SDF update November 2025

[john_galt]

Getting the same thing with the same drive.

Code: Select all

Debug log started at Tue Nov  4 22:03:01 2025 , written by MakeMKV v1.18.2 linux(x64-release)
001005:0000 MakeMKV v1.18.2 linux(x64-release) started
001004:0000 Debug logging enabled, log will be saved as file:///home/<xxx>/MakeMKV_log.txt
Using 1048320KB for read cache.
Network access is ENABLED, CURL version 8.11.1/OpenSSL/3.2.6/1.64.0 (x86_64-redhat-linux-gnu) , proxy server not set.
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 0 at [$&!cPHsNoNC,vJT%<05$ :29393631
001003:0020 DEBUG: Code 0 at [$&!cPHsNoNC,vJT%<05$ :29393631
No  SDF v09b: PIONEER_BD-RW__BDR-XD08U_1.04_CKDL004777UC
SDF auto v09b: PIONEER_BD-RW__BDR-XD08U_1.04_CKDL004777UC

Followed the above procedure. Note: after closing MakeMKV, it was still running in the process list. Killed all the instances, then unplugged drive, then manually downloaded new SDF, then plugged back in, then launched MakeMKV. Then got the above in the log. Drive seems to be hung there, too.

Now working with the latest update . . . even UHD! OUTSTANDING! GREAT WORK! THANK YOU!

[mike admin]

Perfect, thx. I sent the FW dump to support@makemkv.com

Enjoy)

[tommik128]

They get their hands on something like a BDR-PR1JAME, an essentially useless drive, and they sell them with the note "We have various drives

What exactly is BDR-PR1JAME? Never heard of that.

[Mr_Orange]

the proliferation of Chinese sellers on eBay (I smell fakes but could be wrong)

What is happening on eBay and Ali Express is they have smelled chum in the water. They get their hands on something like a BDR-PR1JAME, an essentially useless drive, and they sell them with the note "We have various drives, including ________" where _______ is a list of drives that include some really shiny models. They sometimes even offer to have you message them with the model you want, but inevitably you end up getting the useless one. Don't fall for it.

Yeah, I wasn't convinced that all of sudden all these good drives were available in China!!

[standforme]

I don't get it, though I have avoided casing up some cheap drives from the red flags of the listings (Chinese, too cheap, too many available, and sharing identical photo sets). AliExpress and eBay both are very strict, and side with the buyer pretty much every time, forcing either no physical return or a free shipping physical return, when the listing and product differ. Seems risky, for the sellers, unless there really are a majority of people buying them and then not looking at what they actually get.

[Mr_Orange]

I don't get it, though I have avoided casing up some cheap drives from the red flags of the listings (Chinese, too cheap, too many available, and sharing identical photo sets). AliExpress and eBay both are very strict, and side with the buyer pretty much every time, forcing either no physical return or a free shipping physical return, when the listing and product differ. Seems risky, for the sellers, unless there really are a majority of people buying them and then not looking at what they actually get.

I'm relatively new to Ali Express so have no experience of their returns policies. Aside from the sudden appearance of all this tempting stock, the 'faff factor' of having to deal with receiving something other than advertised is putting me off.

With eBay, I'm fairly good at picking decent sellers from their feedback score, i.e. if under 98% walk away.

[VA1DER]

I don't get it, though I have avoided casing up some cheap drives from the red flags of the listings (Chinese, too cheap, too many available, and sharing identical photo sets). AliExpress and eBay both are very strict, and side with the buyer pretty much every time, forcing either no physical return or a free shipping physical return, when the listing and product differ. Seems risky, for the sellers, unless there really are a majority of people buying them and then not looking at what they actually get.

I, unfortunately, was one of those who fell for the scam. I have ordered from Ali Express for years, and figured that as always, they would refund me if the vendor's explicit promise to send a BDR-S12CBK fell through. Well, I ended up getting a BDR-PR1JAME, and I raised a dispute, and despite giving them proof of the conversation with the vendor, I only got 1 50% refund. That left me out $75 only, but the drive I got wasn't worth even that much. So it has dampened the risks I'm willing to take there, even when vendors explicitly promise features or items.

If the vendor knows they can get away with getting even only half of the purchase price for an otherwise worthless drive, it's worth it to them.

[zaqqaz6917]

I don't get it, though I have avoided casing up some cheap drives from the red flags of the listings (Chinese, too cheap, too many available, and sharing identical photo sets). AliExpress and eBay both are very strict, and side with the buyer pretty much every time, forcing either no physical return or a free shipping physical return, when the listing and product differ. Seems risky, for the sellers, unless there really are a majority of people buying them and then not looking at what they actually get.

I, unfortunately, was one of those who fell for the scam. I have ordered from Ali Express for years, and figured that as always, they would refund me if the vendor's explicit promise to send a BDR-S12CBK fell through. Well, I ended up getting a BDR-PR1JAME, and I raised a dispute, and despite giving them proof of the conversation with the vendor, I only got 1 50% refund. That left me out $75 only, but the drive I got wasn't worth even that much. So it has dampened the risks I'm willing to take there, even when vendors explicitly promise features or items.

