Seeking Advice with my Pioneer BDR-212UBK

[JKTech]

Should I be flashing my drive?

I built a new computer and installed a Pioneer BDR-212UBK.

It works great for data file archiving and listening to CDs, but when I try to watch a DVD or Bluray in VLC, I get audio but no video. I only see a single frame.

I can click around to various time codes and it will just show that frame and keep playing audio.

From what I've read here it seems that it's because of the encryption keys/DRM and having a controlled firmware.

I tried using MakeMKV and even though my drive does register as a LibreDrive, when I rip a DVD, I still cannot watch the file properly in VLC (same issue as above - again, I assume it's because VLC doesn't have all the info to watch protected content?)

I was able to successfully rip using Handbrake and then watch the digital file, but I'd really like to be able to just put the disc in the drive and watch my movies that way.

Should I be flashing my drive's firmware?

And if so, which firmware should I be using?

I've searched around on the site and as tech savvy as I am, I have to be honest, I still find the process intimidating and a little confusing.

And the last thing I'd want to do is brick my (very expensive) drive.

For reference, I've attached my drive's info from MakeMKV.

mmkv.PNG (39.16 KiB) Viewed 5875 times

Thank you for your help!

[JKTech]

I don't know if this is important but I'll add to this in saying that I've intentionally not updated the firmware on the drive or installed any of the official software for it with the intention of flashing it if required to unlock full functionality.

Will custom firmware let me use any software I want (VLC) to view my DVD/Blurays in my Pioneer BDR-212UBK?

Thanks again for taking the time to read and comment with your advice!

[Woodstock]

Pioneer drives do not require updated firmware. Your status screen point this out. It's only the non-Pioneer drives that need changes, if you're trying to access UHD disks.

[JKTech]

Thanks for the response!

I do understand that it's not required since MakeMKV is telling me that LibreDrive is active. However, the content that I rip with LibreDrive active isn't able to play in my media player (VLC).

So is this media player issue, or is it a drive issue? Is it not playing because of the drive's firmware or because of the media player?

Would flashing custom firmware on the drive allow me to put in a DVD or bluray and watch it in VLC/rip without any issues?

[Woodstock]

VLC in a recent (last few years) version should be able to play anything that MakeMKV can rip. That isn't a LibreDrive issue.

Does VLC open a window on your screen? I've had it pointed at a screen that was not there before, and it would do everything but display the window, just couldn't get the screen display. Finally had to force the issue with VLC... which I can't remember how to do right now. But if you're getting a window displayed, that isn't the problem.

[MartyMcNuts]

Thanks for the response!

I do understand that it's not required since MakeMKV is telling me that LibreDrive is active. However, the content that I rip with LibreDrive active isn't able to play in my media player (VLC).

So is this media player issue, or is it a drive issue? Is it not playing because of the drive's firmware or because of the media player?

Would flashing custom firmware on the drive allow me to put in a DVD or bluray and watch it in VLC/rip without any issues?

The drive / firmware is not your problem. Your player &/or system is. Try a different player such as MPC-HC. It plays anything & everything I have ripped.

[Billycar11]

Thanks for the response!

I do understand that it's not required since MakeMKV is telling me that LibreDrive is active. However, the content that I rip with LibreDrive active isn't able to play in my media player (VLC).

So is this media player issue, or is it a drive issue? Is it not playing because of the drive's firmware or because of the media player?

Would flashing custom firmware on the drive allow me to put in a DVD or bluray and watch it in VLC/rip without any issues?

What's your full PC specs

[jinx100]

I don't know if this is important but I'll add to this in saying that I've intentionally not updated the firmware on the drive or installed any of the official software for it with the intention of flashing it if required to unlock full functionality.

Will custom firmware let me use any software I want (VLC) to view my DVD/Blurays in my Pioneer BDR-212UBK?

Thanks again for taking the time to read and comment with your advice!

Have you completed the integration of MakeMKV with the video players as described in viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7009 and viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7008 ?

[JKTech]

VLC in a recent (last few years) version should be able to play anything that MakeMKV can rip. That isn't a LibreDrive issue.

Does VLC open a window on your screen? I've had it pointed at a screen that was not there before, and it would do everything but display the window, just couldn't get the screen display. Finally had to force the issue with VLC... which I can't remember how to do right now. But if you're getting a window displayed, that isn't the problem.

Yes it opens just fine and plays other files without a problem. I'm starting to believe that this is an issue with VLC though because I was able to rip with handbrake and watch in VLC, but not rip with MakeMKV and watch in VLC so my guess is that MakeMKV and Handbrake are dealing with the encryption stuff differently and perhaps Handbrake is removing it completely while MakeMKV is maintaining this data?

Thanks for the response!

I do understand that it's not required since MakeMKV is telling me that LibreDrive is active. However, the content that I rip with LibreDrive active isn't able to play in my media player (VLC).

So is this media player issue, or is it a drive issue? Is it not playing because of the drive's firmware or because of the media player?

Would flashing custom firmware on the drive allow me to put in a DVD or bluray and watch it in VLC/rip without any issues?

The drive / firmware is not your problem. Your player &/or system is. Try a different player such as MPC-HC. It plays anything & everything I have ripped.

I tried this out! MPC-HC plays the MakeMKV rips totally fine! It also plays my optical discs without issue! So is this a DRM/encryption issue and the 2 players are handling them differently? As I mentioned above Handbrake and MakeMKV rips were both treated differently in VLC.

Thanks for the response!

I do understand that it's not required since MakeMKV is telling me that LibreDrive is active. However, the content that I rip with LibreDrive active isn't able to play in my media player (VLC).

So is this media player issue, or is it a drive issue? Is it not playing because of the drive's firmware or because of the media player?

Would flashing custom firmware on the drive allow me to put in a DVD or bluray and watch it in VLC/rip without any issues?

What's your full PC specs

Ryzen 9 5900x
32GB of RAM
NVIDIA 3080
Windows 10

I don't know if this is important but I'll add to this in saying that I've intentionally not updated the firmware on the drive or installed any of the official software for it with the intention of flashing it if required to unlock full functionality.

Will custom firmware let me use any software I want (VLC) to view my DVD/Blurays in my Pioneer BDR-212UBK?

Thanks again for taking the time to read and comment with your advice!

Have you completed the integration of MakeMKV with the video players as described in viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7009 and viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7008 ?

I activated all of the checks under Integration. Is there more that I need to do on Win10?

[jinx100]

Can you rip a BR disc to an .mkv file with MakeMKV and then play that file with VLC? That would show that both programs are functional.

[JKTech]

I can rip from MakeMKV but it doesn't play properly in VLC even with the integration features of MakeMKV turned on.

[jinx100]

If you can't play a .mkv file with VLC then there is a problem with your VLC program. Maybe re-install the latest stable version.