DVD/CD Duplicator FAQs
About Duplicator Case and Upgrade Questions
Can I upgrade my duplicator?
Yes. All duplicators can be upgraded by sending them back to the manufacturer for a nominal fee. Often times the software can be upgraded through firmware/software which can be provided by the manufacturer. Software upgrades are determined on a case by case basis. They may or may not involve a fee. Any attempts to alter the machine on your own or through a non-authorized service technician will nullify the warranty.
If I buy a duplicator now, can I add more drives/burners later on in the future?
No. All of the duplicators are assembled to exact specifications depending on the number of drivers to be included. There will not be enough space to add any additional drivers later. However, you may consider to connect two separate duplication towers to meet your increased needs.
Is the aluminum chassis better than the steel chassis?
Yes. The aluminum chassis is not only significantly lighter than steel, but it also diffuses heat better to allow continuous usage without the concern of overheating.
About Media Duplication Questions
What affect blank media have on the quality of the copy from the duplicator?
The type and quality of the blank media is one of the most important factors concerning the duplication quality. The better the quality of media you can use the better the duplication results will be.
Do I need to use specific CD/DVD media with a specific duplicator?
No. Our duplicators work with most brands of media on the market. However, using better quality media will result in better quality duplications.
If I buy a 16x DVD duplicator, can I use 1x, 4x, or 8x media to copy at 16x?
No. The DVD duplicator will determine the media's maximum certified duplication speed and cannot exceed that rate.
About Master Disc & Copy Protection Questions
Can I copy a CD or VCD to a DVD using your duplicator?
No. One format cannot be duplicated to another. For example, CD's can only be duplicated to CD (including VCD to CD) and DVD's to DVD.
Can my DVD duplicator, duplicate Authoring DVD's?
Yes. Your DVD duplicator can duplicate your Authoring DVD master into General DVD-R/+R format duplicates. The duplicator cannot use Authoring DVD blank media.
Can the duplicator make copies of copy protected material?
No. If the disc you wish to duplicate is copy protected, they cannot be duplicated.
Will the duplicated disc differ from the original and will the "chapters" be copied from the master?
All duplications are made using digital technology. That means that the duplications will be identical to the master disc in every way. Everything on the master disc will be transferred exactly to the duplicated discs.
What is copy protection and what does it apply to?
Copy protection is a way to ensure those not authorized to make duplications, do not. Most likely all movies and video games that you rent from a video rental store such as Blockbuster or purchase from the store have copy protection on them. They cannot be duplicated in their original form.
About Duplication Time Questions
Can the DVD duplicators duplicate a DVD that is bigger than 4.7 GB?
Yes, but only specific models. Review the duplicator specs to determine if it can handle double/dual layer DVD's (8.5 GB-DVD9) or not. If the duplicator lists that it can handle double/dual layer or DVD9, then it can. If not then it won't be able to duplicate anything larger than the standard DVD5 or 4.7GB disc. In either case, you can only duplicate a DVD5 to DVD5 or DVD9 to DVD9. An 8.5 GB disc can not be duplicated onto a 4.7GB disc and vice versa.
Will a multi-drive duplicator take longer to make duplications than a 1 to 1 duplicator?
No. All drives make simultaneous duplications. So it takes the same amount of time to duplicate 1 disc as it does to duplicate the maximum drives on the unit.
Will the duplication speed affect the quality of the duplicated discs?
The higher the speed the more chances that there can be some quality drop-off. However, the amount of diminished quality is very minute and will not make a difference or be noticeable to most people.
About General Duplication Questions
Are the duplicators made by NEC/Pioneer/Plextor/Sony/TEAC?
No. Even though those companies supply the reading/writing drivers, the actual duplicator is not created by those companies. Many of the vital parts such as the controllers, chassis, power supply, etc. are created and assembled by the duplicator's manufacture.
Can I burn different titles at the same time by using your duplicator?
No. The duplicator can only duplicate one title at a time.
Can I duplicate business card size CD-R's or mini CD-R's with your duplicator?
Yes. Our duplicators support all sizes of media.
Can I set my duplicator to copy at the different speeds?
Yes, the duplicator's speed is the maximum speed it can handle. It can be set to record at any speed lower than its maximum speed.
