Pioneer DVR-A04 problem
 

http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com
check the DVD area...search under pioneer

The above link goes to a different forum where many people have had the same problem as me...
The problem has to do with the Pioneer DVR-A04s not working properly when the OS tries to put them to sleep. There are 3 ways of dealing with the problem:

1. turn of the "put drives to sleep" option in the energy saver panel

2. mount the drive externally in a firewire bay(which I did, iDVD won't recognize the drive like this though)

3. wait for apple or pioneer to release a firmware update.

Apparently, even some of the Apple shipped super drives are having the same problem.
My A04 seems to have a particularly old firmware which could be why iDVD won't recognize it.

Griffon

Patience is a virtue!
 

Well after some waiting...some research... and a little bravery, I have solved my problem. I'm writing a summary of my findings here for everyones benefit.

Pioneer DVR-A04 and DVR-104 are exactly the same burners both hardware and firmware wise.

Apple buys these drives from Pioneer and then installs their own firmware to create the infamous 'superdrive'.

As the above discussion shows iDVD only works with superdrives. This is because the program somehow checks the firmware before launching.

What I did was find a firmware patch that rewrites the firmware of my DVR-104 with the firmware of a superdrive and voila.

I now have the drive mounted internally with none of the original kernel panics I was getting and iDVD recognises the drive as a superdrive.

If anyone has any questions reply to this post and I'll put up more info on the patches for the firmware. Be advised that changing firmware has the potential to trash a drive if done incorrectly...this is where the bravery comes in!

Griffon
:)

Firmware
 

Ya where did you get the firmware patch? Was your drive external or was it internal all the time?

-mackid

DVR-104 Firmware patches...
 

[removed....]

Internal Problem
 

I downloaded the firmware patches and tried to install them but it says there is an internal error. but my drive is brand new. what is the problem? Is there any other firmware patch or a patch for max os X?

-mackid

DVD Burner issue...
 

Sorry, I'm no expert on this stuff. What you read above was me sharing the solution to my problems. The only thing I can say is, make sure you are natively booted in OS9.
Go to the following webpage for further assistance:

http://forum.firmware-flash.com/portal.php

These guys really know what they are doing with firmware issues.
Keep trying....the solution awaits your discovery!

Good luck,
Griffon