Bitsetting...what does it do?

[briandugas]

I've noticed people refer to bitsetting from within their burning program, and it supposedly changes something on the DVD. What is this all about and what is the purpose? Thanks.
-Brian

[Kingnog]

Bitsetting...what does it do?

It sets bits.

No but seriously...it makes the dvd player playing the 'bittset-ed' dvd think its a different format. Example: A dvd-r that you bitset 'transorms' into a dvd+r. But not really transforms, since it doesnt change anything esxcept what the dvd player sees it as. Get it? I dont even understand what i typed...

[briandugas]

I've seen that people like to change discs to DVD-Rom. What does that accomplish?

[johns0]

The reason you use bitsetting on a dvd+r(bitsetting isnt used on dvd-r)is to set it so dvd players recognize the dvd+r as dvd-rom which allows for more compatibility.

[Hawseman]

I've also heard that making DVD+R bitset to DVD-ROM makes them readable in X-box/PS2. Supposedly, these gaming systems look for the DVD+R media type and refuse to play them.

I haven't verified this myself.

[Gil T Pleasure]

CompatibilityBitsetting Overview

http://www.dvdplusrw.org/Article.asp?mid=0&sid=2&aid=42

[gmatov]

I used the Booktype tool on a + to play in my g'daughter's PS2, and it works fine. It would not play either - or +. RW, I don't know.

Others have posted that their's do play them, but there are ar least 7 versions of PS2.

Have to try one in my daughter's Samsung. It has never played anything I have burned, fromVCD on up to DVD- or +.

If it plays there, I, for one, will swear by it. All the posters in DVD Players to the left say hers plays anything. It does NOT.

Cheers,

George

[aggies11]

To give a quick summary (of my understanding at least )

Playing a DVD can "not work", at two different points in the process.

A. The DVD player reads the book type of the DVD and finds a format that it either doesn't recognize, or doesn't like.

B. The DVD player attemps to play the video/audio stream off the DVD and has problems reading it (skipping, graphical issues, just plain not seeing any info at all, etc).

So what bitsetting is, is to "fake" the book type. Set a DVD to the "DVD-ROM" (ie. pressed dvd) book type. Why would you do this? Presumably to defeat type "A" problems like described above. Where a DVD player goes "DVDr, what is that??? I have no idea how to play a disc of that type" or "DVDr, well thats not a pressed dvd. For copyright reasons I will refuse to play it!"

So it gets you past that step, where a DVD player just plain refused to even try reading the disc. However, it does nothing to address type B problems, where the player, bless it's soul, just can't read the data off the disc.

(Book type of a DVD is something that describes it's type, eg DVD-ROM (Pressed dvd), DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, etc etc. Basically it differentiates between recordable and pressed media. More significantly, it's something that can't be changed. Presumably it comes pre-written on the media when you buy it blank).

All in all, a neat little trick, although how useful, is somewhat debate-able.

Finally, such a "tricK" can only be used on +R discs. Even more so, only on +R drives that support this feature.

I'd imagine you can do it with +R media but not -R because on -R blanks the book type is pre-written at the factory, while on +R discs they rely on the drive to fill in this info? (I'm not really sure on that one).

"Bitsetting" is a rather uninformative name for it. (Gotta love people and their penchant for "tech" sounding buzzwords...)

Aggies

[tompika]

http://www.netfarer.com/forums/

Folks,

Plenty of existing forums have mulled over the topic of bit-setting using +R/RW DVD burners. What does it really mean and how can it be done? From a user of a Ricoh MP5125 for around 12 months i'll give you my perspectives/opinions on this topic. Don't flame me for not having all the technical terminology for this operation, this is a "How I see it" topic, comments and further opinions appreciated.

1)- DVD+R and DVD+RW discs are physically very similar in appearance to their -R or -RW cousins, there are some slight technical differences however. Wobbled Groove on +R or +RW and Pre-Pits for -R, -RW. Scan the web for further techo explanations if you like. These methods (groove or pre-pits) allow the laser to functionally write to the discs correctly. In essence, for Data and DVD-Video they both represent a capable medium and method for optical storage.

