Apple Macintosh: Making DVD-R backups!?

[chilliam]

Does anyone have any experience backing up to DVD-R on a Mac!?

Even if you're a PC user, any input or predictions on the following info would be appreciated.

It's very hard to find info for Macs on the net, so I'll throw out what I know, hopefully get a few cofused people started and get a response if I'm lucky. I may move it to the tutorial section if I can confirm my methods.

I've been working on it, but I haven't installed a modchip in my v7 ps2 yet, so I haven't been able to test my prototype.

THE BIG QUESTION: If a backup is exactly the same size as the original does that mean the process worked?


Backing-up DVD Games to DVD-R on a Mac

The Burner:
The Superdrives I have seen are equipped with the Pioneer DVR-103. From what I can tell this a combo CD-R/DVD-R version of the A03. It is theoretically great for DVD-R backup. I'm not sure about the latest drives, but I assume they are the same or better.

The Process:
According to what I know about Toast 5, from the Roxio website and other places, Toast should be able to copy unprotected DVD discs with its Disc Copy option. According to Charlie, PS2 games are unprotected. Roxio actually brags specifically that Toast 5 can make PSX backups using its new and improved copy function.
I have done this, it appeared to work. Haven't been able to test it. I have also successfully saved disc images with Toast. I am waiting to test my prototype before risking expensive DVD-R media.

Another way of extracting an image to your hard disk is to use DVDExtractor (OS 9 only). The apllication is free and can be found on the web. Under the file menu you can choose "Save Image." I have extracted the same game using Toast 5.1 and DVDExtractor and the images are exactly the same size. That says to me that they probably both extract equally well (both work, or both don't work). But I don't really know for sure as I cannot test).

OSX, it seems, has a built-in Disc Copy function. The computers I have access to are not running OSX so I haven't been able to test that.


(May as well throw this in while I'm at it...) :-)

Backing up CD games

I assume that backing up a PS2 game on CD would be much the same as backing up a PSX game on CD. Instrucitons for this actually do exist on the net. This is what I have read:
-If you have Toast 5, you just insert the disk in your drive and chose the disk copy option.
-If you have an earlier version of toast, you must use Astarte CD Copy. You put the disk in your drive, chose "Select All," for the edit menu, then Save from the file menu. Then you burn the track(s) in toast as a disc image. If there is a seperate audio track(s) you burn an 9660 XA format and put the audio tracks in the audio section, making sure to put them in the right order (track1, track2... etc.). I haven't actually bruned any this way yet. Only saved data to my hard drive. megagames.com, I believe, has good instructions on this.

Please, anyone, let me know you're thoughts!

[dook_knocker]

yo!
superdrive with toast is the easiest dvd-r copy technique for ps2 backups. you just do a disk image and copy or you could also use disk copy option. I would burn at a slow speed though just in case cause the disks are expensive. Use apple disks - good quality. i know nothing about other dvd-r disk companies.

Its nice to see another mac person on here. If you ever figure out how to make any emulator dvd-r on a mac, give me a pm!
-dooks

[SledDog]

The Mac Superdrive is merely an OEMed Pioneer DVR-A03/A04 (DVR-103/104) and your PS2 will love those Apple DVD-Rs (which I use too) much more if they're burned at 2x rather than 1x.

[anubis4544]

so what you guys are telling me is that if i do a disk copy with toast, it'll make an image of a ps2 and then I could just burn it? I'm pretty good with toast 5, so could someone just give me a quick rundown on what to do

[chilliam]

Yep, it's that easy.

You just put the PS2 game in your drive, open Toast 5, click the Disc Copy Option, then click burn.

Everything's easier on a Mac ;-)

The party line appears to be that 2x is better for DVD-R. Charlie_ps2 has a writing about CD-R burning speed on this forum. I would say 1x unless you have concrete reason to believe otherwise.

I am actually in the process of installing my Magic 2 in my v7 and cannot confirm all this from personal experience. It all comes form way too much time spent on research ;-).

Isn't it annoying that it's so hard to find Mac info about this stuff? But then again who needs tutorials when it's that simple? You just need some positive reinforcement.

