How to fix slow disc burning speed on Mac Studio?

I concur the same experience on Intel MacMini 2018 with the Bluray writer connected via USB, the MacOS does burn using the lowest speed. However when I use the same drive from Windows VM running in Parallels on the same machine then it is capable of using the max burning speed the drive supports.

I have also an old Hackintosh machine with internal drive (SATA directly on PCIE) - this one burns using the top speed as well. But when I take that drive out and use it in external USB box then the MacOS in the Hackintosh is using the lowest speed possible no matter what parameters I use.

I suspect there is an artificial writing speed limit set on CD/DVD/Bluray writers connected via USB.

I was looking for a real Thunderbold-SATA interface to try if the MacOS will treat the drive as internal one, but unfortunately all the interfaces are just USB-SATA ones, ie. the same as used in the external writers.

Deromax wrote:

Hi! I'm using Apple Compressor to produce the .img file that will be burned on BD-R by the Finder. I'm also (still) using Apple iDVD on an older mac to produce the .img file to be burned on DVD-R by the Finder. I have been doing it for over a decade!

It's the burning of the .img files that is slow. I'm thinking Apple wants to reduce the drive speed to reduce the noise, but the choice should be mine!

In that case you are and should be burning at the slowest speed available. That lets the laser hover over each spot it will burn to longer to give a better burn and, thus, a better video DVD.

For data discs the faster burn is OK.

You may have a damaged/corruipted temp file that causing the problem. The following can often help: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

macOS has never supported burning BluRay discs. So are you using Toast 20 Pro with the BluRay plugin installed? Or what third party burring software are you using?

Can depend on the file you are trying to burn. Just because your drive can support the faster speeds does not mean that is what will happen. I also have a Pioneer drive and my speeds are also 2-3X in burning Blue-Ray video discs.

Deromax wrote:

If both the discs and the drive are rated for higher speed, it means Apple is sabotaging the burning speed! I was burning CD-Rs at 4X back in 1998!

Oh good grief Apple did no such thing. And if you actually believe that then it’s time to switch platforms wouldn't you say? Why do some users fly off the handle and start accusing Apple of skullduggery when something isn’t working right?

Deromax wrote:

Hi! I'm using Apple Compressor to produce the .img file that will be burned on BD-R by the Finder. I'm also (still) using Apple iDVD on an older mac to produce the .img file to be burned on DVD-R by the Finder. I have been doing it for over a decade!

It's the burning of the .img files that is slow. I'm thinking Apple wants to reduce the drive speed to reduce the noise, but the choice should be mine!

What are you using these CD's and DVD's for..?

If they are for archives and/or backups, then I say it's time to update to external HDD's and/or SSD's.

Not at all. As I stated the "system' can only process files at a certain rate to ensure a good copy(burn). If the system could go faster I'm sure it would.

Contact your IT department and see if they can do anything about it.