#CD-R data stream help?
22 messages in this thread
#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=(none), resolved parent_id points to #(none)
Ok, I've scanned through the current forum message base and seen a lot of
expert help here – kudos to all of you who are so active on this forum. Hope
you can shed some light on my problem as well:
I recently joined the recordable crowd with a Pinnacle RCD1000, which I
installed in an external 4-bay SCSI tower along with a Micropolis 2GB AV SCSI
drive. They are connected to my Toshiba 4850 notebook via an Adaptec PCMCIA
SCSI adapter. My Adaptec SCSI-Bench software reports a data transfer rate of
anywhere from 600-1300KB/s for the Micropolis, depending on file cluster size.
Yet when I tried writing a CD-R at 2x speed, **from an image file**, I underran
the data buffer in the RCD1000 in about 10 seconds. I can successfully master
at 1x speed, but creating five disks the other day became an exercise in
patience, especially when the second one got 99% through and then gave me a
laser servo error from the Pinnacle. Another gold coaster :^)
Any suggestions? I know this is not an optimal setup, and that everything
would be faster if I installed it inside a 486/100 desktop with a PCI SCSI
card, but it seems like the Micropolis should have enough speed to stay ahead
of the Pinnacle.
Thanks in advance.
#118428-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118428, resolved parent_id points to #118428
Dear Daniel,
When you burn from a real image file using RCD-PC, try setting Windows'
SmartDrive OFF by issuing this command from the DOS shell:
SMARTDRIVE x- (where x is the drive letter of the hard drive on which the real
image is stored)
We've found that sometimes this helps.
Best regards,
Deirdre' Straughan
Incat Systems
#118445-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118445, resolved parent_id points to #118445
Thanks for the suggestion, Deirdre'. I'll try it, but it seems like if I
measure 1000KB/s with Smartdrive ON, then that drive should easily keep up with
the RCD1000, unless the recording software is adding some tremendous amount of
overhead. Do you know any more of the technical background on this problem?
Tapcis seems to have sent the name of my predecessor (Daniel Mintz) on my
previous message here, even though my name was set in the Params screen. I
rejoined the forum under my real name, so this message should be corrected.
Harry Gardner WJ Culver Consulting
#118475-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118475, resolved parent_id points to #118475
Dear Harry,
You're still coming through as Daniel…
I know RCD-PC well because it is Incat's Easy-CD Pro OEM'd under that name by
Pinnacle, and I write all the manuals, among other miscellaneous tasks, for
Incat.
But I'm not sure why setting SmartDrive off works or doesn't. The chief of
development in fact insists that it makes no difference, perhaps because
logically it _shouldn't_, but I and others and users have seen it make a
difference in real-life situations, when recording from a real ISO image. So it
doesn' t hurt to try! <G>
I always strongly recommend testing before burning a disc, because it almost
always gives you a correct preview of whether you're going to burn successfully
or not.
Best,
D'
#118500-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118500, resolved parent_id points to #118500
I went into CompuServe's permanent settings and changed the username there, and
rejoined the forum, but last time I scanned the forum it still said "Hello,
Daniel G. Mintz" <sigh>.
I tried switching Smartdrive off for the D: drive, and used the TEST feature,
and still underran the buffer after about 2% done. Also checked Smartdrive to
see whether I needed the Double Buffering turned on for the D: (SCSI) drive,
and it says I don't.
So, Smartdrive is back enabled for both drives now.
Actually, I recently turned on 32bit disk access, which caused Windows for
Workgroups to set Smartdrive to a minimal size (128K) when I'm running Windows,
so it makes sense that Smartdrive had no real impact. I'm wondering now if the
32BDA could be causing some sort of slowing effect on the external drive (it
noticeably sped up my internal 770MB IDE drive). I'll experiment with that
next.
Thanks again for your help.
— Harry Gardner (hoping I'm really me…)
#118598-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118598, resolved parent_id points to #118598
Well, you've got me stumped. I'm forwarding your original message to a friend
at Pinnacle Europe who has been very reliable and quick in helping Pinnacle
people for me.
No, you don't need MSCDEX to record, only if you want to use your recorder as a
reader and/or use some other reader on your system. Easy-CD Pro relies heavily
and exclusively on the ASPI shell to run the recorder.
Ciao,
D'
#118633-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118633, resolved parent_id points to #118633
Thanks, Deirdre'. I received a prompt answer from Pinnacle Europe this
morning, and he basically blamed my Adaptec PCMCIA SCSI card. I'm going to talk
to Adaptec, and do some more experimentation on my own. I'll let you know what
I find out.
– Harry (you can call me Ray, or you can call me Dan…) :^)
#118677-CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118677, resolved parent_id points to #118677
Dear What's-yer-name,
Glad to hear Mike was on the ball (he always is). I don't even pretend to keep
track of SCSI compatibilities and problems, so I rely on the hard-core tech
support guys to handle them. I will appreciate adding the board to my list of
potential trouble spots if it does turn out to be the culprit.
Ciao,
D'
#118500-CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118500, resolved parent_id points to #118500
Deirdre',
Another reply mentioned that he does not use the MSCDEX driver when
recording. Do you have any info or recommendations on the effects of that?
