You have 2 ways for dumping Sega Saturn / Mega CD discs according to Redump.org:

A) A real Plextor drive* + Perfect Rip (not bugged version)  + px_d8 command line (Double check with EAC dump is mandatory!)
This is the more secure and faster way, the one recommended.

Real Plextor DVD burner drives
--------------------------------
PX-704A
PX-708A/UF
PX-712A/SA
PX-714A
PX-716A/SA
PX-755A/SA/UF
PX-760A/SA/UF

PS: avoid Sata (SA) drives if possible, even non-Plextor ones.

* Or a drive that supports read command and works with Perfect Rip. Read more here.

B) A drive that can read lead-out + Iso Buster + EAC

You'll need also CDmage to test data tracks. Please notice that "track02" data tracks cannot be tested by CDmage because of data pregap, CDmage simply will not read your track.
You'll need also some other little tools we'll see in the following chapters.

INFORMATIONS TO BE PRESERVED

You have also to know and understand which informations has to to be preserved in DB to identify a dump from another one (revision, alternative and so on). What follows is the needed data:

1. Title

2. Alternative title expecially for Japanese releases
You can find them easily on Sega website (search it with serial), by the way something could be different on box / disc:

Saturn Sega releases: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/soft.html
Saturn 3rd party 1994-1995: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/soft_licensee1.html
Saturn 3rd party 1996: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/soft_licensee2.html
Saturn 3rd party 1997: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html
Saturn 3rd party 1998-2000: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html
and / or
Saturn all: http://www.satakore.com/

Mega CD Sega releases: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/mcd/soft.html
Mega CD 3rd party: http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/mcd/soft_licensee.html

All western characters must be in unicode MS Mincho ---> japanese subcategory (Shift-JIS) ---> latin symbols (you can easily find this character set)

3. Region (Japan, USA, Europe, Germany, France, etc.)

4. Languages (En, Jp, Fr, De, Es, It, etc.)

5. Serial ---> normally you find it on sides of jewel case

6. Ring Code ---> you find it in the inner ring of cd-rom

7. IFPI Code ---> normally you find it in the same inner ring where you found Ring Code (a text box should be added in the SS/SCD DB sheet). You can post it along with Ring Code and please the inner IFPI near CD hole, the one normally on trasparent sector, is not required because it's the media code.

8. Barcode (optional)

9. EXE Date ---> you can it in the header

10. Header in text format with hex values (not full 512 bytes, but only used bytes)

11. Revision ---> you find it in the header

12. Edition (Original, Satakore, Taikenban, Genteiban, etc.)

Saturn Collection <=> Satakore
Limited Edition <=> Genteiban
Demo Edition <=> Taikenban

13. Write Offset ---> you have to calculate it manually as in the standard guide or get it with px_d8 command help if your drive supports read command

14. Perfct Rip log (if dumped with perfect rip)

15. Eac log

16. Cuesheet (Perfect Rip one if PR and EAC dumps match)

17. px_d8 log (or Isobuster sector you used to take combined offset)

18. subcode taken with CloneCD (mandatory if you'll get situations I'll explain below)


----------------------------------------------------------------------
DUMPING with Plextor + Perfect Rip + Px_d8 command
----------------------------------------------------------------------

A) Calculate factory write offset with px_d8 command line:

I added a batch file that create a log file for px_d8 command so everything will be more easy.

Drive letter is set on "D", please edit the batch file if your drive has a different letter.
Exec batch file after inserting CD in the drive, take the "combined write offset" value reported in the log, calculate and write down "write offset".

An example of px_d8 log file:

Sector: 0
MSF: 00:02:00
Combined offset: +120 bytes / +30 samples

combined read+write offset = +30
plextor px-760a read offset = +30
write offset = +30 - (+30) = +0

B) Set up Perfect Rip and dump disc:

1. Start Perfect Rip, select drive (normally is automatically selected) and check "all tracks" box. Then click "next" button.

http://www.rocknroms.net/ssdump/images/pr01.png

2. On next window set up everything as follows:

  • Set "sub-channel" to "100b" for Plextor drives
    (or "001b" if you find a non-plextor drive that works with PR);

  • Set "gap append mode" to "Append to next";

  • Set "output track format" to "pcm";

  • Check "c2 pointers" and "write log" boxes;

  • Select an output folder and filename;

http://www.rocknroms.net/ssdump/images/pr02.png

Now click on "drive calibrate" button.

