Pioneer DVR-215D, DVR-2910 User Manual

DVR-2910 / DVR-215D Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the maximum write speeds of the drive?

• DVD-/+ R single layer: 20X

• DVD-/+ R dual layer: 10X

• DVD-RW: 6X

• DVD+RW: 8X

• CD-R/RW: 40X/32X

2. What type of DVD and CD media can the drive read?

 DVD-ROM  DVD-/+R  DVD-Video (ss/sl & ss/dl)
 DVD-RAM  DVD-/+RW  DVD-/+R DL
 CD-R  CD-RW  CD-DA (CD-Audio)
 CD-EXTRA  CD-Text  CD-ROM (Mode 1 & 2)
 Video CD  CD-ROM XA  Photo CD (single/multi session)

3. Will the drive work with Microsoft® Windows® Vista?

Yes, the drive works with All Microsoft Windows versions. This WHQL-certified drive does
not require specific drivers to work in the Windows operating systems.

Note: Some bundled software may not work with all versions of Windows.

4. Can other Operating Systems (UNIX®, Linux®, etc) control the drive too?

The drive is designed to work with MS Windows operating systems; however, many
customers have successfully installed earlier drive models in PCs with UNIX or Linux
Operating systems and with third-party software applications. It is very likely the drive will
perform in a similar manner for these operating systems.

Note: Pioneer does not provide technical support for third party drivers. Use the

drivers at your own risk. Contact the driver provider for support.

5. Can the drive be installed Vertically as well as Horizontally?

This drive may be installed in either position.

6. What is the interface of the drive?

• Serial ATA (SATA) Revision 2.5

• Gen1i 1.5Gbits/sec

7. How much does the drive weigh?

1.8 pounds (0.8 kg)

8. How can I get the full 4.7 GB of data on a disc?

The total usable disc space available on 4.7GB DVD-R/RW media is approximately 4.37
Gigabytes. The apparent discrepancy is because DVD formats use one billion bytes
(1000 x 1000 x 1000) to represent a gigabyte, whereas traditional data storage
calculations use a 1024 x 1024 x 1024 value. This amounts to an apparent 7% difference
in the total number of bytes when DVD capacities are compared with the traditional
calculation; in other words, 4.37 GB = 4.7 billion bytes.

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9. Can I use stickers or labels on my DVD recordable discs?

Labels can cause the disc to become unbalanced and are not recommended. An
imbalanced disc can warp or shatter and may damage the drive. To label your DVD, use
printable media available at most computer and video supply stores.

10. How many times can I rewrite a DVD-RW disc?

The media is rated for 1,000 rewrites. Please check with your preferred media
manufacturer for specific information.

11. How much recording time do I have on a disc?

The bit-rate affects the production length. Encoding content at 10 Mbps provides
approximately 60 minutes on 4.7 GB DVD media while encoding at 5 Mbps supplies up to
2 hours of recording time.

12. What is a region code and is it required?

• Region codes were created at the request of Hollywood movie studios to allow the

studios to control distribution of their movies.

• Region codes are not mandatory.

• There are eight (8) region codes for DVD covering all areas of the globe.

• Most of North America (USA and Canada) and Japan are designated Region 1.

For more information about region codes, please visit the DVD Forum website at

http://www.dvdforum.org

13. Can the drive set/record a region code on my DVD±R/RW DVD-Video disc?

No, DVD recordable drives like the DVR-1910 and DVR-115D cannot set region codes on
DVD recordable video discs.

14. Does recordable media have a copy protection scheme to block illegal copying?

General DVD-/+R does not contain a copy protection scheme. However, the DVD-RW
format includes the Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) scheme. CPRM is

a mechanism for controlling the copying, moving and deleting of material on digital media.
Please visit the DVD Forum website at

http://www.dvdforum.org for more information.

15. What is “Firmware” and why should I care about it?

Firmware is a drive’s internal programming that allows it to recognize various types of
discs and perform the correct write strategy for that media.

16. Can my current writer drive record to “CSS on R media” with the proper software?

No, the firmware and drive hardware do not support this type of recording. At the time of
this document release, the technology is still very expensive.

17. Can I replace my current writer drive with a Pioneer drive in my duplicator?

Please contact your duplicator manufacturer to confirm that they have qualified this or
other Pioneer drives for your specific duplicator model. Most duplicators have proprietary
firmware for the installed drives which may not be compatible with a newer drive.

18. What ribbon cable should I use to connect my drive in the PC?

This drive has a Serial ATA (SATA) interface, so a SATA cable is required to be used
with it.

Page 2 of 3 pages release date: 6/24/2008