#118475-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118475, resolved parent_id points to #118475
I will look into the Smartdrive question for a paper I'm writing for OSTA. It's
about optimizing a host machine for CD-Recording, and the chair of the Physical
Compatibility subcommittee strongly recommends turning Smartdrive OFF, as well
as any other programs and TSRs that may be running in the background.
#118515-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118515, resolved parent_id points to #118515
Dana, when I got my Pinnacle RCD-1000 I had a lot of trouble with TSRs, and
other programs, SETtings, etc. When I record I use stripped down config.sys and
autoexec.bat files that contain only items needed for the recording session. I
also run a CDR-dedicated copy of Windows which has no wallpaper, screen savers
or even printers installed, and it has only 1 group, main, that contains the
RCD software, control panel and file manager. The only problem I have is
coordinating a permanent swapfile between the two copies of Windows. I end up
deleting the swap file (kept on my SCSI AV capable drive used for CDR source
data) before the recording session, then, after optimizing the source disk, I
create a new swapfile. I don't do that much recording, so it is not a terrible
hassle, but after doing these things, as well as updating software, I haven't
had any problems. Some of what I do seem to be "Voodoo Fixes" (stick a pin in
it to see what happens!), but it works for me. Maybe you should do a study on
the strange practices and beliefs of the CDR-using population!
#118539-CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118539, resolved parent_id points to #118539
Paul, what general type of platform are you using? Desktop machine, hard
drive type, etc? That sounds like a lot of hassle to go through, at least
the part about maintaining a stripped copy of Windows itself.
What I'm trying to pin down is whether there's a big overhead factor with the
RCD software itself that causes an otherwise fast drive to be "not fast
enough" when recording the CD. Given the generally slow speed of the other
functions in this software I'm thinking it's a reasonable suspicion.
#118515-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118515, resolved parent_id points to #118515
Addition to my otherreply: smartdrive and mscdex do not appear in my
autoexec.bat, and the RCD works fine.
#118540-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118540, resolved parent_id points to #118540
MSCDE X is used by CD players, but not by recorders. If you're using a SCSI
adapter (and I think that's required by some, if not all, premastering s/w —
I've been told that such s/w makes calls directly to the ASPI drivers), the
recorder is controlled by the drivers that go along with that.
Kathy
The One-Off CD Shops
#118611-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118611, resolved parent_id points to #118611
I believe the Pinnacle uses a device driver called ADMI which is activated when
the RCD (Easy CD Pro) is entered. The only device driver used for the SCSI bus
is aspi4dos for the AV hard disk. What I meant was the config and autoexec are
REALLY slim!
#118625-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118625, resolved parent_id points to #118625
Paul,
I think the CDR will also be controlled though aspi4dos, but someone from one
or more of the premastering software companies would be a more authoritative
source of information than I. Deirdre'? Paul? Peter? Jackson? or Jack?
You can tell by watching the screen when you boot up — when the ASPI4DOS
dialog identifies the devices you will probably see the CDR in the list — at
least that's what mine does. You need to set the switch to verbose messages,
though, to see it.
Kathy
#118629-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118629, resolved parent_id points to #118629
You are right, I rebooted and paid attention to the messages and the aspi4dos
recognizes the Pinnacle and reports on the firmware revision as well. I also
recall reading, probably the manual or one of incats postings that the ADMI in
RCD-Pro was a device driver for the recorder as well. My point, though, was
that you don't need much to do a recording. When I started I had everything but
(that tired cliche) in my autoexec and config and if anyone is having problems
they should get rid of any extraneous items. I had help from Pinnacle support
(couple days turn around tho) and ended up with real clean and sparse autoexcec
& config.
I suppose using a separate copy of WIndows is extreme but I did not need more
than 1 gold coffee coaster. I was worried about Resources and there are so many
variables that simplification was the way I went. I think the study Dana
mentioned would be most useful.
#118630-CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118630, resolved parent_id points to #118630
Paul,
You're absolutely right, of course. I was nitpicking to a certain degree.
When I was doing one-off CDs as a business, I had a dedicated machine that was
bare-bones, as you advocated. Only made one frisbee when I was starting out,
but it was through operator head-space error, not configuration problems. I've
loosened up my practices a bit now, but still keep a "clean" configuration for
disc burning.
Kathy
#118515-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118515, resolved parent_id points to #118515
Thanks, Dana, I'd be interested in hearing about your findings.
Harry Gardner (A.K.A. Daniel Mintz, hoping the forum recognizes my real name
now)
#118597-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118597, resolved parent_id points to #118597
Harry,
You still look like Daniel. Have you checked the forum settings as well as
your own interface settings?
Kathy
#118612-#CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118612, resolved parent_id points to #118612
Arrgh. I'm not sure how to set the forum settings, other than to have Tapcis
rejoin the forum, which I've done several times. Guess I'll ask for help from
the Tapcis forum, unless someone here knows the command.
#118676-CD-R data stream help? — declared parent_msg_num=118676, resolved parent_id points to #118676
Hmm. Sorry, I use WINCIM or MacCIM. I don't know how to change the forum name
with TapCIS. Kevin or Rich should be able to help, though. It is confusing
that there are so many places you can change names — in you GUI, in the forum
"Conference" area, in the forum sign-up… and with all the different
interface software, each handling it just a bit differently… well, it's a
problem. Good luck!
Kathy