Pioneer BDR-212DBK vs BDR-212V

[squib]

@Coopervid - sorry to dogpile on you, but you seem to be the one with the helpful info on getting these drives to read UHD. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212D
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2022-03-16
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02/ID61

[Coopervid]

@Coopervid - sorry to dogpile on you, but you seem to be the one with the helpful info on getting these drives to read UHD. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212D
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: xxxx
Firmware date: 2022-03-16
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.02/ID61

Read your PM.

[squib]

@Coopervid - Got it and everything works. Thank you.

[dizzy]

I recently got a BDR-213M (comes with 1.05 firmware) and am thinking of returning it and getting instead either a BDR-212DBK or BDR-212V. Any preference between the 2?

I don't care for UHD support but I do want the other features Libre Drive brings, so I assume I'll be able to get those features on either of those 2 drive models, correct? Thanks!

[Zips9280]

I recently got a BDR-213M (comes with 1.05 firmware) and am thinking of returning it and getting instead either a BDR-212DBK or BDR-212V. Any preference between the 2?

I don't care for UHD support but I do want the other features Libre Drive brings, so I assume I'll be able to get those features on either of those 2 drive models, correct? Thanks!

IIRC the difference is the V model is OEM to Vinpower, otherwise they are the same drive. The Vinpower model on amazon is a decent deal, especially next to the noisy LG/ASUS drives; I wish I went pioneers from the start! Buy from the links coopersvid sends you, they come with an early enough firmware to flash to a libredrive/uhd firmware. If you get a pioneer that comes with new enough firmware, it can't be downgraded.

[AlteredParadox]

Please post your Makemkv info to make sure you own this drive model.

Drive Information
OS device name: /dev/sr9
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212V
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: x
Firmware date: 2022-05-31
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 78

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8F00
Firmware version: ID06

No disc inserted

@Coopervid - Able to send me the firmware info as well? Thanks!!

[dizzy]

Just got a BDR-212V:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212V
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: ...
Firmware date: 2022-05-31
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 78

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8F00
Firmware version: ID06

Is there a way to enable LibreDrive support (I don't care about UHD tho)? Will MakeMKV future updates automatically support LibreDrive for these models? (it says that I should be sending the FW dump file to the support email address)

Now I feel like I should have bought the DBK instead of the V, the DBK seems to have firmware that is "LibreDrive enabled" out of the box...

[Billycar11]

Just got a BDR-212V:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212V
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: ...
Firmware date: 2022-05-31
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 78

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8F00
Firmware version: ID06

Is there a way to enable LibreDrive support (I don't care about UHD tho)? Will MakeMKV future updates automatically support LibreDrive for these models? (it says that I should be sending the FW dump file to the support email address)

Now I feel like I should have bought the DBK instead of the V, the DBK seems to have firmware that is "LibreDrive enabled" out of the box...

if you dont care about UHD no point really but email me if you want it flashed it will enable both

[dizzy]

Thanks for the offer! From what I've seen the UHD enabling firmware is a cross model flash (firmware from a different model is being flashed on it, right?) and I'd rather not risk doing that especially since I won't be taking advantage of the UHD features. What I really wanted where these LibreDrive features, among others:

DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

I think I'm going to return this one too (second Pioneer player return in as many days lol) and get the BDK instead, that one seems to come with LibreDrive support from the get go

[NotaNumber]

For those who have asked or may ask in the future here is the link for what I bought from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R89FN61?re ... tails&th=1

The most current firmware on the Vinpower Digital website is still v1.02 date 09/27/2022 so you should still be able to cross-flash the BDR-212V.

https://www.vinpowerdigital.com/downloads/

[Coopervid]

For those who have asked or may ask in the future here is the link for what I bought from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R89FN61?re ... tails&th=1

The most current firmware on the Vinpower Digital website is still v1.02 date 09/27/2022 so you should still be able to cross-flash the VDR-212V.

https://www.vinpowerdigital.com/downloads/

Forget it.

[brisket]

Thanks for the replies.

Further research tells me that in DBK, D means the drive does not support DVD-RAM media and BK is for Black front piece color. I would guess there is also White and Grey/Putty colors available.

V stands for VinPower, a manufacturer/seller of duplication towers and software. The firmware is customized for over burning and more error checking. The latest version of VinPower's firmware for the Pioneer 212 is v1.02 showing a file date of 09/27/2022.

From what I gather from posts elsewhere v1.02 can still be flashed/crossflashed. I ordered one from Amazon. Let's see what firmware version I get and if it can be flashed.

The prices on 212s has been creeping up since I started looking at them 3rd quarter last year by $15-20.

Thanks again.

Thank you so much for the info, all these CHECK PM replies that doesn't help anyone have been driving me crazy!

[brisket]

Just got a BDR-212V:

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: D:
Current profile: BD-ROM
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212V
Revision: 1.02
Serial number: ...
Firmware date: 2022-05-31
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 78

LibreDrive Information
Status: Possible, not yet enabled
Drive platform: Pioneer RS8F00
Firmware version: ID06

Is there a way to enable LibreDrive support (I don't care about UHD tho)? Will MakeMKV future updates automatically support LibreDrive for these models? (it says that I should be sending the FW dump file to the support email address)

Now I feel like I should have bought the DBK instead of the V, the DBK seems to have firmware that is "LibreDrive enabled" out of the box...

if you dont care about UHD no point really but email me if you want it flashed it will enable both

Hello @Billycar11 if I would buy this drive (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R89FN61?re ... tails&th=1). Will I be able to rip 4k, UHD and 3D bluerays to playable .mkv files for my plex? (Still needs to wait each time for approval of posts so probably wont be able to reply to DM's neither.) Please reply to me here.

[Billycar11]

Hello @Billycar11 if I would buy this drive (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R89FN61?re ... tails&th=1). Will I be able to rip 4k, UHD and 3D bluerays to playable .mkv files for my plex? (Still needs to wait each time for approval of posts so probably wont be able to reply to DM's neither.) Please reply to me here.

for now that seems to be the case if it has fw from before 12/22.

but you will need to email me for my auto flasher for it to rip UHD it will not work out of the box

[Jucabala2]

212v firmware is special to do burning result quality checks.

Hi Coopervid! Can you help me witj this? I just purchased my BDR-212DBK.
Thank you!

Code: Select all

Drive Information
OS device name: F:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-212D
Revision: 1.00
Serial number: [redacted]
Firmware date: 2019-01-10
Bus encryption flags: 13
Highest AACS version: 14

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8F00
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-212T
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.00/ID61
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted