What software do I use for Lightscribe?

[MichaelD]

I bought an OEM Lightscribe DVD-RW; didn't come with any software. What software do I use to design my CD "label" and how do I burn it?

 

[mentalcrisis00]

http://www.lightscribe.com/Dow...ion/windows/index.aspx

Thats the link to the download page of the LightScribe website. You need to download the LSS (LightScribe System Software) to enable LightScribe functionality on your drive. Then there are a couple of simple label creators below that. Beyond that you just burn your disc, open LightScribe label software and label away.

There are various programs that are a lot more in depth but most of them you have to pay for, such as Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 and Nero Ultra 7.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks much, mentalcrisis00. I appreciate the link and instructions.

I will download the LSS. I also happen to own Nero7 Ultra; I just had no idea that it burned Lightscribe DVDs...never had a LS drive before.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

Not a problem. I am still using my old IDE DVDRW drives, they can't even burn DL discs hah! I was thinking of an upgrade to a SATA dvd burner with LightScribe but just haven't gotten around to it. I didn't think that nero or roxio had LightScribe either, I actually have roxio 9 and never knew. I got that info from Burnworld.com, you might have to search around in nero to find it, or it might even be a hotfix or update.

good luck

 

[MichaelD]

Heh, I just made the jump from IDE to SATA optical drives myself...technically, they haven't arrived yet, so I'm not even there yet.

After all these years, I'm tired of still dealing with IDE cables when SATA are so much easier to work with. Since I was buying a SATA drive anyway, I figured I might as well give "this fancy Lightscribe thing" a shot.

Oh, and I DID remember to buy Lightscribe-capable DVDs and CDs. I almost forgot.

 

[mechBgon]

There is also an Enhanced Contrast download which can further increase the contrast of the output, at the cost of increased burning time. example of Enhanced Contrast output Is it worth 45-minute burn times? Not sure. But fun to have as an option.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
There is also an Enhanced Contrast download which can further increase the contrast of the output, at the cost of increased burning time. example of Enhanced Contrast output Is it worth 45-minute burn times? Not sure. But fun to have as an option.

Wow, that looks like a label; incredible! But 45 minutes? That's a long time...and I've got to flip the media afterwards...why didn't they invent a dual-sided burner...or an auto-flipping burner?

Anyway, I know LS has been out for at least what, 5 years? But I never really had a use for it until now; burning more DVDs and the Sharpie Marking Method is getting old...and messy.

Thanks for the info.

 

[egale]

Lightscribe is soooo slow. Even with a normal contrast setting, I find the label portion takes 25 minutes or so. The data portion of the cd/dvd might have taken only a couple of minutes but that label!!!!!!!!

 

[imported_wired247]

Sharpies FTW! I had no idea lightscribe was so slow... forget about it if you are doing more than a couple burns.

 

[mentalcrisis00]

Kudos to the Sharpie Method! I have discs all over the place with black scribbles all over them, it's great because no one can read what the discs are except me. :thumbsup: I had no idea LS took that long to label either, kind of makes no sense to me. You buy a sata drive to increase the speed, but along with burning the disc and making the label it's at least twice as slow as burning a disc on an IDE drive and scribbling with some Sharpies. :laugh:

I have to admit that the LightScribe labels look totally awesome!

 

[MichaelD]

I knew that it was "slow" but I had no idea what "slow" was. 25 minutes is not too bad if you're just burning 1 or 2. Plus, I'll only be Lightscribing special discs...the rest will get the black Sharpie treatment as they have for years now. Let's not forget that LS-capable media is more expensive, too.

Being that the LS drives were only like $1 more than the non-LS drives I figured "Why the heck not?" and just got them. They will make impressive looking discs to give to family and coworkers.

Oh, here's another question:

Can you burn the LS image BEFORE you burn the data to the media? I'd like to pre-label a bunch of DVDs and burn the data later. I.E. get the "long tedious part" out of the way first.

 

[Soundmanred]

It doesn't matter which side you burn first.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, Soundmanred.

 

[Soundmanred]

No problem. I rarely use my LS features, but they are nice when I do!
If you didn't already know, they make colored disks now, so you're not limited to the greyscale on gold. (They are still greyscale, just different colored discs)
I just made a slideshow with music of my daughter to send to relatives and such, and it looked really professional not using a Sharpie or printed labels.
I still use a Sharpie for most of my discs though...

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: mentalcrisis00
http://www.lightscribe.com/Dow...ion/windows/index.aspx

Thats the link to the download page of the LightScribe website. You need to download the LSS (LightScribe System Software) to enable LightScribe functionality on your drive. Then there are a couple of simple label creators below that. Beyond that you just burn your disc, open LightScribe label software and label away.

There are various programs that are a lot more in depth but most of them you have to pay for, such as Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 and Nero Ultra 7.

I was wondering why my new drive didn't show up under Nero 7

Thanks mentalcrisis00! :beer:

 

[lxskllr]

Lightscribe is nice for "special occasion" discs, but a Sharpie is more efficient for run of the mill burns.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Lightscribe is nice for "special occasion" discs, but a Sharpie is more efficient for run of the mill burns.

From what I've read, I don't disagree w/ you at all considering the burn times lxskllr, but there are a few as you say it, "special occasion" discs, that I would like to work on.

 

[corkyg]

Agree with all the comments abouty slow, etc. However, . . . a crisp, ehnaced Lightscribe label is worth 30 minutes when you provide it to a 3rd party - it embodies your reputation and professionalism. Yeah - eithe5r side burns first.

In order to speed up the total time, I use three Lightscribe burners, 2 SATA and 1 Firewire.
BTW - my favorite L/S labler is Surething, and I have all the otjers mentioned. It is very capable and easy to manage.

ST

 

[Zim Hosein]

I burned my first Lightscribe disc the other day using the best quality setting under Nero 7 and it only took about 14 minutes, not bad I have to say. I wonder why some people are saying that it takes ~30 minutes?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
I wonder why some people are saying that it takes ~30 minutes?

Well, because it does on some machines. Times vary with the speed of your CPU and your burner, and the complexity of the label design.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
I wonder why some people are saying that it takes ~30 minutes?

Well, because it does on some machines. Times vary with the speed of your CPU and your burner, and the complexity of the label design.

I didn't know that the speed of ones' CPU would affect the burning process these days corkyg!

 

[bruceb]

Personally, I would burn the data first and be sure the copy is ok, Before wasting time burning the label.
Every now and then a disc just won't work after it is made.