USB SuperDrive support in Apple Silicon Macs

[minimiggs]

It seams that Apple is no longer supporting the Apple USB SuperDrive (Model - A1379) with specific drivers for Apple Silicon Macs.
Below is the same drive plugged into 2 different Intel Macs, and 1 Apple Silicon Mac.

Looking at System information on my 2018 intel MacBook Pro & 2018 intel MacMini, both running macOS Monterey 12.3. Both display the same info.

The USB Superdrive is recognised as an Apple Shipping Drive. Displays exact manufacturer and model.

On my 2020 MacBook Air M1, running the same macOS Monterey 12.3.

The drive is recognised as a generic drive. No longer shows exact manufacturer and model.

Music ripping programs, such as dBpoweramp & X Lossless Decoder(XLD), no longer can see the exact make and model.

What is the difference between 'Apple Shipping Drive' and 'Generic Drive Support'?

Is there a way to work out what has changed? Is it better or worse in the way the drive works?

 

[dizmonk]

Are you saying the drive isn't recognized or isn't working?

 

[Fishrrman]

How the drive "reports itself"... means nothing.

What DOES mean something is... does the drive still work?
Does it play media?
Does it burn media?
THOSE are the relevant questions.

 

[4sallypat]

My M1 Mini and Mac Studio works perfectly with the Apple SuperDrive.

It's connected direct via USB-A to the Studio - don't use a hub or adapter via ASD or external dock!

Mine is below the Studio:

 

[kkclstuff]

guess the question remains... does the Superdrive work via a usbA-C adapter/dongle (for M1 Macs with NO USB-A ports?)

moreover, will it work via a hub?

 

[natallica]

guess the question remains... does the Superdrive work via a usbA-C adapter/dongle (for M1 Macs with NO USB-A ports?)

moreover, will it work via a hub?

It doesn’t work via a powered hub I tried. It does work directly hooked up to a USB-A port on the Studio. I’ll try a dongle and report back.

 

[kkclstuff]

thanks so much for the info. the 'no powered hub' is a drag!

It'll be sad for me if I can't use a Superdrive with a new M1. I can't imagine it 'not' working with a  usbC-A adapter dongle. - but I won't put it pass  to "quietly squash" superdrive accessibility.

 

[enricoclaudio]

It does work with a USB-C to USB-A dongle plugged in my Mac Studio front USB-C ports.

 

[kkclstuff]

thanks , I also was just reading about it on the  support page... so for now, I guess we're good 👍

 

[minimiggs]

How the drive "reports itself"... means nothing.

What DOES mean something is... does the drive still work?
Does it play media?
Does it burn media?
THOSE are the relevant questions.

Yes it plays media. Yes it burns media.
But...
Now the drive is read as a "generic" Apple SuperDrive, instead of the drives exact model and manufacturer. Media ripping programs such as dBpoweramp & X Lossless Decoder(XLD) are unable to automatically determine C2 error correction, drive offset, & CDTEXT UPC ISRC read status.

Intel Macs & Windows via Bootcamp still both display full model and manufacturer. Apple Silicon Macs no longer.
Over the years I have had a few Apple USB Superdrives. Externaly they look identical. Internaly the drive manufacturer is different. I have had 2 Pioneer drives, and currently an LG.

 

[dwig]

thanks so much for the info. the 'no powered hub' is a drag!

It'll be sad for me if I can't use a Superdrive with a new M1. I can't imagine it 'not' working with a  usbC-A adapter dongle. - but I won't put it pass  to "quietly squash" superdrive accessibility.

The SuperDrive can work with a powered hub, but it seems it does so only with very few. I don't know the exact cause, but the rumors I've read lean toward a power issue. I have one connected through the hub built into my Cinema Display that is connected as a second monitor on my 27" mid-2015 iMac running Big Sur at work and it works fine.