3. On "drive calibrate" window set up everything as follows:

  • On "main channel offset correction" set "read" as the negative of "combined write offset" (if it's +30, like in the example, you'll have to set it at -30; if your "combined write offset" is negative you'll have to set it positive);

  • Leave all other setting unchanged;

http://www.rocknroms.net/ssdump/images/pr03.png

Now press "ok" and go back to "reading option" window.

4. Click "next", then "image/rip" and PR will begin extracting data from CD.

5. When extraction is finished a prompt will pop up and if you press ok you'll have a small log showing "Total corrupt symbols (C2 pointers)". If the value is = 0 your dump is quite finished and ok (you still have to make a pair of verifications), instead if you got some corrupted C2 pointers you'll have to redump the corrupted tracks or full disc at lower speed.

C) Final fixes:

1. Check first data track for corruption with CDmage as described in the regular guide.

2. Check first audio track for garbage or real data:

Perfect Rip sometimes put one or more 12bytes string in first audio track pregap that is not present in the real CD. Below is the string you could find.

Offset(h) 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F

000011D0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
000011E0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 26 48 26 48 26 48 26 48 ........&H&H&H&H
000011F0 26 48 26 48 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 &H&H............
00001200 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................

You can clear this strings with an Hex editor or you can redump this track with EAC.

C. Perfect Rip will create a .CUE file, check if the pregaps sequence (look at INDEX01) of audio tracks is like one of the following ones:

 SS / SCD | SS / SCD | SCD only
-------------------------------
   2.00   |   2.00   |   2.00
   1.74   |   2.00   |   0.00
   1.74   |   2.00   |   0.00
   1.74   |   2.00   |   0.00
   ...    |   ...    |   ...

If the sequence is different (most of times you'll have a missing INDEX00 and so an INDEX01=0.00) you have to submit a subchannel dump (.sub) taken only with CloneCD to check possible EAN or mastering errors and to determine real pregaps.

D. Do same check of point C. and look if your disc has tracks with INDEX>01. If so, submit a subchannel dump (.sub) as above to determine real lenght of all INDEXes.

Notes: PR doesn't have tipical EAC bug on 2 tracks discs. Pregap for audio track is added automatically in the dumping process, you don't have to edit anything.

PS: If PR splash logo gives you noise open .ini file and set "Splash=0", it will never come back again.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
DUMPING with Iso Buster + EAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dump game as in the standard guide, but if you find one of the situations below you have to submit a subchannel dump (.sub) taken only with CloneCD to check possible EAN or mastering errors and / or to determine real pregaps, etc.

1) Games with 2 data tracks;

2) If audio pregap sequence (you can easily see it under EAC after gaps detection) is different from any in the scheme below;

 SS / SCD | SS / SCD | SCD only
-------------------------------
   2.00   |   2.00   |   2.00
   1.74   |   2.00   |   0.00
   1.74   |   2.00   |   0.00
   1.74   |   2.00   |   0.00
   ...    |   ...    |   ...

3) If EAC detects tracks with INDEX>01 (postgaps, etc.);

4) If track02 pregap is different from 2.00. In this situation you might also have calculated a wrong "write offset".

5) If "write offset" you got with manual method is a multiple of 1 sector (+588, -588, +1176, -1176, etc.)

6) If "write offset" you got with manual method is +810 (expecially some Euro discs have a real pregap of 1.74 on second track so real offset was +222).

7) If PR dump doesn't match EAC one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
FIXING ANOMALIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Download this package to fix the following anomalies:

Q. Fixing a single audio track disc (EAC only):

A1. Use "fix_track02.bat" (set on 2 seconds pregap, edit batch file if pregap lenght is different).

