DVD-Audio

[Fireye]

So, I've imported a few japanese dvd-audio discs. They both have 24bit/96khz on BOTH the dvd-v and the dvd-a areas. I understand the difference between the two is DVD-A is MLP encoding, while DVD-V is LPCM. Am I missing anything by being able to only play the dvd-video 24/96? Is MLP encoding radically different from LPCM? Oh, and while I'm at it, any updates on being able to rip, or even play dvd-a's on a computer besides using a soundblaster audigy 2?

[Doom9]

Oh, and while I'm at it, any updates on being able to rip, or even play dvd-a's on a computer besides using a soundblaster audigy 2?I'm afraid not. Well, when it comes to playing I think the latest WinDVD can do it without the Audigy (or was it another software DVD player?), but there's definitely no ripping DVD-A (yet).

[Mug Funky]

MLP stands for "medidian lossless packing"

being lossless, the output is bit-identical to the LPCM in the video track.

that is, if the authors didn't screw up :)

[Fireye]

Originally posted by Doom9
I'm afraid not. Well, when it comes to playing I think the latest WinDVD can do it without the Audigy (or was it another software DVD player?), but there's definitely no ripping DVD-A (yet).

@Doom9 : WinDVD can decode it without the audigy, but it dithers it to 16/48khz without the audigy, even though my card is capable of playing up to 24bit/192khz (built on the via ht-s chipset). Powerdvd just freezes while trying to play the dvd, doesn't even default to the dvd-video track. Is there any work being done on decoding/ripping/playing the DVD-A format, because I haven't seen much or any news on that.

@mug : I noticed, when editing the tracks out of the raw wav, that there was a bunch of clipping, not audible but still. Hmmm.

[int 21h]

Originally posted by Fireye
...Is there any work being done on decoding/ripping/playing the DVD-A format, because I haven't seen much or any news on that...

I've heard of some initial research into it, but its pretty difficult.

It uses CPPM encryption. CPPM is like CSS on steroids. CPPM stores the keys in the lead-in of the disc (like CSS), but it doesn't have title keys in the data area. Instead of a disc key there is an album key for initial authorization. Past the CPPM, there is a digital watermarking protection from a company called Verance. Supposedly each disc is individually watermarked. I would imagine this is through some sort of media ID used in conjunction with some sort of complicated stenography inside the music itself.

Everyone in Europe and Asia that I've heard of decrypting/copying these discs is using hardware players with a SPDIF output. I would imagine that the Verance crap is still there too (on those copied discs).

[Fireye]

Hmmm, interesting. I haven't seen ANY dvd-audio players in the US that support sp/dif (optical,co-ax, or otherwise) output. It would suit my need wonderfully if I could find one.

[int 21h]

There aren't any. Most of those people are soldering the SPDIF onto the boards that wouldn't normally have them. Part of being able to license the DVD-A specs stipulates what kind of outputs you can have. SPDIF is one of the ones you're not supposed to have. (AFAIK)

Its sort of like how all DVD Video players are supposed to have Macrovision on all video outputs.

[hendrix]

Originally posted by Mug Funky
MLP stands for "medidian lossless packing"

being lossless, the output is bit-identical to the LPCM in the video track.

that is, if the authors didn't screw up :)
and it gives you 6 discreet channels of audio - think of it as Dolby Digital on Steriods