To Toast or Not To Toast?

[SummerBreeze]

I've just bought a new PowerBook G4 with Superdrive, and I'm debating whether or not to buy Roxio Toast 7. I do love what you can do with divx files, and I would like to be able to backup more easily, but since I'm a student I don't have much money to spend. The question for me is, do I really need burning software? I had a very old copy of toast when I bought an external cd-burner for my iMac, and a copy of Nero came with my Windows computer, but I've never actually bought burning software. With added functionality with burning through the finder, is it even necessary?

 

[FFTT]

You have a built in disc utility, but Toast is hands down the best way to burn
including fully bootable disks.

 

[javiercr]

I do love what you can do with divx files

the divx encoding is slow as hell, hours and hours in a PBg4 , the PC version from Roxio is also slow as hell on a PC

 

[Chrispy]

I have actually been thinking about if I want to do this as well. What is the best added feature you get out of using Toast over what comes on a mac by default?

 

[Rod Rod]

the divx encoding is slow as hell, hours and hours in a PBg4 , the PC version from Roxio is also slow as hell on a PC

It's nice to be able to take divx/xvid files and burn them as standard video DVDs. It does take a long time with a PBG4. I tried it with mine and it had to have taken over 12 hours (I wasn't counting exactly). On my dual G5 it took around 2 hours.

That and the ability to span huge files / folders over multiple discs are the best features of Toast 7. I burned about a 30GB folder, spanned onto 7 DVD-Rs, a few days ago.

Chrispy: If you have files that are over 4.3GB, the disc spanning feature is especially awesome. It means you don't have to run out and buy a dual/double-layer DVD burner and its (currently way) expensive blanks. Besides, if you have files or folders over 8.5GB, even DL discs won't do you any good.

 

[ammon]

Try using Dragon Burn. I like it much better than Toast. (Although nothing compares to Nero)

 

[Artful Dodger]

Rod Rod
Quote:
Originally Posted by javiercr
the divx encoding is slow as hell, hours and hours in a PBg4 , the PC version from Roxio is also slow as hell on a PC
It's nice to be able to take divx/xvid files and burn them as standard video DVDs. It does take a long time with a PBG4. I tried it with mine and it had to have taken over 12 hours (I wasn't counting exactly). On my dual G5 it took around 2 hours.

That and the ability to span huge files / folders over multiple discs are the best features of Toast 7. I burned about a 30GB folder, spanned onto 7 DVD-Rs, a few days ago.

Chrispy: If you have files that are over 4.3GB, the disc spanning feature is especially awesome. It means you don't have to run out and buy a dual/double-layer DVD burner and its (currently way) expensive blanks. Besides, if you have files or folders over 8.5GB, even DL discs won't do you any good.

Okay Rod Rod, you just sold me on the new version of Toast as that would be great to have it do that for large files

 

[javiercr]

It's nice to be able to take divx/xvid files and burn them as standard video DVDs. It does take a long time with a PBG4. I tried it with mine and it had to have taken over 12 hours (I wasn't counting exactly). On my dual G5 it took around 2 hours.

and you sold me on a dual G5 (when if ever i can afford it)

 

[javiercr]

Try using Dragon Burn. I like it much better than Toast. (Although nothing compares to Nero)

I think Nero was very good at the time when it came out, but laterly is giving me a lot of crashes and in every version they come up with a new stupid wizards and confusing ad-ons

 

[xparaparafreakx]

I think toast is worth it. Unless your not doing an big time burning then you don't need toast

 

[alexstein]

i'm using toast 6 titanium as of right now and i have no complains at all. great software, stable and easy to use. Toast 7 has indeed some added features that makes it really worth to get.

 

[powerbook911]

I bought Toast 7 three weeks ago, and it was a great investment. Gives me so much more to do on my Mac. Really great.

 

[kugino]

I bought Toast 7 three weeks ago, and it was a great investment. Gives me so much more to do on my Mac. Really great.

i agree. toast 7 looks better, is better laid out, and the added features are very impressive. its one-button compression and burn feature is time-saving (i'd been using dvd2one and then toast 6)...and the burns look great.

the divx encoding isn't that useful, imo...handbrake is faster and better. but the ability to convert into dvd format is nice.

if you can get by with finder's burning for now, then stick with it. but if you find yourself wanting more, toast 7 is the way to go.

 

[DinoMac]

newb question here:

Okay, for example, say I rent a DVD movie at my local Blockbuster.

Could I use Toast to burn a copy of that DVD movie?


*not saying I would do such a thing illegally, but just asking*

 

[adk]

newb question here:

Okay, for example, say I rent a DVD movie at my local Blockbuster.

Could I use Toast to burn a copy of that DVD movie?


*not saying I would do such a thing illegally, but just asking*

Lets change this to a discussion about copying a DVD you own and are legally entitled to have one copy of. You first need to rip it using MacTheRipper. Then you can compress/burn it with either toast or popcorn.

 

[kwajaln]

I've just bought a new PowerBook G4 with Superdrive.

[/QUOTE]I'm a student I don't have much money to spend. [/QUOTE]
Do you know what an oxymoron is??? You can afford a "new Powerbook G4" but not $70-80 for Toast 7. Since you're a student, sign up for some money management classes next semester.

 

[Greenjeens]

I'm new to MACs but I'd have to say Toast & Titainum is one of the most useful pieces of software I've ever used. It seems to be easy to do simple burns and organize track lists without having to understand the more complex features available, which can be explored as one gets the hang of the simpler functions

CD text input is great. When I burn compilations and load then in my 200 disc changer, each disc and each song is already titled. Huge time saver when I don't have to manually enter disc name. Gives individual tracks names on playback too. Burning discs from iTunes doesn't have "CD Text" capabiltiy.

Couple with the Mac the Ripper advanced version that extracts a DVD titles and those individual songs can be ripped (as PCM). Then with the "PCM to AIFF" tool, those PCM tracks can be converted to CD/itunes compatible(AIFF) tracks. Does require a bit of time and matching tracks numbers to track names is not automatic. Works to make a CD from concert DVD. There may be other ways, like Audio Hijack, but this piece of software is pretty confusing, with a lot of fluff, in comparison.
I seldom use the excllent compression tool. Apparently 30% compression or less is the magic number for best video quality. Ritek dual layer DVDs are about $2 a piece for uncompressed burns.

The abilty to burn a massive iTunes files as "Mac Only" Data on DVD-R discs for backup, takes someting like 6-7 minutes for 4.7 gigs. Can span discs, so you keep feeding them in as needed. Keeps artist/album info intact. Easy way to move or backup a huge iTunes library. Can't believe how quick my Apple Lossless music files were burned to DVD as "Mac Only Data".

Creating a custom DVD music disc. For those that can use a DVD player as the audio media source, in car or home. Automaticaly creates quite a few menu templates with artist/track searchable DVD menu, for ease in locating individual tracks or artists.

I've probably only scratched the surface of Toast capabilities, but it's been very user friendly and easy to explore advanced functions.

Forget Popcorn, wish I had just bought Toast 7 first, it does so much more.

Anything else I've missed or been mistaken about using toast 7?

-
Dave