Why would I want to buy Toast?

CaptSaltyJack · Apr 30, 2007

I can't seem to figure out what this offers that I couldn't already do with Finder's built in burner, MacTheRipper, and Handbrake. What I'd need to do with my burner:

- burn Xvid/DivX/H.264/etc. movies to DVD
- burn data files to DVD, in a format that both Windows and Mac can read
- make a backup of a DVD movie in my collection
- burn standard audio CDs

I think that's about it. Would I need Toast for any of these things?

eric06 · Apr 30, 2007

I use Disco to burn cds and it's way cheaper.

GulfVetSAF · Apr 30, 2007

Good question... as I am used to using Roxio on my PC's...

baggss · Apr 30, 2007

You would want to use TOAST if you want to compress an 8.5Gb video to a 4.7Gb disc. I don't know if just copying the Video_TS folder to a DVD in the finder Window will result in a playable DVD that you can use anywhere, much less on a PC.

CaptSaltyJack · Apr 30, 2007

baggss said:
You would want to use TOAST if you want to compress an 8.5Gb video to a 4.7Gb disc. I don't know if just copying the Video_TS folder to a DVD in the finder Window will result in a playable DVD that you can use anywhere, much less on a PC.

Doesn't Handbrake do that, though?

baggss · Apr 30, 2007

No, Handbrake simply converts from a DVD to MP4 format for viewing on your computer, iPod, AppleTV or TV via computer. That conversion includes compression and some loss of quality depending on your settings. Burning a movie back to a DVD once it has been ripped with Handbrake will result in less, often significantly less, quality on the new DVD. Toast will convert the MP4 file back to a Video_TS format for the DVD.

The compression TOAST does when duplicating a Video_TS folder will leave you with DVD quality on the new copy.

stonysleep · Apr 30, 2007

You wouldn't need Toast for any of what you're asking (not 100% on burning Xvid to DVD if you want it to play in a DVD player on a TV as I have never tried that)

There's one feature that I found I missed a little since now that I don't have Toast. I didn't upgrade from Toast 5 (could never get version 5 to work with 10.4). And that is burning mpg files to VCD (on cds). As far as i can see, the finder can't do it.

CaptSaltyJack · Apr 30, 2007

Hmm, if there were an app like DVDShrink (Windows) for Mac, Toast would not be needed, as DVDShrink does a great job of compressing a 8.5GB movie down to 4.7GB.

baggss · Apr 30, 2007

stonysleep said:
You wouldn't need Toast for any of what you're asking (not 100% on burning Xvid to DVD if you want it to play in a DVD player on a TV as I have never tried that)

There's one feature that I found I missed a little since now that I don't have Toast. I didn't upgrade from Toast 5 (could never get version 5 to work with 10.4). And that is burning mpg files to VCD (on cds). As far as i can see, the finder can't do it.

Since I don't do it often, how would you copy a DVD via the Finder? Assuming you use MTR and have a valid Video_TS folder to copy. Is it simply drag and drop? How do you format the DVD to be standard commercial DVD compatible and not HFS+ compatible?

CaptSaltyJack said:
Hmm, if there were an app like DVDShrink (Windows) for Mac, Toast would not be needed, as DVDShrink does a great job of compressing a 8.5GB movie down to 4.7GB.

Toast IS the default equivalent, plus more.

dtravis7 · Apr 30, 2007

CaptSaltyJack said:
Doesn't Handbrake do that, though?

Handbrake Converts a DVD to an AVI or MP4 for viewing/storing on a computer. You could burn it to a DVD but it's not in the DVD format. It does not take a 8.5Gig Dual Layer Video_TS and shrink it to 4.7Gig Single Layer Video_TS for burning to a DVD and watching on a DVD player.

That is all I can and will say.

Toast is a great tool for me. I can do a lot of the things I do in Disk Utility or a Burn Folder, but not everything and toast makes it easier and faster, at least as far as I am concerned and is great for working with Image files also.

stonysleep · Apr 30, 2007

baggss said:
Since I don't do it often, how would you copy a DVD via the Finder? Assuming you use MTR and have a valid Video_TS folder to copy. Is it simply drag and drop? How do you format the DVD to be standard commercial DVD compatible and not HFS+ compatible?

That's exactly what I meant - I didn't think it would work
I wasn't sure if the questioner was wanting to do this - have never tried it hence why I said I wasn't sure if you could do it in finder

CaptSaltyJack · Apr 30, 2007

baggss said:
Toast IS the default equivalent, plus more.

Except DVDShrink is free of course. But I may cave in and buy Toast.

Disco won't shrink down a DVD to 4.7GB, will it?

technologist · Apr 30, 2007

I would say...

1. The interface is better than the combination of those other apps
2. It allows for better control over the burn process etc. than the Finder
3. It's well known and supported.

Depending on your needs, you may not find Toast useful. I don't currently use Toast (I don't burn much of anything at all right now) but I've found it convenient in the past.

CaptSaltyJack · May 1, 2007

Hm, well maybe I'll start off with Disco as it's a lower price commitment, and buy Toast later if I feel Disco doesn't cut it.

yogi · May 1, 2007

Toast is great for whacking a movie on a disc quickly, if I don't want the iDVD hassles.

gilesjuk · May 1, 2007

Toast supports non-Apple drives such as USB recorders.

Toast doesn't however shrink commercial DVDs (for backup purposes).

baggss · May 1, 2007

gilesjuk said:
Toast supports non-Apple drives such as USB recorders.

Toast doesn't however shrink commercial DVDs (for backup purposes).

It will compress them if you use MTR (free) first and then burn it back.

Bentley · May 4, 2007

Hey guys I had a question, might as well ask it here instead of making a new thread. I am very good with burning audio CDs been doing it for about 5 years but I have never burned a DVD before. I have some videos on computer that I would like to burn to a DVD that would be viewable on a DVD player can I do this in finder or am I going to need a 3rd party program? Thanks

MaDDoG · May 4, 2007

Hi Bently. I am certainly no expert of the matter. It would depend on the format the the file you wish to burn are in? Also ht you are going to play the completed DVD in? They will often play on a PC/Mac but not in a DVD player. MOst DVD players only support Mpeg 2..some Divx and Avi.

Need more info to answer the question properly.

There is definately an asnwer to your question in the search menu........

Hope this helps.

MDDG

Audio.Trench · May 4, 2007

I use Toast all of the time. It's great for burning any type of media. However, I use DVD2oneX2 to compress my backed-up commercial dvd's without losing a huge amount of quality, to fit on a standard 4.7gb dvd-r.