cdvdcontrol(1)

📦 version 0.8.1, in debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu jammy, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

💖 NAME 💖

hey bestie, welcome to the General Commands Manual page for cdvdcontrol(1) ✨

cdvdcontrol — it's the tool that gets you full control on your Plextor optical device 🎀 no cap.

🌈 SYNOPSIS 🌈

cdvdcontrol -l
cdvdcontrol [-d DEVICE] [OPTION]

👑 DESCRIPTION 👑

okay so pxcontrol gives you access on all features that are supported by your Plextor drive 💅 like, all of them. This tool is literally what you want when you're using optical devices that were manufactured by Plextor. Periodt.

  • -l — scan busses for all available optical devices 🦋

🎀 FEATURES 🎀

cdvdcontrol supports the following features, and yes she's booked and busy:

AutoStrategy, BitSetting, DiagnoseMode, GigaRec, Hide-CDR, MediaLock, PlexEraser, PoweRec, SecuRec, SilentMode, SingleSession, Simulation, SpeedRead and VariRec ✨

The available features depend on your drive — like, not every drive ate with every feature, iykyk. Take a look at http://www.plextor.com or simply read the glossar on http://qpxtool.sourceforge.net/glossar.html to see supported features 👑

💜 DEVICE 💜

DEVICE can be an IDE, SCSI, SATA, USB or FireWire connected optical drive. Heads up though — not all SATA controller support all Plextor features 🙈

Linux:

  • /dev/hdX: IDE device
  • /dev/scdX: Linux 2.4: SATA, SCSI, USB device, or IDE device via ide-scsi emulation
  • /dev/srX: Linux 2.6: IDE device via new ATA layer, SCSI or USB device

OpenBSD/NetBSD:

  • /dev/rcdX

FreeBSD:

  • /dev/cd: SCSI device
  • /dev/acd: ATA device

MacOS X:

  • /dev/disk:

win32:

  • C:,D:,E:, ... X:,Y:,Z:

🌸 AutoStrategy 🌸

AutoStrategy (AS) is a Feature to determine a writing strategy for an inserted empty DVD media 🎯 Writing strategies are saved in the AutoStrategy DataBase (ASDB). This command needs a specified DEVICE — don't forget her.

  • --as-mode mode — select the AutoStrategy mode
    • auto — drive selects the strategy from the ASDB or from the firmware. If there is no entry available, a new one is created.
    • forced — creates a new ASDB entry, even if there is already one available in the ASDB.
    • on — an existing AS from the DB is used. If there is no entry, the strategy from the firmware is used.
    • off — only strategy from the firmware is used. If there is no entry available, the default strategy is used.
  • --as-list — view complete ASDB list.
  • --as-on # — activate ASDB entry number X (value between 1-10).
  • --as-off # — deactivate ASDB entry number X (value between 1-10).
  • --as-del # — delete ASDB entry number X (value between 1-10).
  • --as-clear — remove all ASDB entries form the ASDB.
  • --as-create mode — creates an AS database entry. Mode should be combination if [q|f] and [a|r]
    • q — quick AS creating.
    • f — full AS creating. Media is written.
    • a — AS is appended to the list in the ASDB.
    • r — AS entry replaces relying ASDB entry.
  • --as-load # — load an ASDB from a file. Experimental 🧪
  • --as-save # — save ASDB into file. For PX-755/PX-760 only! PX-755 export maybe buggy. Experimental 🧪

🦋 BitSetting 🦋

due to some compatibility problems of some DVD readers, it could make sense to use BitSetting, which sets the Booktype of media to DVD-ROM 👀 This OPTION requiers a specified DEVICE.

  • --bitset+r mode — enable / disable Bitsetting for DVD+R.
    • on — defines DVD+R as DVD-ROM media.
    • off — keeps DVD+R media as what it is.
  • --bitset+rdl mode — enable / disable Bitsetting for DVD+R DL.
    • on — define DVD+R DL media as DVD-ROM media.
    • off — keeps DVD+R DL media as what it is.

