what do get as second drive for my Mac?

[D3F3ND3R16]

I currently have an BD-RE HL-DT-ST BD-RE BU40N FR07 803HS013801, flashed myself on Mac (which I would like to avoid to do again as hell) with libre drive enabled. I'm a noob with terminal, it cost me blood and tears.

but sometimes it just refuses to rip certain brand new discs, or single episodes, they play perfectly fine but always fail to rip due errors. Why can't MakeMKV just rip then with the "errors" like my xbox plays them?
Are there alternative programs that can handle errors? I don't mind a single frame skip for example in an 2h movie.

So I consider a second drive as an alternative try.
What is currently a good choice, available in the EU, most pioneer drives doesn't seem to be available. And as far as I understood, current FW of them be a problem.

Again, I am on MAC, I can't use the usual flash tools!!

[dcoke22]

If you don't want to flash the drive you can get a Pioneer from the list in the Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide or buy a drive from one of sellers listed in the Flashing Guide. They flash and test the drives they sell and they arrive ready to go.

Every other choice is going to involve flashing and on the Mac, that's going to mean getting up close and personal with Terminal. (Or, oddly, borrowing a Windows computer and using the SDF Tool, which is a point-and-click flashing tool [that people still manage to mess up].)

[D3F3ND3R16]

but there is this mentioned:

"Pioneer Drives need Firmware from before December 2022 firmware after this does not work do not update if you have a working one more on this in the coming weeks if they can be flashed. if your pioneer UHD drive does not work post your makemkv drive info here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27378"

we have march, so I guess most drive I buy now have newer firmware, or could have newer firmware.

none of the mentioned drives are available in the EU, why? does anybody know this?
Does the EU Models work too?
like the BDR-XD07TUHD?

my flashed drive did cost 130€, plus tons of hours for flashing and learning what that even means.

[dcoke22]

I'm in the USA, so I don't have a lot of experience with the EU market. I think they key is that Pioneer explicitly mentions 4K UHD support for the drive. So I think the BDR-XD07TUHD will work. The seller Asmcom (viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19387) lists that model as an option in their thread, so that must mean it works with MakeMKV.

And you're right about the firmware. The post Pioneer firmware update February 2023 has the details about it. You might get a drive with old enough firmware or you might not. If you go this route, hopefully you buy from a place with a generous return policy.

[Wolfgangster]

Do you need internal or external drive?

I bought a Verbatim 43888 (Pioneer inside) three weeks ago in EU - came with latest firmware 1.14 (last year or older) and works great.
Already scanned discs, that my internal Asus and Hitachi couldn't read...

[MartyMcNuts]

but there is this mentioned:

"Pioneer Drives need Firmware from before December 2022 firmware after this does not work do not update if you have a working one more on this in the coming weeks if they can be flashed. if your pioneer UHD drive does not work post your makemkv drive info here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27378"

we have march, so I guess most drive I buy now have newer firmware, or could have newer firmware.

none of the mentioned drives are available in the EU, why? does anybody know this?
Does the EU Models work too?
like the BDR-XD07TUHD?

my flashed drive did cost 130€, plus tons of hours for flashing and learning what that even means.

Yes, that Pio drive is MakeMKV compatible so long as it is not on a firmware newer than Dec 2022.

[D3F3ND3R16]

Soo… lot of more research done.
I found that the BDR-XD07TS is available here cheap, 120€.
Is it correct that i could crossflash it to an BDR-XD07UHD?

Where can i get the older firmware versions for BDR-XD07TUHD? Like 1.01?

[Billycar11]

Soo… lot of more research done.
I found that the BDR-XD07TS is available here cheap, 120€.
Is it correct that i could crossflash it to an BDR-XD07UHD?

Where can i get the older firmware versions for BDR-XD07TUHD? Like 1.01?

You cant cross flash it you will have to buy it from one of the sellers here for that the tools are not yet public

[Coopervid]

Do what Wolfgangster recommended. It contains an UD04.

https://www.amazon.de/Verbatim-Externer ... 9hdGY&th=1

[D3F3ND3R16]

Do what Wolfgangster recommended. It contains an UD04.

https://www.amazon.de/Verbatim-Externer ... 9hdGY&th=1

Seems i missed this post of him… sorry!!
So the drive above contains an BDR-UD04?! Seriously?

So this drive can rip out of the box? It’s fcking cheap… :O

[D3F3ND3R16]

Do you need internal or external drive?

I bought a Verbatim 43888 (Pioneer inside) three weeks ago in EU - came with latest firmware 1.14 (last year or older) and works great.
Already scanned discs, that my internal Asus and Hitachi couldn't read...

Can u share the infos shown in makwmkv?
Sounds very intresting! Its just 99€ here :O
Its libre drive then??

[Coopervid]

Get it. Return it if you have the new incompatible firmware.

[D3F3ND3R16]

Soo… lot of more research done.
I found that the BDR-XD07TS is available here cheap, 120€.
Is it correct that i could crossflash it to an BDR-XD07UHD?

Where can i get the older firmware versions for BDR-XD07TUHD? Like 1.01?

You cant cross flash it you will have to buy it from one of the sellers here for that the tools are not yet public

I wasn’t aware that crossflashing isn’t possible privately. Thought it’s pretty much the same like an normal flash which i already did once.

[D3F3ND3R16]

Get it. Return it if you have the new incompatible firmware.

I ordered one today, should arrive in 2-3 days. I’m really to get the right fw. but i can return it for free, so no risk.
Is this an reliable drive in general? It’s really really cheap, 99€, I’m wondering why…

[Coopervid]

Slow down. It's an older model but it works well. Report back your experience.