Recommendation for best (most reliable and versatile) LibreDrive for 2024?

[marksro]

I am just getting started with MKV to rip 4k discs. I am in the USA, using a Mac. I will need an external drive and have not bought one yet. It seems from this forum that there is no easy way to get a ready to go drive here in the USA.
Am I missing something or is there a drive for sale in a store ready to be used here? There are several people who have posted that they have drives that are ready to be used with MKV. That would work fine for me.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

[d00zah]

I am just getting started with MKV to rip 4k discs. I am in the USA, using a Mac. I will need an external drive and have not bought one yet. It seems from this forum that there is no easy way to get a ready to go drive here in the USA.
Am I missing something or is there a drive for sale in a store ready to be used here? There are several people who have posted that they have drives that are ready to be used with MKV. That would work fine for me.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Drives for sale, Flashing Services, where to buy...

Billycar11

Alex

[geetee]

I get the reasoning behind buying the Verbatim drive, but for context it's literally twice the price of these options and from past experience I'm much more sure that a 5.25" drive will work forever. A slimline drive just seems far less durable in my experience. So again I'm wondering are any of these options alternatives assuming somebody here can sell me a flasher to remove any limitations in the firmware.

If you can get it buy the Vinpower 212V or Pioneer 212V sold by Vinpower. It can be flashed to S12U which removes all limitations of it.

Hi Coopervid. I have the BDR-212DBK with firmware 1.02. Is it possible to enable UHD with crossflash?

Drive Information
OS device name: \Device\CdRom1
Current profile: BD-R SRM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212D
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: -----------
Firmware date: 2022-03-16
Bus encryption flags: 13

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02/ID61
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

[Coopervid]

Yes. But I have bad experiences with one-time-posters.

[Coopervid]

You post and then you sign out. How stupid! I just deleted 5 messages that were nver read within 2 weeks. Show interest.

[geetee]

I just joined the forum. Re-visiting an optical solution for personal backups. Specifically, M-Disks. I was looking for a drive which would be a bit future proofed for other uses.

[dcoke22]

I just joined the forum. Re-visiting an optical solution for personal backups. Specifically, M-Disks. I was looking for a drive which would be a bit future proofed for other uses.

How much stuff do you have to back up? Burning optical media for backups seems expensive, slow, and prone to failure.

[pjjoness]

Hi I am looking for a new UHD drive to rip my collection. Looking at the thread seems like there are possible instructions for this drive Digital Pioneer BDR-212V on amazon. Can you please share instructions and I'll look to buy the drive.

Thanks!

Check your PM.

Could you pm me the info as well? Ordering one from the US.

[Coopervid]

Hi I am looking for a new UHD drive to rip my collection. Looking at the thread seems like there are possible instructions for this drive Digital Pioneer BDR-212V on amazon. Can you please share instructions and I'll look to buy the drive.

Thanks!

Check your PM.

Could you pm me the info as well? Ordering one from the US.

PM sent. You are number 9 one-time-posters.

[pjjoness]

Check your PM.

Could you pm me the info as well? Ordering one from the US.

PM sent. You are number 9 one-time-posters.

Yeah, please send next PM. I assume you'd be the recipient?

It's my first post cause info is pretty scarce and I rarely post anything anywhere in the internet to begin with. Lifetime lurker

[protoslovan]

Hi guys,

hope you all are doing well.
I'm interested in buying a LibreDrive. Wanted to purchase one for a while now.

Do you guys have any experience with the Verbatim 43888 drive? I was reading there are two version of the drive in the market (Pioneer and LG one)
Could this be an issue? According to some post the Pioneer version can be flashed... And as far as I scoured the market here only verbatim is available for purchase directly. Pioneer is only sold in Germany/UK...

I'm not sure if asmcom will be selling any units in the near future and do not want to wait too long.
Although I would prefer to buy a ready made option.

Thank for any feedback.

PS: I miss the days of Plextor CD-R/RW drives. Those units were excellent

[Coopervid]

Hi guys,

hope you all are doing well.
I'm interested in buying a LibreDrive. Wanted to purchase one for a while now.

Do you guys have any experience with the Verbatim 43888 drive? I was reading there are two version of the drive in the market (Pioneer and LG one)
Could this be an issue? According to some post the Pioneer version can be flashed... And as far as I scoured the market here only verbatim is available for purchase directly. Pioneer is only sold in Germany/UK...

I'm not sure if asmcom will be selling any units in the near future and do not want to wait too long.
Although I would prefer to buy a ready made option.

Thank for any feedback.

PS: I miss the days of Plextor CD-R/RW drives. Those units were excellent

If the Verbatim 43888 contains a Pioneer it doesn't have to be flashed. FYI.

[Silstras]

Hi,

I'm a little confused or rather overwhelmed with all the information here in the thread

I am from Germany and am looking for an external UHD drive that I can use on my PC or MAC for MakeMKV.

[Coopervid]

Hi,

I'm a little confused or rather overwhelmed with all the information here in the thread

I am from Germany and am looking for an external UHD drive that I can use on my PC or MAC for MakeMKV.

The Verbatim 43888 contains a Pioneer UD04 (at least still in EU) and will work out of the box. Beware - it's power hungry and and works best on USB-C or a powered USB hub.

https://www.amazon.de/Verbatim-Externer ... r=8-3&th=1

Currently you have to click "Alle Angebote" on the right side. The best offer is here:

https://www.saturn.de/de/product/_verba ... MzU5NTQ3NQ

[Silstras]

Thanks for your reply. I will check the local shop near to my home (your second link).
https://www.mediamarkt.de/de/product/_v ... 40875.html