Using 'Multiple Recorders' with Nero 7

[Briantho]

I have Nero 7 and until now I've have been very happy with it.

However, a few days ago, knowing about the possibility of burning to multiple recorders simultaneously and having a project which entailed making five hundred plus copies of a few video DVDs I had made, I bought three LG "External Super Multi DVD Rewriter"s (GSA-E60N). Each one of these burners has proved to work well when used individually BUT, when using exactly the same project and attempting to use the "Use Multiple Recorders" option in "Nero Burning ROM", the results have been disastrous. Very occasionally a DVD is usable at the end of the process but for a good 90% of the time I have to throw them away. Sometimes there are 'Verify' error messages and sometimes not. When being played back on a tried and tested set top box as well as one of my computers, the image/soundtrack skips, freezes, breaks up - it is sickening to watch.

I have two PCs both with XP, SP2. I'm actually using DVD+Rs (Verbatim and Memorex) as I have a bit of a stock I want to use up.

In desperation I have now given the project to a specialist company and although they will do a more professional job than I am capable (dedicated machines, superior artwork, guarantees, etc), it hurts a bit to give over some of my cash when I think I should be able to do it myself.

What can be done? Am I doing something wrong? Is there some setting I've missed? I would be perfectly happy to upgrade to Nero 8 but would that solve the problem?

I have written to Nero but I just thought someone here might have some experience in this area - worth a try!

[Chuck Engels]

Are these USB or Firewire connected, not that it will matter I guess.
I am pretty sure that you will have quite a bottleneck trying to burn to all of those external devices at the same time

[Briantho]

They're identical USBs - down to the length and thickness of the cable!

I should have mentioned that only using two together created the same problem. Mmmmmmmmmm....

[Chuck Engels]

More than one connected will probably cause problems Brian.
USB is notorious for getting bottlenecked, you can't have multiple USB devices all connected and performing intensive tasks like this.
You could connect 1 to a Firewire Port and 1 to a USB port and it would probably work but connecting more than one USB is probably going to be a problem.

[Ken Jarstad]

Whenever I want to research a problem like this I go to the CDFreaks forum. I did a site-wide search for 'simultaneous, multiple, dvd, burn' and came up with several hits that might be helpful. Here are a couple of them:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f61/burn-3-dvds-time-232663/
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f87/4-pioneer-112d-setup-help-231173/

[Ken Jarstad]

Whenever I want to research a problem like this I go to the CDFreaks forum. I did a site-wide search for 'simultaneous, multiple, dvd, burn' and came up with several hits that might be helpful. Here are a couple of them:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f61/burn-3-dvds-time-232663/
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f87/4-pioneer-112d-setup-help-231173/

Just like video editing, if you want to support such an unusual configuration you will have to build a machine that will support those unusual needs. I know there are commercial rigs you can buy that are set up for this, so it can be done.

I would start with SATA burners, get a full size tower case and perhaps an extra HDD just to handle the source image. HTH.

[Sheesh, instead of editing I quoted myself!]

[Chuck Engels]

Might be just as cost effective to buy a DVD duplicator

[Briantho]

OK cohorts, many thanks for the replies, much appreciated. I had no idea that DVD burning was intense from a machine/USB POV.

Anyway, having gone through this small nightmare I've decided to sell one or maybe two of these burners to other members of the extended family while keeping an open mind insofar as future large projects (in terms of # DVDs) are concerned. I'll do the video/editing and the company along the road will get the duplicating side of it. One massive duplicating need a year (or so) certainly doesn't make me want to invest in special hardware.

Anyway, many thanks again and when I hear from Nero I'll post their reply etc here. Good weekend to all!