Bitwise Cloning Of Md's

[1kyle]

Since the HI-MD units are readable (and playable) on a computer there must be an underlying (Readable) file system on the discs even if it's non standard.

Theoretically therefore a Bit to Bit image copy should be able to clone discs making it possible to LEGALLY copy YOUR OWN music digitally and distribute it without having to do it all in real time or use SS at all.

Debugging the internal structure of these discs is a task beyond my computer capabilities but I'm sure there must be some computer wizzos out there who could have a look at this.

I'd be very interested if this was at all feasable or to find out if the minidisc recorder contains some firmware which added odd random bits for each write which didn't do anything as far as normal operation was concerned but would prevent the "cloning" of the disk either on the same MD recorder or using a different one.

Cheers

-K

Edited February 21, 2005 by 1kyle

[dex Otaku]

To my understanding, or theory: the audio portions of the disc act similarly to a virtual partition [since they are files on a FAT32 partition].

My guesses as to how Sony's DRM works [especially the part about blocking the use of bitwise copies of discs] involve their having an extra layer between the USB mass-storage drivers and the actual hardware with the discs.

The Hi-MD itself could uniquely identify each disc [in the simplest terms this would be like using the media format "serial number", which floppies and even hard discs have] and use the specific format id as part of the key for decrypting the audio on the disc.

People have already tried making bitwise copies, and reported that nothing on them [audio-wise] works, so it would suggest something like this is the case.

That underlying (readable) filesystem you mention is Sony's proprietary way of doing things in order to keep DRM et al working. It could be reverse-engineered by anyone who wishes to find themself in patent litigation, among other things.

The issue of accessibility is that the only applications that can make use of that filesystem [through Sony's drivers] are those made by Sony.

In any case, unless you rewrite the unit's firmware, the drivers used to communicate with it, &c. - and in the process most likely break all compatibility with current the HiMD format as well as probably MDLP backward-compatibility .. yeah.

Perhaps the solution/compromise would be for Sony to release a pro version of the HiMD which runs completely in the clear [for recordings made on the unit] but is not compatible with the normal disc format for other than straight playback.