LaCie Slim Blu-ray User Manual

Introduction

The LaCie Slim Blu-ray is a compact and portable external drive designed for all your disc burning needs, suitable for both desktop and laptop computers. It offers flexibility for burning high-end content and backing up important files, supporting writable Blu-ray discs (BD) up to 50 GB for high-definition (HD) films and large data backups. It also supports common DVD and CD formats, including DVD dual layer (DL) up to 8.5 GB, which are compatible with most DVD players and computer DVD-ROM drives. The drive enables burning HD content, backing up family photos, and copying music libraries on the go.

*A two-hour HD movie typically requires 23.3 GB of storage.

System Requirements

Burning and Mastering

Operating System: Windows XP SP 2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7. Includes burning and mastering software. Compatible with Mac OS 10.6 and Linux (software not included).

Connectivity: USB 2.0-equipped computer. Performance is not guaranteed with USB 1.1.

Graphics Cards (with recent drivers): NVIDIA GeForce (Mobile), NVIDIA Quadro (Mobile), NVIDIA Tesla, ATI Stream.

Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768, 16-bit color.

Internet Access: Recommended.

CPU and RAM Requirements for Burning/Mastering

Video and High Definition (HD) Playback

Operating System: Windows XP SP 3, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.

Connectivity: USB 2.0-equipped computer. Performance not guaranteed with USB 1.1.

Hard disk space: 300MB for installation.

Internet Access: Recommended.

CPU and RAM Requirements for Playback

Graphics Cards and Display Requirements for Playback

Views of the Drive

Front View

The front of the drive features:

• Disc Tray: Opens to accept discs. Label side should face up.
• Drive Activity LED: Indicates drive activity.
• Load/Eject Button: Opens and closes the disc tray.
• Emergency Eject Hole: For manual disc ejection using a straightened paper clip if the button fails. Ensure the drive is powered off before using this.

Figure 01 illustrates the front view with numbered components.

Rear View

The rear of the drive features:

• Power Supply Connection: For an optional AC adapter.
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Port: Connects to the computer via the supplied USB 2.0 Y cable.

An optional external power supply can be connected to the power supply connector.

Figure 02 illustrates the rear view with numbered components.

Cables and Connections

Hi-Speed USB 2.0

USB 2.0 is a serial interface for connecting peripherals, offering higher bandwidth and data transfer rates suitable for devices like Blu-ray drives.

USB 2.0 Y Cable

The drive includes a USB 2.0 Y cable for optimal performance. It has a primary USB 2.0 A plug for data and power, and a secondary USB 2.0 A plug for additional power if needed. The secondary plug is marked with a lightning bolt symbol (⚡) and only provides power.

Figure 03 shows the ends of the USB 2.0 Y Cable. Figure 04 displays the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 logo, and Figure 05 shows the USB 1.0 logo.

Blu-ray Technology

Blu-ray technology uses a blue laser, which has a shorter wavelength than red lasers used for DVDs. This allows for smaller data pits and tracks, enabling significantly higher data storage capacity on discs. Blu-ray also maintains superior HD picture quality.

The LaCie Slim Blu-ray records onto:

• BD-R/BD-RE/DVD±R (single and dual layer)
• DVD±RW/CD-R/CD-RW

It reads BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and CD-ROM.

Blu-ray Disc Abbreviations

• BD-R: One-time writable Blu-ray media.
• BD-RE: Rewritable Blu-ray media.
• BD-ROM: Contains pre-recorded data, typically HD movies.
• BD-R LTH: A write-once format using an organic dye layer, often more affordable.

Dual layer discs store up to twice as much data as single layer discs.

Blu-ray Disc Video Capacities

The capacity for HD video depends on factors like bandwidth, audio tracks, and codec. For example, a single-layer BD can store approximately two hours of HD video using MPEG2 compression, or up to 10 hours of standard definition video.

Disc Durability

Blu-ray discs feature an advanced coating, making them more resistant to scratches and more durable for archiving.

Uses

Blu-ray discs are ideal for:

• High Definition television recording and distribution
• High Definition camcorder archiving
• Mass data storage and workstation backups
• Transferring large files and projects
• Database storage

Figure 06 illustrates the difference in laser spot size between Blu-ray and DVD, highlighting Blu-ray's higher data density.

Supported BD, DVD, and CD Formats

Maximum Read and Write Speeds

The following table details the read and write speeds for compatible formats. Note that USB 2.0 transfer rates may affect performance.

*SL = Single Layer, **DL = Dual Layer, ***LtH = Low to High.

Media Format Definitions

Blu-ray Disc Recordable (BD-R): For one-time recording, ideal for archiving data or video. Cannot be accidentally erased.

Blu-ray Disc Rewritable (BD-RE): Allows rerecording and rewriting (approx. 10,000 times), suitable for sequential backups or video time-shifting.

Blu-ray Disc Read Only Memory (BD-ROM): Contains pre-recorded data, typically HD movies. Requires compatible playback software and hardware.

