cdvdcontrol (1)

Leading comments

cdvdcontrol is released under the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.

(The comments found at the beginning of the groff file "man1/cdvdcontrol.1".)

NAME

cdvdcontrol - Tool to get full control on your Plextor optical device

SYNOPSIS

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

DESCRIPTION

pxcontrol gives you access on all features that are supported by your Plextor drive. This tool is what you want, when you use optical devices which were manufactured by Plextor.
-l      scan busses for all available optical devices

FEATURES

cdvdcontrol supports the following features: AutoStrategy, BitSetting, DiagnoseMode, GigaRec, Hide-CDR, MediaLock, PlexEraser, PoweRec, SecuRec, SilentMode, SingleSession, Simulation, SpeedRead and VariRec.
The available features depend on your drive. Take a look at www.plextor.com or simply read the glossar on:
qpxtool.sourceforge.net/glossar.html to see supported features.

DEVICE

can be an IDE, SCSI, SATA, USB or FireWire connected optical drive. 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.
--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.


--as-save #
               save ASDB into file. For PX-755/PX-760 only!

               PX-755 export maybe buggy.

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 DEVIVE.
--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 accidently 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.

                  quick   destroy only the lead in of CD/DVD media.

               full            destroy complete CD/DVD media.
        

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

cdvdcontrol -l
               list all available optical devices.

cdvdcontrol -d /dev/hdc --supported
               show features that are supported by drive hdc.

cdvdcontrol -d /dev/hda --as-create q a
               create a new ASDB entry for device hda and the

               inserted DVD media. Strategy is created quickly

               and appended to the already existing ASDB list.

cdvdcontrol -d /dev/sr2 --gigarec 0.9
               prepare CD for GigaRec 0.9 recording. Use cdrskin

               or cdrdao/k3b for writing process.
please report man page improvements to T.Maguin@web.de