A05 owners and mastering software.

[F1Pilot]

I got my drive around Christmas, and since it's an A05...without software. I was just wondering:
01 - What software you use
02 - What brand of blanks
03 - How it plays on PC
04 - How it plays on standalone if it's video

I've used the latest version of Nero to burn my discs (Khypermedia, Verbatim), which from what I've read in recent postings, was a bad move. They all play on my Lite-On 163D with no trouble. If you've stumbled upon a few of my other postings, you know that I'm looking for a new standalone. I'm getting an APEX 1500 as well as a Pioneer DV-354.

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[boblx2]

I also have a Pioneer A05 and I have found almost no media that works with it. The one I found that works 100% is the Ritek 4X from either Meritline or Hyper Microsystems. The latter sells the meda for less then $2.00 each in lots of 25. But it is worth it because there are no coasters. The only other media I found that seems to work is Princo -R/W media that are aqua blue in color. But I would use the Ritek media if I were you.

The software I use is Prassi PrimoDVD with the latest Pxengine that you can get from their web site. I also use Nero 5.5.10.0 which seems to work okay. Also DVD Decrypter works great.

I'm not sure you made a mistake I also have the Sony DRU-500A which I am not quite as pleased with. I can't find any 4X media that works with it. But until the Ritek I could not find any to work with the A05 either so I am sure something will come along.

The A05 seems to be a good drive if you stick with the media that works with it. There also seems to be a firmware upgrade on the Pioneer web site but I could not get it to work on my drive.

Good luck with it....

[boblx2]

Sorry I forgot something. I have a Panasonic DV-30 (which is extremely fussy about media) and an Apex AD-5131. I would highly recommend the Apex. It play almost anything. Both drives do a remarkable job with the discs burned on the A05. When I burn a disc I try it first on the Panasonic if it don't play it is a "no go." My thought pattern is that if it won't play on the Panasonic then there must be something wrong even if it will play on the Apex because almost everything plays on the Apex.
I am not familiar with the Apex 1500. I see it advertised at Circuit city but I would advise going for the AD-5131. There is also a forum for the AD-5131 with lots of hacks and mods.

Good luck with it............

[F1Pilot]

Heya boblx2...

Thanks for taking the time to reply! Yeah, I've been eyeballing the Ritek 4x stuff over at Hyper. I'd love to see the max speed of the A05.

When you say that almost no media works with it, do you mean doesn't work in a standalone, or that it doesn't work as far as the completion of a burn? If you mean completion of a burn, the Verbatim 2x Gen Use (94077) works for me. Now having the ones burned for video to be played in a standalone is another issue. *crossing fingers*. The same goes for the Khypermedia...not a single coaster, but the ones burned for video on a standalone...we'll see.

I've been using the same version of Nero that you're using. Goes off without a hitch. I've been reading here and there that folks have been having problems with vid and standalones. Any experiences with it on your side?

Thanks again!
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[boblx2]

What I mean about almost no media working with the A05 is that all of the media except the ones I mentioned either turned out coasters that nothing would play or were completly rejected by the A05. I went out and bought singles of many types of media in jewel cases. I don't recall any of them that worked. But the Ritek is the pick of the litter. It always works and it burns at 4X.

Like I said, if it won't play in my Panasonic it is a "no go." But I have had none of them with the Ritek media they all played in both players. I had one coaster, last night I was copying a disc with Prassi and it burned about 88% and died. I don't know what died, the software or the A05. But it worked okay later with DVD Decryptor so I have to believe it was an anomoly. I have never seen that before.

That was also before I tried to upgrade the firmware. But the upgrade failed so it should not have hurt the drive. I used it later and it was okay.
Don't know why it failed. Those firmware upgrades can be finicky. But no matter, the way it works with the Ritek media I am satisfied. The media is pretty inexpensive and it works every time.

I have had no trouble with any of the software once I found a media that the A05 liked. I have successfully used Nero (I use that a lot!) DVD Decryptor, and Prassi PrimoDVD. I have also used Stomp RecordNow Max 4.5.0 They have all worked flawlessly. Some people have trouble with Nero because it has so many options and they cannot figure out which one they need to use to do a given task. I haven no complaints about Nero.

The only problem I have had is finding lots of media that will work with it. I am sure some other will surface before long. Right at the moment I would rather have an A05 then the Sony drive which I cannot get to burn at 4X. But I am sure that will correct itself later on.

[F1Pilot]

Would there be any benefit to reflashing the drive and reinstalling it? I mean, did it straightforward not take it, or did it fail at flash? I've seen the URL posted for the new firmware, but am kinda iffy about trying it. Granted it was cool when I got a 48x from my 40x Lite-On. I guess I should be pretty stoked that the Khypermedia (10 pack for 15USD) and Verbatim stuff went okay, eh? Especially since my system is pretty decrepit compared to everyone here. Sucks ta me me.

There was some site that offered something like 10 completely different blanks for under 20 bucks. Maybe I'll look for that again so that I can test various discs out for the hell of it.

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[boblx2]

I don't think reflashing the drive is going to add any compatibility. I think that is a Pioneer issue with the media vendors. If they don't pay the royalies their media don't work on the Pioneer drive. Anyway that is what I am reading on the forums. And it appears to work that way. I am not aware of any cheap media that works with the A05. Like I said the only media I have found that works so far is Ritek 4X media. And that is fine with me because I bought it to burn 4X and that is what it does with that media.
However I do not do much burning so I am not worrying about cheap media. I long since quit buying that bulk media. Mostly what I bought was coasters. Now I wait for the name brand media to go on sale and buy individual discs in jewel cases. It is a bit more spendy but no coasters!
But that plan don't work with the A05.