Blu-ray Disc Recordable Low to High (BD-R LTH): A more affordable write-once format.

DVD+RW / DVD-RW: Suitable for backing up and archiving digital content, allowing data to be written over existing data (Direct Overwrite for DVD+RW) or rewritten up to 1,000 times.

DVD+R / DVD-R: Write-once formats for recording videos, photos, and data up to 4.7GB. DVD+R supports lossless linking.

DVD+R DL / DVD-R DL: Dual layer discs offering 8.5GB capacity for higher quality video or larger data archives.

DVD-RAM: Reliable format for camcorders and set-top boxes, featuring built-in error control.

CD-R: For audio CDs and storing files. Files cannot be deleted or overwritten.

CD-RW: Allows rewriting and reformatting up to 1,000 times, suitable for file exchange. Not widely compatible with older CD-ROM drives or audio CD players.

For Best Recording Results:

• Close all other open programs and disconnect from the internet.
• Copy data to your hard drive first.
• Check media speed rating.
• Use media that is free of scratches and fingerprints.

Connecting Your LaCie Slim Blu-ray

Connecting the USB 2.0 Y Cable

1. Connect the primary USB 2.0 A plug of the Y cable to a USB 2.0 port on your computer. This plug provides data and power.
2. Connect the Mini USB end of the Y cable to your LaCie Slim Blu-ray drive.
3. To verify connection, check 'My Computer' (Windows) or 'About This Mac' > 'More Info' (Mac) to see if the drive is listed.
4. If the drive does not receive sufficient power, connect the secondary USB 2.0 A plug (marked with a ⚡) to another USB 2.0 port on your computer.

Note: The drive requires a USB 2.0 port for optimal performance.

Figure 07 shows the primary USB 2.0 connection. Figure 08 shows the secondary USB 2.0 connection for additional power.

The drive also supports an optional external power supply.

Installing the BD/DVD/CD Burning Software (Windows)

The included Cyberlink Blu-ray Disc Suite provides advanced burning, authoring, and playback features.

Note: While compatible with Mac OS 10.6 and Linux 2.6, LaCie cannot guarantee performance with third-party software on these systems.

Installing the Recording Software

1. Insert the LaCie Software Utilities DVD into your computer's optical drive.
2. Open the Cyberlink Blu-ray Disc Suite folder.
3. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

You will need the CD key (found on the CD sleeve) for activation.

Check www.lacie.com/support for software updates.

Software Bundle

The suite includes:

• PowerDVD 9: For HD playback, Blu-ray 3D support, and HD Home Theater Audio.
• Power2Go 6.1: For drag-and-drop burning, secure data backup (128-bit encryption), and disc management.
• PowerDirector 8 HE: For video enhancement, authoring (BD, DVD, CD), photo slideshows, and video sharing.
• PhotoNow 1.1: For image editing, drag-and-drop functionality, photo effects, and resizing.
• PowerStarter 7.0: A unified interface for Cyberlink applications.

Supported languages include English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Chinese (simplified and traditional).

Using Your LaCie Slim Blu-ray

Inserting Discs

Ensure the drive is powered on and on a flat surface. Press the Open/Close button to open the tray. Place the disc with the label side up in the center of the tray. Press the Open/Close button again to close the tray.

Figure 09 shows the disc insertion process, highlighting the Open/Close button.

Accessing Discs

After inserting a disc, its volume will appear in 'My Computer' (Windows) or on the desktop (Mac). Click the icon to access the disc contents.

Caution: Do not force the tray open or closed. Always remove discs before transporting the drive and never move the drive while it is operating.

The drive is not compatible with media cartridges.

Ejecting Discs

1. Press the Open/Close button on the front of the drive.
2. Remove the disc.
3. Press the Open/Close button to close the tray.

Caution: Do not attempt to open the tray or remove a disc while the drive is in use by the computer, as this may cause injury, damage the drive, or disrupt the operating system.

Emergency Disc Ejection

Use this method only if the Open/Close button is not functioning. Ensure the drive is off and unplugged. Insert a straightened paper clip into the emergency eject hole (see Figure 10) and gently push to release the tray.

Figure 10 indicates the location of the emergency eject hole.

Helpful Technical Information

Cyberlink Software Assistance

For questions regarding Cyberlink software, visit www.cyberlink.com. LaCie cannot guarantee compatibility with third-party software.