2)- What is bit-setting for +R or +RW media? A further slight technical difference exists between + & - media in that "Lead-In" data on the disc is pre-written (during manufacture) with -R discs. "Plus" media has no such pre-written "Lead-In" data and within this area is where the "Book-Type" for the disc is stored. Obviously -R media has a "Media-Type" and "Book-Type" of -R eg (using DVDinfoPro):

Media code/Manufacturer ID PRINCO
Format Capacity Blank
Free Blocks 412352512
Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.71GB)
Book Type DVD-R
Media Type DVD-R
Media Id Code Speed 4.0x 5540KBps

On a +R Blank disc the information is not present in the "Lead-In" area at all, however some DVD Burner manufacturers (NOT ALL...yet) read the ADIP information and can therefore give the following sort of data on a blank +R disc:

Media code/Manufacturer ID RICOHJPNR00
Format Capacity Blank
Free Blocks 405405696
Free Capacity 4.38GB(4.70GB)
Book Type DVD+R
Media Type DVD+R
Media Id Code Speed 2.4x 3324KBps

Notice that the book-type of the blank media is shown as DVD+R, this is because it is blank and actually the "Media-Type" information is drawn from ADIP and is shown as Book and Media type. When the +R disc is written, the "Lead-In" data is transferred to disc using this ADIP data and therefore, without bit-setting the "Media-Type" and "Book-Type" are the same.

Some DVD Burner drives allow for the manipulation of this "Lead-In" data just prior to being written to the disc. The Ricoh MP5125a & MP5240 drives are the best known such units. The MP5125a has a long list of "clones" which are based directly upon this drive including HP200i (&e), Sony DRU-120. Philips DVDRW228, TDK IndiDVD2.4+R, Memorex DVD+RW100 etc etc. Not all the firmware supplied with these drives will allow full "Book-Type" alterations. Some allow for "default" setting to "DVD-ROM" for +R burned media.

Essentially when you have an MP5125 and by using a "Book-Type" manipulation program like DVDInfoPro (read the HELP file to learn how to) it is possible to set the burned +R/RW disc as ANY "Book-Type" you care to.

"DVD-ROM" is the most commonly manipulated "Book-Type" which is used for +R/RW discs. This classification, as implied, is for "Read Only Memory/Media". It is the same classification which pressed/manufactured DVD's are. Read up on the reflectivity issues of writable DVD media to learn other interesting aspects of all this. Basically a DVD+R/RW disc after burning can look like this:

Recording Date/Time (mm/dd/yyyy) 7/15/2003 3:53:54
Format Capacity 4.17GB(4.48GB)
Free Blocks 0
Book Type DVD-ROM
Media Type DVD+R

There are various book-types associated with DVD media and they include :
DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW and DVD-ROM. With DVDInfoPro you can actually set the 5125 or 5240 to burn any of the above as default to +R or +RW media.

3)- Why change the "Book-Type" from +R anyway? Simple, some older DVD players DO NOT recognise the +R or +RW as a valid "Book-Type" to play. Some players will not recognise -R either and will only play "Pressed DVD-ROM" discs. These players are very much in the minority though. Essentially the data and DVD-Video authoring methods can be 100% correct and the player will still refuse to play the disc. Changing the "Book-Type" will allow some older players to play the disc as normal. With the use of DVDInfoPro I am convinced that many players could benefit from firmware upgrading to accept the +R or +RW as valid disc "Book-Types". Alas this is either not possible, not important or not valid in some sectors. So, if we can change the "Book-Type" to DVD-ROM or even DVD-R, for +R/RW discs then away the player goes, just fine.

4)- Why can't my Sony DRU500a do the "Book-Type" change on +R discs? Better ask Sony that question. It could partially be answered by saying that because it's a Dual burner then -R discs can be produced. That would be OK but there are still a small number of players that reject -R discs also. None of the current crop (AFAIK !) of Dual format DVD burners allow for "Book-Type" manipulation of +R/RW discs.

5)- The MMC does not specifically allow for "Book-Type" manipulation on +R or +RW discs..............YET! Maybe it could/should/would...I'll leave that to the experts. Ricoh MP5125 and MP5240 drives can/shall/will allow the user to decide this for themselves.


That's just my 2 cents worth on the bit-setting question. Other opinions are invited and most welcome.

Regards
Studebarc

[johns0]

http://www.netfarer.com/forums/

None of the current crop (AFAIK !) of Dual format DVD burners allow for "Book-Type" manipulation of +R/RW discs.


Regards
Studebarc

How old is that article?My liteon 411s which is dual dvd burner can do bitsetting.

[tompika]

Well, yeah, things have changed since last September but its still a great article about bitsetting


I forgot to link to the list of the drives that can bitset.
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDname=&cdrs=&cdrws=&dvdrs=&dvdrws=&dvdprs=&dv...&Search=Search

[briandugas]

I noticed my Memorex 8x dual format burner isn't on the list. Does that mean it can't bitset, or it hasn't been confirmed yet? Thanks.
Brian

[tompika]

I noticed my Memorex 8x dual format burner isn't on the list. Does that mean it can't bitset, or it hasn't been confirmed yet?

Depends what drive it is inside.
If LiteOn, the LiteOn bitsetting tool might work