Q. Fixing games with 2 data tracks after real gap confirmation (EAC only):

A. Use "fix_2data.bat" (set on 3 seconds pregap for track02 and 2 seconds for track03, edit batch file if pregap lenghts are different).

Q. Fixing two tracks between an EAN sector after .sub confirmation:

A1. Use "fix_EAN_PR.bat" if you dumped your tracks with PR (set on 150 sector to move from one track to next one, edit batch file with right tracks name and number of sectors if needed).

A2. Use "fix_EAN_EAC.bat" if you dumped your tracks with EAC (set on 1 sector to move from one track to previous one, edit batch file with right tracks name and number of sectors if needed).

----------
PS: I unsticked the 2 old threads, they are here if someone want to take a look:
http://forum.redump.org/topic/3152/ss-s … ed-041208/
http://forum.redump.org/topic/1259/mega … n-dumping/

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dumping scrambled data sectors in audio tracks
----------------------------------------------------------------------

First of all if you are not expert on dumping those CDs post subs.

Download this tool http://www.rocknroms.net/tools/ss-tools/cdtoimg.rar

1) dump cd with cdtoimg

usage

cdtoimg drive_letter cd_dump.bin

If cdtoimg doesn't work use a trap disc (follow the DC dumping guide and instead of DC trap disc you can use an audio cd which is > 650 mb. Dump all disc instead of extracting sectors)

2) Once it has finished you have to remove all bytes not needed (make a backup of cd_dump.bin so you can undo all your mistakes).

So: (combined_read_offset (in bytes **) + data_track_lenght (take it from PR or sub confirmed lenght) = bytes_to_remove

** (samples x 4) ex: combined offset is +30 ---> 120bytes
Take care that negative combined offsets should take the sign.

usage

remove -direction=left -size=bytes_to_remove trash.bin cd_dump.bin

3) What remains in cd_dump.bin is scrambled audio with the right sectors. To get the right tracks (3 possible situation avaible): track02_lenght is size of PR track02 dump

A. If cd_dump.bin is bigger than track02_lenght do as follow:

remove -direction=left -size=track02_lenght new_track02.bin cd_dump.bin

B. If cd_dump.bin is smaller than track02_lenght you have to copy paste sectors to EAC / PR track02 dump:

on EAC/PR track02 dump

remove -direction=left -size=150sec trash.bin track02.bin

on cd_dump.bin

remove -direction=left -size=150sec gap.bin cd_dump.bin

then

copy /b gap.bin+track02.bin new_track02.bin

C. If cd_dump.bin = track02_lenght you already have the right track, but it's better to check anyway. So cd_dump.bin is new_track02.bin

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Saturn discs with INDEX>01
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Savior (E) - http://redump.org/disc/2850/ - real cue
Dark Savior (J) - http://redump.org/disc/5045/ - real cue
Magical Drop (J) - http://redump.org/disc/4206/ - real cue
Monster Slider (J) - http://redump.org/disc/5052/ - real cue
Nanatsu no Hikan (J) (Disc 1) - http://redump.org/disc/5270/ - real cue
Nanatsu no Hikan (J) (Disc 2) - http://redump.org/disc/5271/ - real cue
Nanatsu no Hikan (J) (Disc 3) - http://redump.org/disc/5272/ - real cue
Prikura - Princess Clara Daisakusen (J) - http://redump.org/disc/4916/ - real cue
Side Pocket 2: Densetsu no Hustler (J) - http://redump.org/disc/8726/ - real cue

**Real cues should be fixed.

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturn discs with other anomalies
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wrong track02 pregap detection on both PR and EAC with a Plextor:

Dump disc with another drive.

