reread the obscured data to extract the original music as accurately as possible 5.

Wide blank media support Pioneer strives to have best in class performance over a wide range of media – our drives achieve this for a large variety of BD and DVD media. Refer to the drive’s media support list for all supported media and the write speed that can be achieved. CyberLink Software Included PowerDVD ™ 10 BD3D - Delivers award-winning playback quality for Blu-ray and DVD movies on a PC and supports 3D playback. Includes TrueTheater™ Technology which converts 2D video files and DVDs into a 3D experience and upscales standard-definition content to high-definition quality. PowerDirector ® 9 - Edit and author your home video masterpieces to Blu-ray Disc or DVD, or upload them to social media sites.

Power2Go ® 7 - Store and share valuable personal files on a secure and removable disc. Frequently Asked Questions for the BDR-XD04 1. Are both USB connectors needed for operation? Answer: Some computers output less power than others through the USB ports. On some PCs, one USB cable is enough, but to be safe and to avoid write errors, connecting both USB cables is highly recommended. If using only one USB connector, the main USB connector must be used, not the secondary connector (short cable) that is attached to the main connector. How can I get my disc out of the drive when it’s not powered?

Answer: There is a lever on the bottom of the drive. Moving the lever back will cause the cover to open even when there is no power applied to the drive.

When installing the CyberLink software, why do I get the message 'This software can only be installed with a Pioneer device. The setup will abort.' Answer: The BDR-XD04 must be connected directly to the computer with its 2 USB connectors when installing the CyberLink software. Please ensure the BDR-XD04 is connected and recognized by the operating system and then restart the software installation. Is connection by USB 2.0 fast enough to watch Blu-ray titles? Answer: To watch Blu-ray titles, you need to read the Blu-ray Disc at 1x. To watch Blu-ray 3D titles, you need to read the disc at 2x.

Connection by USB 2.0 can allow reading of Blu-ray Discs up to 6x, so USB 2.0 is more than enough in most operating environments. Can I see the files I burned to a BDXL disc on any Blu-ray drive? Answer: BDXL discs can only be read on BDXL drives. Can I use the BDR-XD04 with other burning/playback/editing software? Answer: The BDR-XD04 will work with newer software in a Windows 7, Vista, or XP SP3 environment.

In a limited way, it will even work with Mac OS X software. However, as with all current Blu-ray drives, it will not work with playback software that does not support Bus Encryption. Bus Encryption was implemented into playback software in 2011. If using other software, how can I still use the Pioneer High Speed USB driver? Answer: The Pioneer USB High Speed Driver will only be installed when the bundled CyberLink software is installed. If using other software, it is recommended to install the bundled CyberLink software first so the Pioneer USB driver is installed. Without the Pioneer USB High Speed Driver, 6x writing on BD-R media may not be possible.

Does the BDR-XD04 work in a Mac OS X environment? Answer: Although Pioneer does not guarantee operation with Mac OS X, being that the drive is connected through USB, the drive can operate in a Mac OS X environment (tested with Mac OS X 10.6.7). The drive should be able to read and write to Blu-ray, DVD, and CD media but it depends on the Mac OS software (finder/disc utility/etc). Video playback also depends on the Mac OS software. Note that the bundled CyberLink software does not work in the Mac OS X environment. Read and write performance will not be the same in a Mac OS X environment.

Can I use the drive in a vertical orientation? Answer: No, the drive should only be used in a horizontal (lying down) orientation. How can I change the PureRead and Auto Quiet Mode settings? Answer: PureRead and Auto Quiet Mode can be configured as well as enabled and disabled with the Pioneer BDR-XD04 Drive Utility. This utility is provided on the CyberLink software disc. The utility is not automatically installed with the CyberLink software.

To start the utility, go to “X: Pioneer Drive Utilities BDR-XD04” where “X” is the drive where the Cyberlink software disc is loaded. Ensure that the BDR-XD04 is connected to the computer and then double click on “Pioneer BDR-XD04 Drive Utility.exe”. I started the Pioneer BDR-XD04 Drive Utility. Why are all the options grayed-out and it says “Target is not found”? Answer: Ensure that the drive is connected and recognized by the computer before starting the utility. Ensure that the correct utility (BDR-XD04) is used and not the BDR-2207 utility.

