Noobie here. I wasn't sure where to post this so I wanted to ask here. Do I need a specific drive to rip non-UHD BluRays? I have read about UHD drives and wasn't sure if there was a difference.
If I ever decided to get into UHD ripping, should I just wait and get one of those drives so I can do both? I guess a big factor would be price difference.
Do I need a specific drive to rip a non-UHD BluRay? Or wait and get one that can rip UHD too?
-
EldraziTom
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2025 1:05 am
Re: Do I need a specific drive to rip a non-UHD BluRay? Or wait and get one that can rip UHD too?
Most regular blu-ray drives will work… except for when it won't.
If you have a drive that supports LibreDrive, you'll save yourself from the hassle of a lot of corner cases and current limitations.
The biggest limitation is brand new blu-rays with AACS v82. Normally when a newer version of AACS appears in the wild, folks with LibreDrive enabled drives note it in their logs but continue to rip discs without much concern. After a short time, MakeMKV is updated so non-LibreDrive readers can also rip the new AACS discs. AACS v82, however, is a little different. MakeMKV has not yet been updated for AACS v82 and I don't think any non-LibreDrive readers can rip one. MakeMKV will likely eventually be updated for AACS v82, but changes implemented in AACS v82 have complicated things.
(This stuff is at the edge of my knowledge, so if I'm wrong, someone will surely correct me.)
If you want to rip UHDs you must have a drive that supports LibreDrive and that drive must also be able to read UHDs. Said another way, just because a drive is a LibreDrive does not mean it can rip UHDs. The Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide has a list of drives that can be made to rip UHDs.
So what does all this mean? If you have a drive already in a closet or old computer, dig it out and give it a try. It'll probably work. If happen across a regular blu-ray drive for super cheap, then maybe it is worth it to try. If you're going to buy a new drive, just get a proper UHD & LibreDrive capable drive.
If you're going to buy new, the best of the easy-to-find drives is something with an LG BU40N inside. Even better than that is a Pioneer drive with the right firmware, but since Pioneer got out of the business of making optical drives, the stock of available drives has dwindled to almost zero.
If you have a drive that supports LibreDrive, you'll save yourself from the hassle of a lot of corner cases and current limitations.
The biggest limitation is brand new blu-rays with AACS v82. Normally when a newer version of AACS appears in the wild, folks with LibreDrive enabled drives note it in their logs but continue to rip discs without much concern. After a short time, MakeMKV is updated so non-LibreDrive readers can also rip the new AACS discs. AACS v82, however, is a little different. MakeMKV has not yet been updated for AACS v82 and I don't think any non-LibreDrive readers can rip one. MakeMKV will likely eventually be updated for AACS v82, but changes implemented in AACS v82 have complicated things.
(This stuff is at the edge of my knowledge, so if I'm wrong, someone will surely correct me.)
If you want to rip UHDs you must have a drive that supports LibreDrive and that drive must also be able to read UHDs. Said another way, just because a drive is a LibreDrive does not mean it can rip UHDs. The Ultimate UHD Drives Flashing Guide has a list of drives that can be made to rip UHDs.
So what does all this mean? If you have a drive already in a closet or old computer, dig it out and give it a try. It'll probably work. If happen across a regular blu-ray drive for super cheap, then maybe it is worth it to try. If you're going to buy a new drive, just get a proper UHD & LibreDrive capable drive.
If you're going to buy new, the best of the easy-to-find drives is something with an LG BU40N inside. Even better than that is a Pioneer drive with the right firmware, but since Pioneer got out of the business of making optical drives, the stock of available drives has dwindled to almost zero.
Re: Do I need a specific drive to rip a non-UHD BluRay? Or wait and get one that can rip UHD too?
My suggestion is to get a UHD Libredrive capable drive. This means a drive that has a firmware that allows MakeMKV to dynamically tweak its microcode to bypass current and future protection issues. Don't mess around with anything else.
I prefer 5.25" "internal" drives. Faster and more powerful drive motors. But most people will need an enclosure with them.
LG WG16NS60 is one drive I have that I've had very good success with. Others have said they get flaky drives occasionally but I never have. I got mine here. The one I got from that vendor needed no firmware patching.
If you want slimline then LG BU40N is one that can be fairly easily patched for Libredrive. If you order a Verbatim 43888 or 43889 external you will either get this drive, or if it's an older version, an even better Pioneer.
If you can find old Pioneer stock, you might want to go that route. They are simply the best and if you can find say an X13 or S13 it'll be worth it in the long run. But there are other considerations and I'm not going to go into details unless you find one. If you do post back, or just search the forum and read up. Short form is they are worth it but almost unobtanium.
I prefer 5.25" "internal" drives. Faster and more powerful drive motors. But most people will need an enclosure with them.
LG WG16NS60 is one drive I have that I've had very good success with. Others have said they get flaky drives occasionally but I never have. I got mine here. The one I got from that vendor needed no firmware patching.
If you want slimline then LG BU40N is one that can be fairly easily patched for Libredrive. If you order a Verbatim 43888 or 43889 external you will either get this drive, or if it's an older version, an even better Pioneer.
If you can find old Pioneer stock, you might want to go that route. They are simply the best and if you can find say an X13 or S13 it'll be worth it in the long run. But there are other considerations and I'm not going to go into details unless you find one. If you do post back, or just search the forum and read up. Short form is they are worth it but almost unobtanium.