Compatible drives for disc to digital

[Spooky]

Is there an updated list of compatible drives?

The three mentioned are not particularly available where I am.

If there’s not a list of currently available drives that work (in the EU) then are there particular specs that would indicate a drive should work?

 

[cinelife]

Czech Republic....welcome! I have a friend there, David Beran, he's a big AV enthusiast. No updated list, but I've found that many external drives will work, just need the USB connection, and be sure it's compatible with your discs (DVD, Blu-ray, and Region, etc,.).

Jim

 

[J.Green]

If there’s not a list of currently available drives that work (in the EU) then are there particular specs that would indicate a drive should work?

From the FAQ on our Support site:

The list of “qualified” drive models are drives that were specifically tested by Kaleidescape’s Engineering team and are known to work. Other drive models may work as long as they meet the following guidelines:

• The drive has a USB 2.0 or 3.0 interface
• The drive has its own external power supply
• The drive is capable of reading DVDs and Blu-ray discs

While a USB drive that is capable of reading Ultra HD Blu-ray discs may work for cataloging DVDs and Blu-ray discs, the cataloging of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs is not supported.

 

[Spooky]

Czech Republic....welcome! I have a friend there, David Beran, he's a big AV enthusiast. No updated list, but I've found that many external drives will work, just need the USB connection, and be sure it's compatible with your discs (DVD, Blu-ray, and Region, etc,.).

Jim

Region… forgot about that… We’ll have to see what happens. UK discs but we were in the EU then…

 

[Reezepees]

This is not possible with a UHD player, like a Panasonic 9000 or 424?
It has to be a stand alone drive?

 

[Supra]

I’ve had good results with the ASUS BW-16D1X-U for Disc-to-Digital. It seems to be one of the most reliable options based on user experience. Some other drives may work, but compatibility can be hit or miss with Kaleidescape.

 

[J.Green]

This is not possible with a UHD player, like a Panasonic 9000 or 424?

No.

It has to be a stand alone drive?

Yes.

 

[Reezepees]

Thanks for your reply.

 

[madolfsson]

This one worked fine for me. $62 with Prime.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPP2391F

 

[Wonkavision]

My Verbatim drive (Pioneer guts) works like a charm:

Amazon.com

And rips 4K Blu-rays just fine.

 

[Spooky]

I got a Verbatim yesterday - not many choices available immediately here - and it seems to be working fine.

 

[PascalP]

I got a Verbatim yesterday - not many choices available immediately here - and it seems to be working fine.

New to this as well, does it work with both Region A and Region B discs as I'm in Europe as well

 

[Spooky]

New to this as well, does it work with both Region A and Region B discs as I'm in Europe as well

I've used it with old discs that were purchased in the UK and discs that were purchased in the EU and both worked fine.

 

[Wonkavision]

New to this as well, does it work with both Region A and Region B discs as I'm in Europe as well

No problem with different regions. And no need for the external power that Kaleidescape says you do.

 

[PascalP]

Ordered the Asus BW-16D1X-U already, in transit now currently.

Thanks for confirming as 95% of my discs (close to 1000) are Region B

 

[J.Green]

And no need for the external power that Kaleidescape says you do.

The Strato is not designed to reliably provide power to devices connected to the USB port. While an external Blu-ray drive without its own power supply might work, it's likely that the failure rate (inability to correctly read and identify a disc) will be higher than with an externally powered drive.

As always, YMMV.