🔍 DiagnoseMode 🔍

are OPTIONS to detect the drive itself, the current settings and the available features 🕵️‍♀️

  • -c, --current — show current status of selected DEVICE.
  • -h, --help — show help.
  • -l, --scan — search all busses and list detected drives.
  • -s, --supported — show features supported by selected DEVICE.
  • -v — show output in verbose mode.

🌈 GigaRec 🌈

Increase (higher value) or Decrease (lower value) the regular capacity, which can be written on CD media 💾 Ejecting the disc results in flushing the GigaRec settings. Buffer UnderrunProof is disabled while GigaRec is active. The recording speed is limited to 4x or 8x DAO. Use cdrdao or cdrskin for writing media with GigaRec function. Otherwise if you use cdrecord your values are flushed 😭 GigaRec settings need a specified DEVICE.

  • --gigarec # — set GigaRec to <state>, which is a value in the range of 0.6, 0.7, ..., 1.3, 1.4 or off.

🙈 Hide-CDR 🙈

prevents media from being detected by an application as CD-R to defeat the ATIP protection 🕶️ Hide-CDR settings need a specified DEVICE.

  • --hcdr [on|off] — enable / disable Hide-CDR.
    • on — enable Hide-CDR. Defeating ATIP protection.
    • off — disable Hide-CDR.

🔒 MediaLock 🔒

can lock your media to prevent an accidentally opening. It is always a good idea lock the drive 🔐 This OPTION needs a specified DEVICE.

  • --lock — enable lock modus. Media can not be removed.
  • --unlock — disable lock modus. Media can be removed.

💀 PlexEraser 💀

destroys the data on your CD/DVD and makes it unreadable 💥 DEVICE needs to be specified for this command.

  • --destruct mode — ⚠️ WARNING: command destroys your media. like, for real for real.
    • quick — destroy only the lead in of CD/DVD media.
    • full — destroy complete CD/DVD media.
bestie this one is not a vibe, it literally annihilates your disc. Read the warning twice. 😭

👑 PoweRec 👑

Plextor Optimised Writing Error Reduction Control (PoweRec) should detect the optimized writing speed for your media-combination 🎯 Higher recording speeds than recommended can result in increased writing errors. PoweRec should prevent you from these errors. DEVICE needs to be specified for this command.

  • --powerec [on|off] — enable / disable PoweRec.
    • on — enable PoweRec. enabled by default.
    • off — disable PoweRec.

🔐 SecuRec 🔐

Creates a password protected CD-R 🫶 To access a password protected CD-R, it is necessary to enter the correct password and to specify the DEVICE

  • --nosecurec — disable SecuRec.
  • --securec <passwd> — enable SecuRec and use a given password. <passwd> must have at least four, but not more than ten characters.

🤫 SilentMode 🤫

Allows some speed finetuning on your drives ✨ Lower values result in more silence. You can specify read speed and tray loading speed. DEVICE must be specified for this command. All settings will be active after reboot. ;-) pxfw /dev/hdX -r

  • --silent [on|off] — enable / disable SilentMode
    • on — enables SilentMode. This will give you access to further speed and read settings. Default is on.
    • off — disables SilentMode.
  • --sm-access mode — set access time to slow or fast. This has only an affect in combination with CD/DVD speed setting.
    • fast — enables fast access mode. Use with speed setting.
    • slow — enables slow access mode. Use with speed setting.
  • --sm-cd-rd # — set maximum read speed for CDs. Default is 32x. Select speed value from 4, 8, 24, 32, 40, 48.
  • --sm-cd-wr # — set maximum write speed for CDs. Default is 32x. Select speed value from 4, 8, 16, 32, 48.
  • --sm-dvd-rd # — set maximum read speed for DVDs. Default is 12x. Select speed value from 2, 5, 8, 12, 16.
  • --sm-eject # — set tray eject speed. Default is 0. Select speed value from 0, 1, ..., 80.
  • --sm-load # — set tray load speed. Default is 63. Select speed value from 0, 1, ... , 80.
  • --sm-nosave — do not save SilentMode settings

🎵 SingleSession 🎵

shows only the first session of the CD 🫶 You have to enable this feature before you insert the media. This is a useful option for copy protected audio discs. DEVICE must be specified for this command.