Panzer Dragoon (J) - http://redump.org/disc/2636/
Panzer Dragoon (J) (Alt) - http://redump.org/disc/3243/
SteamGear Mash (J) - http://redump.org/disc/3890/

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

Rocknroms wrote:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Saturn discs with INDEX>01
----------------------------------------------------------------------

...
Side Pocket 2: Densetsu no Hustler (J) - http://redump.org/disc/8726/ - real cue

**Real cues should be fixed.

Post's attachments

sp2_real.rar 554 b, 27 downloads since 2009-09-06 

You don't have the permssions to download the attachments of this post.

How accurate is this guide for pc dumping? I have plextor and I tried dumping with perfectrip but everything I tried gives me c2 errors. with 4x speed.

And whats the difference of the "combined write offset" & "combined read+write offset"?
My drive has +98 so I allways put -98 in perfectrip?

This is the most accurate guide for SS/MCD but you can use it for PC games too.

Try dump games at max speed and check if all option are set right; if you still got c2 errors in the log (a c2 file is always created so it's not a problem if you got only this), dump tracks with errors alone or try to dump them with EAC and then compare them. If you got same result and your disc has no scratch you dump is the best avaible unless you made other mistakes.

And whats the difference of the "combined write offset" & "combined read+write offset"?

This is the same thing ---> the offset you got with px_d8 or old method = drive read offset + disc write offset.

My drive has +98 so I allways put -98 in perfectrip?

If +98 is your drive read offset you have to add the disc write offset. Then yes in PerfectRip you have to put the negative value (or positive if your combined offset is negative).

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

Updated with a little faq on how to dump scrambled data sectors.

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

Wow, that quite a bit to do. I just dumped my first submission for the site (which was a PS2 game) and it seems so easy compared to this. I have quite a few Sega Saturn discs that I can dump that are not listed in the Saturn list here (many of which are not easy to come by).

The thing is I only have two optical drives (no Plextor for me  sad  ). How can I find out if my drives  support read command to work with Perfect Rip? I have:

Sony DVD RW DRU-530A
TSSTcorp DVD-ROM TS-H353B BC05

Thanks smile

The thing is I only have two optical drives (no Plextor for me  sad  ). How can I find out if my drives  support read command to work with Perfect Rip?

Simply try px_d8 or try to dump someting with PR, if it works your drive support it. By the way if your drives support lead-out you can dump easily disc with >0 offset with EAC+Isobuster as usual

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

You can add PX-708UF to that list.

I moved all Panzer Dragoon discussion to dump forums

My patch requests thread
--------------------------------

13 (edited by Nexy 2012-01-06 22:00:17)

You should add what the "header" is, and where to find it, and how to examine it. I have absolutely no clue what you mean.

:EDIT:

Ok figured out is it sector 0 on the disc viewed in ISOBuster tongue

Plextor PX-760A 1.07 (+30) : Plextor PX-716SA 1.11 (+30) : Plextor PX-W5224A 1.04 (+30) : Plextor PX-W4824 1.07 (+30) : Plextor PX-W4012TA 1.07 (+98) : Plextor PX-W1610TA (+99) : Plextor PX-W1210TA 1.10 (+99) : Lite-On LTR-48246S (+6) : Lite-On LTR-52246S (+6) : Lite-On LH-20A1H LL0DN (+6) : BenQ DW1655 BCIB (+618) : ASUS DRW-2014L1 1.02 (+6) : Yamaha CRW-F1 (+733) : Optiarc SA-7290H5 1H44 (+48) : ASUS BW-16D1HT 3.02 (+6)

Rocknroms wrote:

Dump game as in the standard guide, but if you find one of the situations below you have to submit a subchannel dump (.sub) taken only with CloneCD to check possible EAN or mastering errors and / or to determine real pregaps, etc.

How about a little explanation on the sub-channel interpretation?
Maybe an easy scenario (2sec gaps) and the hard ones (1.74sec) and (0sec).

I have a question. I don t know much about SS game rip. What are the different rev refering to ? If a game has a rev A and B, what does it mean, what is the difference ? Also, several games have an info like 3M, 4M, 10S, etc, what does it mean ?