Go forth fellow Mac users, populate the forums, and let your brothers and sisters know: "Yep, it is that easy."

[SledDog]

Go forth fellow Mac users, populate the forums, and let your brothers and sisters know: "Yep, it is that easy."

LOL You slay me...

Beyond simple disc copies (which are a snap on the x86 platform, Windows or Linux) I'll be waiting with bated breath for your "easy" description of how all your brother and sister are going to handle dealing with the split Global Image files produced by PrimoDVD or RecordNow Max when they "discover" or lay their hands on one of those puppies...

[chilliam]

I don't not know whether or not Toast or other Mac software can deal with split Global Image files because I have no experience with them. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a way of dealing with them, however. Because Micro$oft has hijacked the computing world with its mediocre to poor operating systems and monopolistic business practices, Macs are VERY good at dealing PC formats. PCs, on the other hand, have no idea what to do with Mac files or discs. Can your PC deal with every format that Toast can create? Nope.

Basically you are making the point: "Well PCs are better than Macs at dealing with file formats created by PC programs." That may or may not be true in this case (it certain isn't always). Its still fair to say that "Everything's easier on a Mac." [oh wait sorry... except for sometimes when you are manipulating files created by a program you don't have that runs on a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEM!] fair criticism? i don't think so.

It can certainly be easier to interact with a world full of people who use an inferior operating system if you too have that system. In that sense you are certainly correct.

Anyway, not trying to be rude or anything. I'm also not trying to turn this into an epic PC-Mac debate. But I gotta stick up for my people.
peace out. :-)

[anubis4544]

I've found that if you burn the (11).gi file in toast disk image it recognizes it as a game and burns with no problem, however my mod chip is so old that it barely boots cd backups. When I swap the gameshark for the dvd it reads it for about two minutes then nothing happens. my messiah is in the mail and I'll get back to you mac people, but if anyone is willing to try it.......... just tell me if it worked, cause if not I made 3 coasters already

[SledDog]

Originally posted by chilliam
I don't not know whether or not Toast or other Mac software can deal with split Global Image files because I have no experience with them. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a way of dealing with them, however. Because Micro$oft has hijacked the computing world with its mediocre to poor operating systems and monopolistic business practices, Macs are VERY good at dealing PC formats. PCs, on the other hand, have no idea what to do with Mac files or discs. Can your PC deal with every format that Toast can create? Nope.

Basically you are making the point: "Well PCs are better than Macs at dealing with file formats created by PC programs." That may or may not be true in this case (it certain isn't always). Its still fair to say that "Everything's easier on a Mac." [oh wait sorry... except for sometimes when you are manipulating files created by a program you don't have that runs on a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OPERATING SYSTEM!] fair criticism? i don't think so.

It can certainly be easier to interact with a world full of people who use an inferior operating system if you too have that system. In that sense you are certainly correct.

Anyway, not trying to be rude or anything. I'm also not trying to turn this into an epic PC-Mac debate. But I gotta stick up for my people.
peace out. :-)

LOL I take no offense at anything you've said. I've used both Macs and PCs over the course of time and I'm comfortable in either environment and aware of the caveats and limitations of both worlds. I still use whichever tool is going to get the task at hand completed with the least amount of grief, be it Mac or PC, and therefore don't really have a cause to champion. I'm no more a fan of MS than you, but I understand it's a necessary evil that a hefty percentage of the real world utilizes.

Frankly I still have 3 Amigas sitting here, in which case "It can certainly be easier to interact with a world full of people who use an inferior operating system if you too have that system. [So if you own a Mac] In that sense you are certainly correct."

We can always start a debate over in Off-Topic on the overall aspects of both hardware and OSes, as my Amigas made both Macs and PCs of that time look sick (and in some cases, still do... )

[frizzzo]

thanks for the information!!
so it really does work?
pop game in mac... copy and burn at 1x or 2x??
seems a little too easy =)
does one not need to patch the isos (ea patch)
or anything like that??

anyways great forum!!
thanks again!