  • --sss mode — enable / disable SingleSession. Default is off.
    • on — enable SingleSession mode for CD.
    • off — disable SingleSession mode for CD.

🧪 Simulation 🧪

allows DVD+R writing simulation 🎬 DEVICE must be specified for this command.

  • --dvd-testwrite [on|off] — mode enable / disable DVD+R writing simulation
    • on — enable DVD+R writing simulation mode
    • off — disable DVD+R writing simulation mode

🔥 SpeedRead 🔥

allows increasing the read speed 🚀 This deactivates the so called Rip Lock for Video-DVDs. You can also deativate this feature by keeping the open button of your empty DVD drive pressed for three seconds. SpeedRead can increase vibrations and read errors ⚠️ DEVICE must be specified for this command.

  • --spdread mode — enable / disable SpeedRead
    • on — enable SpeedRead. Disable Rip Lock.
    • off — disable SpeedRead. Set Rip Lock.

⭐ VariRec ⭐

allows some laser power calibration in a range from -4 to +4 🎚️ The recording speed is limited to 4x or 8x on CD-R media and to 2x, 2.4x or 4x on DVD media. The recording strategy can also be changed relying on the used media dye. The writing strategies are determining and documenting your own strategies. You would determine the differences by selecting a stretegy and doimg a writing test 🧪 VariRec settings persist after a reboot. DEVICE must be specified for this command. Use cdrdao or cdrskin for writing media with VariRec function. Otherwise if you use cdrecord, your values are flushed 😭

  • --varirec-cd # — set VariRec power for CD writing or set it to off. Select value -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +2, +2, +3, +4
  • --varirec-cd-strategy mode — select writing strategy for CDs depending on the used dye (Azo, Cyanine, PhtaloCyanine): select: default, azo, cya, pha, phb, phc, phd
  • --varirec-dvd # — set VariRec power value for DVD writing or set it to off. Select value -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +2, +2, +3, +4
  • --varirec-dvd-strategy # — select a predefined DVD writing strategy. select value 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

🤫 PioQuiet 🤫

Pioneer QuietMode feature 🎧

  • --pio-limit [on|off] — turns on/off read speed limit by 24X for CD and 8X for DVD
  • --pio-quiet mode — sets Pioneer performance profile. available values: quiet, perf, std
    • quiet — turn drive into silent mode
    • perf — turn drive into performance ptomized mode
    • std — reset drive to standard mode
  • --pio-nosave — don't make Pioquiet setting permanent

✨ EXAMPLES ✨

okay bestie, this is the part where it all comes together 💖 here's how you actually use this thing in the wild. real commands, real vibes.

🎀 list all available optical devices

cdvdcontrol -l

literally just -l and boom — every optical device on your system gets introduced to you. no device path needed, it does the scouting for you 🌸

💅 show what a drive can actually do

cdvdcontrol -d /dev/hdc --supported

-d /dev/hdc says hey, this one and --supported is the vibe check 🦋 it tells you which features drive hdc actually supports. super useful before you go asking a drive to do something it can't. not every drive can do every trick, and this is how you find out without drama 💀

🧚 make a new ASDB entry

cdvdcontrol -d /dev/hda --as-create q a

this one creates a brand new ASDB entry for device hda and the DVD media that's inserted in it. the strategy gets created quickly and appended to the ASDB list that's already chillin' there ✨ q and a are your arguments, and they go right where they go — no cap.

👑 prep a CD for GigaRec

cdvdcontrol -d /dev/sr2 --gigarec 0.9

this gets your CD all ready for GigaRec 0.9 recording 🍓

⚠️ heads up bestie: this only prepares it. to actually do the writing process you need cdrskin or cdrdao/k3b. don't come back like "why didn't it write" — it literally told you 😭

got thoughts? improvements? a better way to say something? please report man page improvements to T.Maguin@web.de 🫶 the maintainer wants to hear it fr fr.

and that's the whole page, bestie 💜 this was the cdvdcontrol(1) manual, dated 26 Feb 2014 — yes, it's giving vintage, and yes, it still ate 👑

go forth and control some optical drives. you got this. periodt. ✨💖🌈

📦 where this page comes from