Funding? making SACD ripping available through USB!

[Mr Wicked]

Howdy,

 

As some of you know I've made SACD ripping available through a PS3. The process of finding a PS3 with the correct software is cumbersome to say the least. Bare with me, there is another option..

 

The internal PS3 Blu-Ray player can actually be connected to a standard IDE port. With the proper software to go along the Blu-Ray drive can be authenticated to your PC and you'll be able to rip SACD's from your desktop computer directly. Yes, it really could be as simple as connecting the drive to a USB port and start the ripping process. Sounds great, so what's the catch? There is significant work involved..

 

1. First we need a stable connection from the blu-ray drive to a USB port. There is actually a device (3K3Y Ripp3r | Rip your games) which in theory is really all we need.. In reality it's too unstable and to low of build quality to be useful (I know as I've ordered several). My personal preferred option is to develop a PCB myself which has the proper connector to convert the PS3 blu-ray drive connector to IDE and put all of that in a box that does IDE <-> USB. Something like:

 

 

2. The software that does the ripping process needs to authenticate the drive using the SACD authentication mechanism. I've already build/modified the emulator and I've tested the emulator with the Sony SACD authentication module, it works! Great so what's left? I still need to integrate all of that into SACD-Extract and make the process user-friendly.

 

Still interested? You can help me out by ordering (crowd funding?) a drive from me! I will supply you with an enclosure that contains a refurbished PS3 blu-ray player and a USB connection. I did some calculations and I need sell at least 150 drives to make this project viable. The price for a single drive will be 220 euro / dollar (excluding shipping costs).

 

If you're interested you can sign-up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1-BJkmS1TRVT1h3f0mIAqKRbRFqW-oNg0x3FBXKGoGaQ/edit

 

And watch registrations here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bJ6zSurHE069vWRk2OUTYjR_uTB2Yt_6KAUJDJ0dJjc/edit?usp=sharing

 

Details (payment, the look of the thing, specific parts, etc..) will follow, I first need to know if there is interest from the community..

 

fyi. It's not illegal for me/you to buy/sell a PS3 drive that's connected to a PC. It's also not illegal to distribute a modified SACD-Extract as it will not contain the Sony code that does the authentication. The Sony code is a separate module that you'll need to download yourself. I'll make the whole process easy, I promise!

 

Please spread the link to this CA post as I will not crosspost to other forums..

 

Cheers!

[Mr Wicked]

I want to make sure I understand correctly. If we buy one of these devices, we can connect it via USB to a computer, insert an SACD to the drive in the enclosure and rip an iso of the DSD file on the SACD to the PC (Obviously we'd have to load the proper software on the PC also.)?

 

In one word: YES!

[Mr Wicked]

Only one question: If this project is intended for SACD only, why we need BR drive?

 

The PS3 SACD drive is the only drive that is capable of reading SACDs natively on a computer (be that PS3 or a PC). And yes, it happens to be a BR drive.

[Mr Wicked]

OK , I understand the reason - nobody don't touch the drive in any way and it stays exactly as manufacturer did. So, it's replaceable then in easy way when needed.

 

Good question and confirmed, the drive will remain original as there are no modifications necessary for it to operate outside the PS3.

[Mr Wicked]

Somehow though reasonably ambitious i find this project a little vain since we will have to rely in the increasingly rarer and unreliable playstation drives.

 

I don't want to end up in a yes/no discussion going nowhere. But I claim you are wrong as I know drives/drive parts are widely available.

[Mr Wicked]

It's interesting, but I would need to see proof that it works and have more details. (PC only? PC & Mac? Custom drivers required, or just ripping software?)

220 euro sounds like a lot for the drive inside an enclosure. If we no longer have to worry about the software version, a used PS3 is a fraction of that price. Buy a "dead" YLoD system and pull the drive from it.

 

Is there a reason you are not going through a site like Kickstarter? Especially now that they require you to deliver on your product if it is funded.

 

I feel the same way as Skeptic. If you properly fund this through Kickstarter or something similar, I will be the 1st person in line to sign up.

 

I like the idea because my PS3 is beyond flakey, however I would prefer to support you through kickstarter. I am a fan of your work and follow your (and Ted's and Jesus's) formula for DSF extraction. However what you propose, us pay now to help you get funded, could be throwing away money if you decide later to pull the plug.

 

To give this a more positive note, I am interested and if you go kickstarter I am in.

 

I understand, and no I will not start a Kickstarter project. I might not have made myself clear.. I will not be asking anyone for money in advance. You'll be paying once I'm ready to send you a box. The only thing I'm currently asking you for is shear commitment. How's that for a risk? When we've reached that magic 150 unit mark I will start the work, fund it myself, but before that I won't do anything. So I'm putting my trust in you guys, how's that for a change? I also didn't mention it could take a while before you get your unit as there is significant work involved, which simply takes development time.

[Mr Wicked]

Thank you for your support guys, we're on 31 early adapters already!

 

btw. I can confirm that both the software & hardware (no drivers needed) will be working on a MAC as well.

[Mr Wicked]

Sorry if my question is too stupid.. IMHO the new USB connection can potentially enhance our means to investigate sacd behavior in the Sony bd drive. FW upgrade of some sacd players can switch off PSP validation. Maybe there is a way to make sacd-r's that are more compatible with the other players. Dreamer?

 

That's not going to happen, unless.. unless you are able to write the SACD "lead-in". I'm not an expert on this topic but I believe the firmwares are patched to ignore the lead-in. I have no idea if "normal" writers are capable of writing the lead-in. The second is disk encryption, but I believe this is not as important as there are disks out there that have no encryption at all and only have the "lead-in".

 

I will be on a two week holiday and we are currently at 90, which is awesome already.. When I get back I hope we will be at 100+, let's see what happens..

[Mr Wicked]

Great! Progress will be blogged here: sacd-ripper

[Mr Wicked]

OK. We have surpassed the threshold. Is there a projection or calendar for the realization of the project?

 

Not yet. Although in the meantime you can follow progress here: sacd-ripper.blogspot.com