ripping SACDs

[mtvhike]

I thought SACDs were un-rippable (copywrite rules), but apparently not. What (hardware and Windows software) would I need to rip them?

[austinpop]

The first post of this long thread will get you going.

 

 

[EdmontonCanuck]

You can also use an early Sony Playstation 3 to rip SACD's.....this is how many of us started with that process and you can still find the appropriate PS3's up for sale from people who no longer have a need for them. You can learn about this method HERE

[loop7]

I use a Sony S390 Blu-ray player with a Mac Mini and it works like a charm but the same can be done with other Sony players as well as some Oppo and some Pioneer players.

 

NOTE: The barrier of entry for learning the process if the nature of online forums - one has to spend hours and hours finding the right posts or piecing together posts. Then, there will be those who provide steps but leave out steps they consider too obvious but make people throw their players at a wall.

 

WHAT A MESS!

 

I am currently working on a guide for a few a players but I am not sure where it should be posted unless forum admins are willing to create new threads with curated PDFs pinned to the top. The guide I'm writing assumes nothing and offers troubleshooting at each step. 

 

I'm about a week away from completion.

 

Feel free to direct message me and I can provide some sane instructions that are not part of hundred page threads of tangents that venture into cables, mastering and factory tours.

[aacton]

Agree, a MESS!

 

I started and gave up on this task several times in the past (years) due to conflicting information, techniques etc.

 

An up to date guide to SACD 'backup'  :)  would be greatly appreciated!  

 

Please include the mandatory components required (Hardware, Operating system, Software tools etc).    Hopefully this can be done with a version of Windows (no Linux here) and appropriate disc player.   

 

Looking forward to seeing your hard work.

aacton

 

 

[mtvhike]

Are SACDs recorded on DVDs or BluRays? It seems to me if they are, then one should be able to read them on any newish computer, with the right software.

[mansr]

23 minutes ago, mtvhike said:

Are SACDs recorded on DVDs or BluRays? It seems to me if they are, then one should be able to read them on any newish computer, with the right software.

SACD uses the same basic disc as DVD. However, a low-level protection scheme known as pit modulation makes the discs unreadable by regular DVD drives. The SACD layer becomes effectively invisible, and the drive falls back to the CD layer (if present).

[Erik W]

Rip SACD with a Blu-ray player

Thread under All Things Digital on Hifi Haven started by MikeyFresh.  These are my notes summarizing key posts by MikeyFresh on the Rip SACD with a Blu-ray player thread.

 

https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/rip-sacd-with-a-blu-ray-player.3652/

 

These notes are for Windows but the software is Java and the process is largely platform independent MikeyFresh uses a Mac. These notes are Sony centered as they will likely be least expensive.

This process permits the option of pulling DSF  files directly rather than creating an iso image.

 

Prerequisites

Computer and LAN (several players offer wireless access)

Compatible Blu-ray player (Sony S5100) Post #16 lists known compatible players There are more detailed instructions for the Oppo 103 which apparently would be appropriate to non Sony players. Post # 27.

 

Install Java Runtime Environment (JRE)  on your computer if not already installed https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp   There are different versions for Mac and Linux.  Suggest Windows offline version

 

Create folder  called AutoScript  Place player-appropriate files in folder and copy AutoScript folder containing  files onto clean FAT 32 formatted USB thumb drive. Links for the appropriate AutoScript files are available on post # 26. There are several versions for different classes of player.

 

Unzip SACDExtractGUI  software and place folder on target computer. Can be placed anywhere Link for ExtractSACDGUI located in post # 1.

 

Create a target directory (folder) on the computer’s  root directory C: Drive. E.g. C:\S. The short path will reduce chances of failure due to file name/ directory path exceeding Windows limit.

 

Prepare Blu-ray player.

In settings make sure Quick Start menu setting is enabled which allows sleep rather than full shutdown.

Connect to your network using the setup routine on the player under settings.

Make note of the IP address assigned to the Blu-ray player.

 

RIPPING an SACD

 

Open SACDExtractGUI by double clicking on file SACDExtractGUI.jar

1) Under Input Select Server, enter the IP address of the BlueRay player and 2002 for the port

2) Under Processing select file type and processing as appropriate (e.g. DSF and Stereo)

(Other options include surround, individual tracks by track #.  One can also pull files as  DSDIFF (no metadata) or a full iso).

3) Check Output directory and enter or browse for C:\S (Or whatever short folder name/ directory path you created)

4) Initialize the Player

 

Initializing the player from MikeyFresh direct copy  post # 33 (Sony S5100 and other Sony players)

 

Step 1: Power on Sony S5100

Step 2: Connect USB thumb drive/AutoScript runs/tray opens automatically/place SACD in tray but don't close

Step 3: Power down Sony S5100/tray closes automatically/player sleeps/AutoScript gains root access control

Step 4: Pause while S5100 display flashes OFF/remove USB thumb drive/Execute rip with one click while Sony S5100 sleeps

Note: Sleep mode is only required with Sony brand units and is unnecessary with the various compatible Oppo, Pioneer, or Cambridge model Blu-ray players. You can only enter Sleep mode by first enabling the Quick Start menu setting, which essentially means the Sony power saver feature is defeated (Quick Start enabled = no power saver).

 

RIP by Clicking Run in  SACDExtractGUI

Progress of the rip will be displayed in the large window.

 

Open drawer on played when complete remove ripped SACD.

 

Place next disc in tray, press off to close. No need to re run autoscript each time for a multidisc session.

The Test button in SACD extract will tell you if communication is successful over port 2002.  If it is successful  there is no need to initialize the player with the AutoScript.  If the player shuts off completely or loses power you will need to get out the flash drive.

 

Most failures are caused by the long file names created from metadata. 1) Rip to a folder with a short path. 2) Consider  ripping individual tracks by number to find the culprits. 3) Rip files as DSDIFF (DFF) which includes no metadata.