Connect the drive to the PC with the two USB cables and restart the BDR-XD04 utility. Can I connect the BDR-XD04 to a PC through a USB hub?

Answer: If the USB hub is powered (AC adapter), the BDR-XD04 may work, however the drive’s read and write speed may be reduced. The BDR-XD04 will not work if the USB hub is not powered. Why can’t I play Blu-ray titles or high definition copy protected content, but I can play DVDs? Answer: From January 1, 2012, all playback software is required to disable analog outputs from the PC for high-definition copy protected content. For such content, an HDCP display (monitor/TV) is required and it must be connected to the PC using a digital DVI (DVI-D), HDMI, or DisplayPort cable. The best way to know if a display supports HDCP is if it has HDMI inputs.

The next best way is to look at the display's user manual. When playing non-copy-protected high definition video (such as home videos), or copy protected DVDs, the computer’s analog outputs are enabled and non-HDCP display systems will work. Note: This limitation is not applicable to notebook computers with built-in displays, only when using external monitors. Why won't the CyberLink software work properly in Windows 8? Answer: If the CyberLink software disc shipped with the drive shows SR: MES110922-03 on the disc label, then a free update from CyberLink is needed for the software to work properly in Windows 8.

If the disc label has SR: MES120813-02, then the software already supports Windows 8 and nothing else needs to be done. To download the free update, run the 'CyberLink Media Suite' software by either double clicking the icon on your desktop, or single clicking the Media Suite tile. Once Media Suite is running, there will appear a row of icons at the bottom of the window. Above the 'Utilities' icon which is second from the right, there is an icon that looks like an up arrow.

Click on this arrow. The free update for PowerDVD, Power2Go, and PowerDirector will be displayed as a green plus sign. Click on a plus sign to download the free update. Once you click, a website will be opened. Click on the 'Download Free Update' link near the top of the page.

Pioneer Blu-ray Burner For Mac

When prompted, click on the 'Run' button twice to install the update. Once the update is downloaded, click the 'Next' button, then 'Yes' to accept the agreement, and then click on 'Finish'. Close the website page, open Media Suite again, click on the up arrow and repeat to update all the software. Note that the update for PowerDirector is large (about 770MB) and will take a while to download and install.

Note that 'Free Update' is different from 'Upgrade Software'. Upgrade software is to upgrade to the lastest CyberLink software at an additional fee. This is not needed for the software to work in Windows 8. Have additional questions? Contact Pioneer Technical Support at: 800-872-4159.

1Note: Triple and quad layer BDXL discs can only be used in BDXL drives. 26x BD-R and BD-R DL write speed achieved using certain media and only with the Pioneer USB driver installed with the included Cyberlink software. 3For more information on 3D playback system requirements and to download a BD and 3D advisor utility, visit www.cyberlink.com.

4PowerRead is not guaranteed to work with all disc conditions or under all PC environments. 5PureRead2+ is not guaranteed to work with all disc conditions or under all PC environments. 6HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) display device is required only for playback of high-definition copy protected content (for example, a Hollywood Blu-ray title). For such content, the connection between the PC and the display device must be made using a digital DVI, HDMI, or DisplayPort cable. Pioneer and the Pioneer logo are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.

Intel and Core are trademarks Intel Corporation, registered in the U.S. And other countries.

Testing Pioneer Blu Ray Burner For Mac Free

AMD and Radeon are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., registered in the U.S. And other countries. BLU-RAY DISC and the Blu-ray Disc logo are trademarks of the Blu-ray Disc Association. Cyberlink, Cyberlink PowerDVD, Cyberlink PowerDirector, Cyberlink Power2Go, and TrueTheater are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cyberlink Corporation. PowerRead is a registered trademark of Buffalo Technology (USA), Inc. SERIAL ATA and its Design Mark are trademarks of Serial ATA International Organization. Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.

And other countries. NVIDIA and GeForce are registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation.