Welcome to the HiFi Haven Rip SACD with a Blu-ray player thread!
This thread does not intend to rehash or further detail the well established PlayStation 3 SACD ripping method, nor the more recent Blu-ray player method, that in each case typically involves use of a command line interface (CLI) via the Terminal or Console, and/or the use of a Telnet session.
While both of the above are perfectly workable solutions, they are also more complex than most non-expert computer users care to tackle. The CLI can be intimidating and/or tedious for those unaccustomed to it.
This thread instead details the use of certain model Blu-ray players when coupled with the superb Sonore ISO2DSD freeware, which offers an easy to understand Java-based GUI that is configured and operated with just a few clicks on Windows, Mac, or Linux based computers (64-bit OS version required). Concise step-by-step instructions with screenshots are provided.
Update Oct. 2018:
There is now an upgrade alternative to the venerable ISO2DSD app also available. This newly hatched freeware is called SACDExtractGUI (thank you mindset!). SACDExtractGUI is the current state-of-the-art User Interface solution for ripping SACD. It offers some additional functions, and rip speed improvement too when coupled with mindset's sacd_extract 3.9 (itself a fork of Mr. Wicked's wonderful original extract tool).
While Sonore's ISO2DSD is also fully compatible with sacd_extract 3.9, there you'll only get the rip speed improvement, but not the additional functionality offered by SACDExtractGUI. The new SACDExtractGUI is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux based computers (including the ARM-based Raspberry Pi 3B), and just like Sonore's ISO2DSD, it is a Java applet requiring a 64-bit operating system computer.
The specific SACD ripping method detailed here utilizes the Blu-ray player as a file server (aka the server method), with the extracted DSD tracks sent over Ethernet or WiFi to a destination computer residing anywhere on the same local area network (LAN) as the server Blu-ray player/ripper.
We'll focus on extracting the 2-channel stereo tracks, converting them directly to .dsf files and forgoing a full ISO disc archive, electing not to rip any multi-channel tracks. This saves significant storage space, ripping time, as well as the post-rip time and effort needed to split the stereo from the multichannel in a full ISO. Alternatively, opting to rip a full archival ISO (or even just the multichannel tracks) is only a difference of a couple of clicks in the GUI should one be so inclined.
Additionally, the subplot of this thread will center on use of the various recently discovered (Feb. 2018) inexpensive Sony brand Blu-ray player models that currently hold the distinction of being the "world's least expensive SACD ripping solution".
While no longer in production, these Sony Blu-ray player models are available on the used market for as little as $20, and were commonly sold all over the world by various retailers including Costco, Walmart, and Target, so 2nd-hand examples should remain easily obtained for some time to come.
The essentially similar procedure for use of certain model Pioneer, Oppo, Cambridge, Arcam, Primare, Electrocompaniet, Denon, and Yamaha brand players will also be covered, if any Haven members prefer to use one of those machines instead of a Sony.
This thread does not intend to rehash or further detail the well established PlayStation 3 SACD ripping method, nor the more recent Blu-ray player method, that in each case typically involves use of a command line interface (CLI) via the Terminal or Console, and/or the use of a Telnet session.
While both of the above are perfectly workable solutions, they are also more complex than most non-expert computer users care to tackle. The CLI can be intimidating and/or tedious for those unaccustomed to it.
This thread instead details the use of certain model Blu-ray players when coupled with the superb Sonore ISO2DSD freeware, which offers an easy to understand Java-based GUI that is configured and operated with just a few clicks on Windows, Mac, or Linux based computers (64-bit OS version required). Concise step-by-step instructions with screenshots are provided.
Update Oct. 2018:
There is now an upgrade alternative to the venerable ISO2DSD app also available. This newly hatched freeware is called SACDExtractGUI (thank you mindset!). SACDExtractGUI is the current state-of-the-art User Interface solution for ripping SACD. It offers some additional functions, and rip speed improvement too when coupled with mindset's sacd_extract 3.9 (itself a fork of Mr. Wicked's wonderful original extract tool).
While Sonore's ISO2DSD is also fully compatible with sacd_extract 3.9, there you'll only get the rip speed improvement, but not the additional functionality offered by SACDExtractGUI. The new SACDExtractGUI is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux based computers (including the ARM-based Raspberry Pi 3B), and just like Sonore's ISO2DSD, it is a Java applet requiring a 64-bit operating system computer.
The specific SACD ripping method detailed here utilizes the Blu-ray player as a file server (aka the server method), with the extracted DSD tracks sent over Ethernet or WiFi to a destination computer residing anywhere on the same local area network (LAN) as the server Blu-ray player/ripper.
We'll focus on extracting the 2-channel stereo tracks, converting them directly to .dsf files and forgoing a full ISO disc archive, electing not to rip any multi-channel tracks. This saves significant storage space, ripping time, as well as the post-rip time and effort needed to split the stereo from the multichannel in a full ISO. Alternatively, opting to rip a full archival ISO (or even just the multichannel tracks) is only a difference of a couple of clicks in the GUI should one be so inclined.
Additionally, the subplot of this thread will center on use of the various recently discovered (Feb. 2018) inexpensive Sony brand Blu-ray player models that currently hold the distinction of being the "world's least expensive SACD ripping solution".
While no longer in production, these Sony Blu-ray player models are available on the used market for as little as $20, and were commonly sold all over the world by various retailers including Costco, Walmart, and Target, so 2nd-hand examples should remain easily obtained for some time to come.
The essentially similar procedure for use of certain model Pioneer, Oppo, Cambridge, Arcam, Primare, Electrocompaniet, Denon, and Yamaha brand players will also be covered, if any Haven members prefer to use one of those machines instead of a Sony.