Quite interesting.

> The software also contains code to properly handle Gamecube optical discs

I suspect this is the real reason behind the experiment. I've been looking for years for a way to get raw DVD data, to decode XBOX discs [1]. Why can't manufacturers give us raw access to the discs? Are they afraid we might use it to break copy protection schemes?

[1] https://xboxdevwiki.net/Xbox_Game_Disc

> Are they afraid we might use it to break copy protection schemes?

Yes. Many CD copy protection schemes worked by messing around with subchannel data, error correction and things like that.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc_and_DVD_copy_prot...

How did Alcohol120% work?

(This submission was inspired by a previous article about CDs: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21185897 )

dont you mean by my comment https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21195720 ? :)

Great Article!

Reading it reminded me (at least to the best of my knowledge at this point in time!) that THERE ARE NO OPEN HARDWARE CD/DVD PLAYERS.

I think some person or people should attempt a completely open hardware CD and/or DVD and/or Blu-Ray player...

I'd be happy with just a completely open hardware CD player...

IMHO open software/firmware would already be far more useful, because then you could read discs at a far lower level which greatly aids in data recovery situations; something like the optical disc version of a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KryoFlux , in other words.

The hardware in a drive is very high precision but otherwise quite "mundane", as the article shows.

Micah (Scanlime) did some work on a Bluray player. Brace yourself - this is a real tour the force of reverse engineering: http://vimeo.com/110257380 https://hackaday.com/2014/10/30/reverse-engineering-a-blu-ra...

There is another "independent" firmware for a bluray players, pirate one for Xbox 360 ones :) somewhat hard to get your hands on the source.

Anybody else always think of Robert Anton Wilson when you see RAW capitalized?

RIP RAW