DLT anyone?

[Jack Zhang]

Anyone here used Digital Linear Tape to export a dual layer DVD?

I'm just wondering.

[Rob Lohman]

This is done all around the globe every day. What is your question? To get it
to work you'll need:

1. a dual-layer aware authoring program

2. a DLT aware authoring program

3. a compatible DLT drive

4. a DLT tape

5. a facility that can press DVD's from a DLT tape

[Jim Shields]

Originally Posted by Rob Lohman

This is done all around the globe every day. What is your question? To get it
to work you'll need:

1. a dual-layer aware authoring program

2. a DLT aware authoring program

check and check (DVDSP4)

Originally Posted by Rob Lohman

3. a compatible DLT drive

this is where I'm running into problems. I go to macmall.com and search for dlt drive, and there's a crapload with lots of arcane letters and numbers in the descriptions that make little sense to me. I'm browsing the apple DVDSP forums, too, but not finding too much help.

So, we're working on a G5 (not sure of the exact specs, but it's an older G5). I assume we'll need a SCSI card. Which of these mysterious DLT drives will work? VS80 ... LVD ... VS160 ... LV ... what do these mean?

Originally Posted by Rob Lohman

4. a DLT tape

I assume this will be cleared up when we clear up #3.

Originally Posted by Rob Lohman

5. a facility that can press DVD's from a DLT tape

No Problem.

Thanks for the help!

[Rob Lohman]

Sorry for the late reply. However, I really can't help you with this. I don't
have a Mac nor any DLT experience myself. So I have no idea what drive
to use. I did a look and search on Apple.com but any information regarding
this seems to be completely absent indeed which is a bit strange.

I would suggest you try to contact Apple directly (open a support ticket?)
and see what they have to say about which DLT drives they support and
which you should get.

I agree that the professional authoring with DLT is a confusing market.

Good luck!

[Giroud Francois]

unfortunately there are tons of DLT and most of them not really compatible each other.
What you are targeting for DVD is a DLT capacity that can handle a DVD layer, since most of DVD replication company are requiring one tape per layer and usually request a non-compressed tape (native format).
DLT 20/40 tape (on DLT type IV) are ok for you since it is one of the most common format, no need for the 35/70 or 40/80 format. forget too about SDLT (too big) or smaller (10/20 or 15/30) obsolete (on type III tapes).
to read/write such tape you can use a DLT 4000 or 7000 compatible drive.
VS80 are name used by DELL and other dealer for DLT8000 and are useless for you, except if you plan to use your DLT drive for other uses as backups, where high capacity tapes are welcome.
check http://www.sunstarco.com/Drive%20Comparison.htm for more info.
Drives usually use plain old SCSI, so you do not need high performance SCSI.
But make sure anyway, because there is dozen of SCSI format and connector and cables .
I never tried it, but small usb-scsi adapter are available.
Usually these drives are huge, so they come into an external , self-powered case.
You can easily find such drives as second hand, even for free, since the server in computer rooms where full of them, but are now obsolete, since other formats (LTO, AIT) have replaced them. Buy a DLT cleaning tape , since the device is easily asking for it.