Can my DVD duplicator copy CDs?
Yes, all of our DVD duplicators are capable of copying CD's as well.
Can my duplicator make copies from masters created on an apple computer? / MAC?
Yes. Once you generate a master disc, the duplicator will make an exact digital duplication of the original regardless of what type of computer or program the master disc was created on.
Is my DVD/CD duplicator standalone?
Yes, all of our DVD duplicators are fully standalone with simple one touch buttons to duplicate. No computer knowledge is required AT ALL.
If I buy a multi-target duplicator, can I choose to burn on less than the maximum targets available?
Yes. The number of drives on the duplicator is merely the maximum number of duplications you can produce at one time. You can make any number of duplications up to the maximum without any concerns.
What is the difference between using the burner on a computer and a CD/DVD duplicator?
Our duplicators are designed to maximize the quality of the duplicated disc and generally produce better quality discs than a computer. Our duplicators are much easier to use with one-touch operations instead of requiring and understanding specific software programs. Duplicators can be set up anywhere there is a power outlet while a computer requires specific programs and is often too difficult to transport. Most computers only offer one CD or DVD driver while a duplicator can come with multiple drivers and can make multiple copies simultaneously.
What is the difference between the VideoBuster duplicators and the original format duplicator?
The main difference is that the Video Buster duplicator applies VCIT technology onto DVD+R media duplicates to make them compatible with up to 99% of the DVD players. This is very important if you use the DVD+R format and want to ensure optimal compatibility. Otherwise they have all the same functions.
How could I tell if the duplicated copies are accurate or if they have problems?
You can test duplicated copies for accuracy by performing our Compare function. This function compares the duplications to the original master disc by comparing the duplicated disc bit by bit. This process ensures the duplication is a 100% exact duplication of the original, providing optimal playback ability. If there is a recording problem, the duplicator will notify you on the display there was a failure and keep the affected disc in the machine so you can identify which one(s) are defective without disrupting the rest of the duplicating process.
How come I can't duplicate my masters created by my DVD Video Recorder, such as the Panasonic DMR Series?
DVD video recorders such as the Panasonic DMR Series or similar recorders, requires you to manually finalize the recorded data before you can play these discs on other DVD players or use a duplicator. So please make sure you finalize your data when you use Panasonic DMR recorder, always check the option to finalize your data. If the duplicator does not accept the recorded DVD, most likely you have not finalized your masters before you put them into the duplicators.
Can the DVD Duplicator also duplicate CD+G discs?
No. Even though the DVD duplicators can duplicate the CD format, they do not have the CD+G feature. In order to duplicate CD+G, you need to purchase our special CD+G duplicator.
About USB / IEEE Questions
Can I connect the duplicator to a computer network & generate duplications from a computer on the network?
No. The duplicator can not be controlled by any external connections. However, the duplicator can be connected to an individual computer via USB/Firewire connection to allow the computer to burn data to specified burners and create a master disc to make the duplications from.
Can I make duplications while I am using external USB/Firewire devices?
Yes, you can make copies while you are using your external USB/Firewire devices. As long as there are drives not connected to USB/Firewire connections, they can be used to make duplications, even while you're using the USB/Firewire connections. However, if all of the drives are connected to USB/Firewire connections, then you will not be able to make duplications at the same time. If you're uncertain how many drives are connected to the USB/Firewire, you can easily determine this information as the drives are labeled with either a USB or Firewire sticker.
What is the purpose of having USB or Firewire connection(s) installed on my duplicator?
Installing a USB/Firewire connection(s) is useful if your data is stored on a computer that does not have a burner/recorder installed.
Why do some duplicators come with USB & Firewire connections and others don't?
With higher speed duplicators, there's more of a chance for errors in transferring data when using the duplicator as an external burner from your computer. Because of this, we prefer to eliminate potential problems by not offering USB and Firewire in specific models, particularly models with speeds of 12x and higher.
About Warranty Questions
Does the duplicator have a warranty, and who provides the service?
All of the duplicators come with a standard warranty which covers parts and labor. The manufacturer will provide all services if needed. The warranty varies depending on the model and manufacturer. In most cases there's a one year warranty. Check the product specifications to get the exact information.
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