Rev A/Rev B/etc. is described in No-Intro's convention, those are revised versions. The one without any rev marks in the filename is Rev 0 - initial revision aka 1.0, Rev A is like 1.1, Rev B - 1.2, etc. They usually contain small bugfixes, so the one with the highest version number or revision is the best. 3M/4M/10S is for the different matrixes made from different master discs - they often have differently shifted audio (but the same data track), so the dumps differ.

In short -- these come from the ringcodes, so they are used to distinguish the different prints of the same game.

Thank you for the explanation. I kinda figured for the different REV but I wanted a clear explanation. For the xM, xS stuff, I am not quite sure I got it but it does not really matter.

blooddha wrote:

For the xM, xS stuff, I am not quite sure I got it but it does not really matter.

Different pressings of the same version of the game with different checksums. xM, xS, xA, etc. are taken from the ringcode.

Now I got it all, thanks.

Hey guys, is this still the official way to dump Sega Saturn?  I've got a very limited amount of time and need to know asap.

thank you

I don't get notifications from this forum, and i don't often check PMs here as a result. If you need to reach me, please just email me or contact F1ReB4LL.

The dumping method is pretty much the same like years ago, with advanced use of DIC.
F1ReB4LL will be answering your question more detailed if he read this, or you contact him privately.

Just repeating myself to bump your question.

PX-760A (+30), PX-W4824TA (+98), GSA-H42L (+667), GDR-8164B (+102), SH-D162D (+6), SOHD-167T (+12)

never got a PM.  Could someone please hit me with the proper instructions for dumping saturn games?

I don't get notifications from this forum, and i don't often check PMs here as a result. If you need to reach me, please just email me or contact F1ReB4LL.

We use the DIC method now and a Plextor with  px_d8 support. See the DiscImageCreator thread for the actual program and instructions, and keep the log files.

He who controls the SPICE... controls the UNIVERSE!
The SPICE must flow.

tossEAC wrote:

We use the DIC method now and a Plextor with  px_d8 support. See the DiscImageCreator thread for the actual program and instructions, and keep the log files.

That thread is QUITE long and doesn't seem to provide explicit instructions on how to rip each format, in its own section to make things clearer.

If there any way of getting individual system instructions at all?

I have Saturn, Sega CD, Dreamcase, PC-Engine CD/Turbo CD, CD-I, 3DO, and Neo Geo CD that I'd like to dump in some recognized format on a regular basis.

I don't get notifications from this forum, and i don't often check PMs here as a result. If you need to reach me, please just email me or contact F1ReB4LL.

I added ripping information in 1st page  http://forum.redump.org/post/37654/#p37654

I have Saturn, Sega CD, Dreamcase, PC-Engine CD/Turbo CD, CD-I, 3DO, and Neo Geo CD

About Saturn, Sega CD, PC-Engine CD/Turbo CD, CD-I, 3DO, and Neo Geo CD, you can rip using cd command.

* Ripping Guide for CD
 DiscImageCreator.exe cd [DriveLetter] foo.bin [DriveSpeed(0-72)]

 For secure ripping, I recommend using /c2 option
  DiscImageCreator.exe cd [DriveLetter] foo.bin [DriveSpeed(0-72)] /c2
 
 About others option, run exe without args to get detail info.

About dreamcast

* Ripping Guide for GD-ROM (The high density area)
** Preparation
 create the audio trap disc in advance.
 (a disc with a hacked TOC of 99 mins audio, burn it with CloneCD or Alcohol 52/120%).
   http://www.mediafire.com/?2nygv2oyzzz

** Method 1 (Other tools)
 http://forum.redump.org/topic/2620/dreamcastnaomi-gdrom-dumping-instructions/

** Method 2
1. insert the audio trap disc to a supported drive.
2. run below. (stop spinning disc)
   DiscImageCreator.exe stop [DriveLetter]
3. use a pin to press the escape eject button, so the tray will eject (or remove
   the drive cover).
4. insert the gdrom and gently push the tray back (or put the drive cover back on).
5. run below. (start rippping gdrom)
   DiscImageCreator.exe gd [DriveLetter] foo.bin [DriveSpeed(0-72)]