External USB CD Roms for Ripping
 

Hello,

I was wondering if there might be a less expensive option to MTU's external CD/DVD Burner that is listed on their site for $250.00. I don't need DVD or burning capability - I just want to be able to rip my CDGs to work with Hoster. Any suggestions?

Paul

ADMIN NOTE: The MTU USB drive and case is $189.95 currently at 12/18/05.

install your second copy of hoster on a desktop, then do all your importing on the desktop.

then all you have to do is network the 2 computers together, drag and drop all your .kma's and rebuild your database.


make sure you only import on one computer (desktop) so your book id's dont duplicate.


even if they have fixed this feature in future versions, you will have to reprint all your books again.

I wanted to have the capability to also play CDGs that singers bring up - right now, my laptops drive doesn't allow that, I think. Thats why I wanted to know if there were any other external CD drives that would play/ripp music.

You can do as Beavis said, but if you add the Plextor 716A drive to a USB external case, then you need to make sure it will work with that model of case.

We have seen alot of these cases that have problems with the Plextor 716 and earlier Plextor DVD drives. So this is one thing you want to make sure of.

sorry bryan,

i was just using that one as an example. there are plenty more online for reasonable.

Well - I did buy a 5.25" enclosure - and while My Computer recognizes the drive, it doesn't seem to want to work. It won't play any music or data CDs. Any suggestions?

Paul

ADMIN NOTE: This is why we don't like any recommendations for other drives. If you want a safe solution, we sell our drives and enclosures that WILL WORK. PERIOD. When you order your own, you are own your own. Our suggestion is what we sell.

why dont you post a link to the enclosure you bought?

Its On Sale Now For $199.00 at mtu store. and i just bought one its the best one ive used so far, nice clean burns no spots. and you might want to use DVD or VCD in the future. and hoster will be ready for that. Bob :)

$200.00 is INSANE for what you get! DVD Burners are less than $150.00 - that just seems outrageous for a CD Rom drive that I will do nothing but rip my music.

Watch MTUs website the next release of Hoster may fix this problem for you.
but Plextor is the best of the best when it comes to ripping. Bob :)

What you get from MTU is a CDG Certified DVD ROM and BURNER, in a proven USB box that is guarranteed to work.

Please stop posting in our Forums about how much money you saved, when you place no value on your time. I am leaving your posts here so others can see how frustrated you got taking your own direction.

Hoster 3.300 is expected to release tomorrow afternoon. Your Laptop drive MAY or MAY NOT work for playing Singer's discs. If you had an MTU Plextor drive, it will work. With the Plextor you bought, it may not work because it is not CDG certified.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas.

The way I look at it, You get what you pay for. The one MTU sells is tested and works. Any time you buy one anywhere else it is at your own risk. Even MTU will tell you they send some back to Plextor.

And I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Plextor dumps their rejects on EBAY.

WOW! I really like the professionalism expressed by the MTU admin here. I bought and paid for Hoster, and this is the attitude I get? For the record, an MTU user made the suggestion in this forum - i followed that advice, because MTU's hardware options are grossly overpriced - PERIOD. There is no legitimate reason that a USB CD Rom should be priced at $200. Even worse, there is no valid reason that an MTU admin should crucify a customer looking for a more affordable alternative. Nice public relations move -

Regards,
Paul Beardmore
DJ Cruise.com
http://dju.prodj.com/
DJ Connection

I don't think you've shopped the Plextor PX716UF DVDRW burner on the internet. If you did you'd find it selling all over the lot in the $208.00 to $236.00 price range, and none of those have been bench tested like MTU does. Plextor recommended retail is $239.00

George

Certainly the key part of the burner you used as an example was DVD BURNER.

All i was looking for was a CD Rom that I could rip music with. There seems to be a HUGE difference in price between the typical USB CD Rom, and the ones offered by MTU.

If you use a plextor 716 drive you will see there is a big differance in the performance of plextor vs other brands thats why the price is a bit higher.Bob

The burner I used as an example IS THE ONE CURRENTLY MARKETED BY MTU The Plextor 716 series is DVD compliant, and MTU is marketing it cheaper than most internet sources.

I don't know which version of Hoster you have, but the newly released Hoster version 3.300 will recognize many cdr/rw drives that were not previously able to read CDG. There's no guarantee that anything but an MTU certified (bench tested) drive will read CDG, but it will be a valuable improvement for some.

George

If you purchase a MTU Drive it has been bench tested and certified to work. MTU has to charge a little to perform this task.

The cost of fuel and time searching for a drive that does the job can cost you more than $40. Time is a valuable commodity in my business. I have very little to go around so I don't mind paying a little extra. I just hate it when I buy something and it does not do what I bought it to do.

My MTU drives work perfectly right out of the box.....no worries here! :g

Maybe I don't get it. I've installed countless DVD or CD Rom drives - both USB and internal. Somehow, these devices seem pretty universal for most any application. Why do they have to be "bench tested" in order to work with Hoster? Is Hoster THAT picky, that the drive has to be in absolutely PERFECT condition to work? DVD and regular CD Rom drives don't seem to be as difficult to get them working with any other application.

I understand that we are dealing with CDG's, and not normal music CDs. Apparently, in order to rip a CDG with Hoster, you need a Plextor CD Rom. But is it acceptable for Hoster to be SO DELECATE, that a Plextor CD Rom purchased elsewhere is likely not to work? To me, it would seem to be a weakness of the software, rather than a normal obstacle that is encountered in getting a software application to perform.

Regardless, I don't believe that the way the MTU Admin reacted to me was called for. I can't imagine telling one of my customers off the way he belittled me in this forum.

Regards,
Paul Beardmore