DVD-RAM TuneUp^TM
Frequently Asked Questions

DVD-R support for both the superdrive and Panasonic's DVDburner.  Also it will now allow you to copy VRO files from a DVD camera or camcorder to the hard disk.  Also now it allows for you to play movies that you created with the Apple DVD Player.  

2. What is the support for the files from my DVD camcorder?

It allows you to copy the VRO files to the hard disk.  Future versions should include a utility to convert  this video to quicktime compatible format.

3.  How do I use a DVD-R disc?

Do not open DVD-RAM TuneUp^TM.  Make sure that the Apple CD\DVD driver is disabled.  Then insert a DVD-R disc in your drive.  A Format dialog should come up.   If format dialog does not come up, you need to reboot.  Choose the format you prefer, mac, mac extended,Universal Disk Format or SAI UDF .  The files are written to an image file on the system partition.  You will need about 5 gigabytes available on that partition.  The disc is burned when you eject the disc if you chose burn.  If you chose cancel the disc is not ejected.  The other possibility is to choose abort: this ejects the disc without burning and flushes the image file.  The whole disc is used even if you have written far less than the 4.38 gigabyte capacity of the disk.

4.  Just what video support is offered?

Our software does not interfere with movie players.

6.  What drives are supported for use of DVD-RAM?

See system requirments for DVD-RAM TuneUp! drive support list.

5.  Why is my SCSI DVD-RAM drive not recognized?

Is your scsi firmware current?  Please check with the SCSI   manufacturer's website for any updates.  Is the firmware on the drive up to date?  The best URL we have found for checking on this is: http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/firmware/dvd/dvdrf.htm

It does have some files for updating firmware but most are win98 programs.  The mac ones are 

Panasonic DVR-S201 mac one to get to firmware 2.12

Panasonic LF-D 110\111 mac one to get to firmware A120

Panasonic LF-D 210\211A  mac one to get to firmware A115.

6.  What do I need to recognize a DEVA cartridge? 

In addition to DVD RAM TuneUp, Dos Mounter is also needed.

7.  Why is my firewire DVD-RAM drive not recognized?

Three extensions need to be active.  Always for any firewire drive to be recognized: Firewire enabler & Firewire Support.  Also SAI Firewire DVD RAM Tuneup init.  It is incompatible with the Toast Firewire 1.0.7

8. Why does my Mac hang at startup while the extensions are loading?

We've found Macs hang while loading the Iomega Driver extension if a Toshiba DVD-RAM drive is connected and set to SCSI address 0. This occurs with the version of Iomega Driver shipping with Mac OS 8.5.1, as well as Iomega's most current version on their website. This problem is easily solved by changing the Toshiba's SCSI address to something other than zero.

This problem does not occur with Panasonic or Hitachi DVD-RAM drive mechanisms.

9. I can't play commercial DVD movies.

DVD movies are encoded in MPEG2. This requires a special decoder that is either hardware or software. SAI makes neither. MAC O/S 8.6 and above provides a MPEG2 decoder which may work depending on your system. Mac catalogs should have one available.

The site http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/firmware/dvd/dvdrf.htm has two links at the top that give general lists of DVD-ROM drives that will read DVD-RAM media.  For a specific DVD-ROM the best source whether it reads DVD-RAM media is the spec sheet for that drive.  There are some DVD-ROM drives that will only read 2.6 (5.2) gig media and not read 4.7 (9.4) gig media.  There are many   DVD-ROM drives that do not read DVD-RAM media  5.2 and 9.4 gig media is doublesided, it needs to be physically flipped to get to the other side.

To use DVD-R you need to be running DVD-Ram TuneUp! Pro 4 or higher on OS 9. For DVD-Ram support you will need DVD-Ram TuneUp 2.1.1 or higher on OS 8 or above.

The speed is a function of the drive not our software. The drive manufacturers are aware of this and continue to improve the speed. Our write cache improves the speed beyond that of the drive. The read times of drive are fast and comparable to other storage devices.

For DVD Ram TuneUp Pro^TM product page click here.