File System Formats

When formatting discs, you can choose from several file system formats:

• Universal Disk Format (UDF): Standard for Blu-ray, DVD, and CD, ensuring broad compatibility.
• ISO 9660: A standard file system for CDs and DVDs, compatible with most platforms. Microsoft's Joliet extension supports longer filenames.
• Mac OS Extended (HFS+): The native file system for Macintosh computers.
• Hybrid discs (Mac & PC): Allows for partitions readable by both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Acronyms

Key acronyms related to disc technology include:

• BD: Blu-ray Disc
• BDMV: Blu-ray Disc Video
• BD-R: Blu-ray Disc Recordable
• BD-ROM: Blu-ray Disc Read Only Memory
• BD-R LTH: Blu-ray Disc Low-to-High
• CPS: Content Protection System
• MPEG: Moving Picture Experts Group
• BDAV: Blu-ray Disc, Audio Visual
• BD-CPS: Content Protection System for Blu-ray Disc
• BD-RE: Blu-ray Disc Rewritable Media
• CCI: Copy Control Information
• ECC: Error Correction Code

Blu-ray Writing Methods

Different writing methods offer varying levels of control and flexibility:

• Disc at Once (DAO): Writes the entire disc in a single session.
• Session at Once (SAO): Allows multiple sessions but requires sequential writing.
• Incremental Recording (IR): Adds files incrementally, similar to SAO.
• Multi-Border Recording (MBR): Similar to IR, creates short boundaries for compatibility.
• Restricted Overwriting (RO): Allows random insertion of new data segments within recorded areas.
• Packet Writing (PW): A drag-and-drop method for data backup, preventing buffer underruns.

About BD/DVD/CD Available Capacity

Disc capacity is influenced by factors like disc type and data compression. For instance, a double-layer BD-R can hold over four hours of HD video using MPEG2, or up to 20 hours of standard definition video. Media capacities are often stated in gigabytes (GB), representing 1 billion bytes, but computers use binary values (1,073,741,824 bytes).

About Compression Standards

Most Blu-ray and DVD video uses the MPEG2 codec. MPEG standards (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4) are used for video compression. HD video with multi-channel audio is data-intensive; MPEG2 compression allows fitting a full-length HD film with bonus material on one disc. MPEG4 AVC (H.264) and VC-1 offer similar quality with half the data rate.

USB Questions & Answers

• USB Benefits: Cross-platform compatibility, hot-swappable, automatic configuration, daisy-chaining (up to 127 peripherals), and easy installation.
• USB 2.0 with USB 1.1: Hi-Speed USB 2.0 devices generally work with USB 1.1 hubs but at reduced speeds. LaCie does not guarantee performance with USB 1.1.

For more USB interface information, visit www.lacie.com/technologies.

Data Transfers

Data transfers involve moving data between storage and computer RAM. Avoid launching other applications on the same USB port during transfers to prevent anomalies, especially with non-OHCI compliant controllers. If experiencing issues like time lag:

1. Ensure USB cables are securely connected and certified Hi-Speed USB 2.0.
2. Verify power and ground connections.
3. Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable after a 30-second wait.

Note: A controller is a component that enables communication with peripherals. External controller cards can be purchased if your computer lacks sufficient USB ports.

Troubleshooting

If your LaCie Slim Blu-ray is not working correctly, consult the following checklist. For further assistance, check the FAQs on www.lacie.com or contact LaCie Technical Support.

Manual Updates: Ensure you have the latest version of the user manual from the LaCie website.

The LaCie Slim Blu-ray and Mac OS 10.6

While compatible with Mac OS 10.6, LaCie cannot guarantee performance or the success of burning, authoring, or copying operations with third-party software on this operating system.

Self-Help Guide

Contacting Customer Support

Before You Contact Technical Support

Review the User Manual and Troubleshooting section. Isolate the problem by disconnecting other external devices. Ensure all cables are secure.

When contacting support, have the following information ready:

• LaCie Slim Blu-ray serial number (on drive or packaging).
• Macintosh/PC model and operating system version.
• Processor speed and computer memory.
• Brands and models of other peripherals.

Information Location:

• Serial Number: Back of drive or original packaging.
• Mac System Info: Apple Menu > About This Mac.
• Windows System Info: Right-click 'My Computer' > Properties > General (for model) or Hardware (for peripherals).

LaCie Technical Support Contacts

LaCie provides support through various regional contacts. For specific contact details and URLs, please refer to the official LaCie website or the contact list provided in the original manual.

Warranty Information

LaCie warrants the drive against defects in material and workmanship under normal use for the period specified on your warranty certificate. LaCie may repair or replace defective products at its discretion.

Warranty Void Conditions:

• Abnormal operation or storage conditions.
• Unauthorized repairs, modifications, or alterations.
• Abuse, neglect, lightning strikes, electrical faults, improper packaging, or accidents.
• Improper installation.
• Defaced or missing serial number.
• Broken tamper seal.

LaCie is not liable for data loss or issues arising from the use of the device. Media reliability is not guaranteed. LaCie is not liable for indirect, special, or consequential damages. Any loss or corruption of data is the user's sole responsibility.

To obtain warranty service, contact LaCie Technical Support and be prepared to provide proof of purchase. Returned drives must be securely packaged in their original box.

Register online for free technical support at www.lacie.com/register.

Note to Australian Customers: Guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law apply, entitling customers to replacement or refund for major failures.