If the vendor knows they can get away with getting even only half of the purchase price for an otherwise worthless drive, it's worth it to them.

In usa filing a credit card dispute usually helps, in addition using PayPal as well is an extra safety feature

[leaflet]

My driver is displayed as LibreDrive enabled. But it still can't recognize the UHD disc in it.

Drive Information
OS device name: Z:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-S09
Revision: 1.55
Serial number: SADLxxxxxxWL
Firmware date: 2023-02-03
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.55/ID43
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

[MartyMcNuts]

My driver is displayed as LibreDrive enabled. But it still can't recognize the UHD disc in it.

Drive Information
OS device name: Z:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-S09
Revision: 1.55
Serial number: SADLxxxxxxWL
Firmware date: 2023-02-03
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.55/ID43
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

Um, is this a UHD model?? If not, that is why.....

Libredrive enabled does not equal UHD compatibility!!

[leaflet]

I think this model should support UHD disc. It was manufactured in late 2019.

My driver is displayed as LibreDrive enabled. But it still can't recognize the UHD disc in it.

Drive Information
OS device name: Z:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-S09
Revision: 1.55
Serial number: SADLxxxxxxWL
Firmware date: 2023-02-03
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.55/ID43
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

Um, is this a UHD model?? If not, that is why.....

Libredrive enabled does not equal UHD compatibility!!

[MartyMcNuts]

I think this model should support UHD disc. It was manufactured in late 2019.

My driver is displayed as LibreDrive enabled. But it still can't recognize the UHD disc in it.

Drive Information
OS device name: Z:
Manufacturer: PIONEER
Product: BD-RW BDR-S09
Revision: 1.55
Serial number: SADLxxxxxxWL
Firmware date: 2023-02-03
Bus encryption flags: 1B
Highest AACS version: 77

LibreDrive Information
Status: Enabled
Drive platform: RS8601
Firmware name: PIONEER BDR-209
Firmware type: Original (unpatched)
Firmware version: 1.55/ID43
DVD all regions: Yes
BD raw data read: Yes
BD raw metadata read: Yes
Unrestricted read speed: Yes

No disc inserted

Um, is this a UHD model?? If not, that is why.....

Libredrive enabled does not equal UHD compatibility!!

Only if it a UHD model. Non UHD models cannot read UHD discs even when libredrive is enabled because libredrive does not mean UHD compatibility!

[wyzxvnv]

Today we pushed a major SDF.bin update. Most Pioneer drives should work now as is, without the need for a firmware update. If your drive is Pioneer, check that you have latest version of SDF.bin (the program should download it automatically). Please report here if you see any changes at all.

IMPORTANT: Please reboot your drive before using a new SDF.bin - close MakeMKV, unplug, power off, wait 5 seconds, plug again, start MakeMKV.

Hi Mike

Thank you from bottom of my heart for your incredible work on MakeMKV and all stuff around. I appreciate it a lot and ofc I supported your work by buying my own license key some time ago.
I recommend all you guys to buy license key to keep Mike motivated!

I can confirm new SDF file is working well for me. Here are two confirmed drives working with LibreDrive and UHD:

BDR-XD08MB-S (Japanese version)
PIONEER BDR-XD08U, 1.02 (2022-12-27)

BDR-S13J-X (Japanese version)
PIONEER BDR-S13JX, 1.05 (2023-08-01)

[VA1DER]

It bears mentioning that BDXL and UHD are different beasts. Physically, three-layer BDXL and UHD are almost identical, both using 33.3GB per layer and slightly shorter pits and lands than normal. But the BDA wanted to protect itself and licensed them separately. Any drive that is physically capable of BDXL is also capable of UHD and vice versa. The firmware is designed to specifically lock them out, though.

Standalone BluRay players are designed to exclude BDXL. Some BDXL drives are designed to exclude UHD discs. My Pioneer BDR-X13JBK is one of those.

If you take a UHD disc and use a UHD drive to rip it, say using MakeMKV's backup function, and then write that to a BDXL blank, then you will have a UHD movie on a BDXL disc that can be read on any BDXL drive. In that case, though, most standalone players (unless they have jailbreak firmwares) will refuse to even read it.

The practical upshot is the BDA is protectionist, and Pioneer for all that they made physically great drives, were the masters of weaponizing their firmware. That said, I think there was little love lost between the BDA and Pioneer.

LibreDrive ≠ UHD
BDXL ≠ UHD

[JustAnotherUser]

I don't get it, though I have avoided casing up some cheap drives from the red flags of the listings (Chinese, too cheap, too many available, and sharing identical photo sets). AliExpress and eBay both are very strict, and side with the buyer pretty much every time, forcing either no physical return or a free shipping physical return, when the listing and product differ. Seems risky, for the sellers, unless there really are a majority of people buying them and then not looking at what they actually get.

I, unfortunately, was one of those who fell for the scam. I have ordered from Ali Express for years, and figured that as always, they would refund me if the vendor's explicit promise to send a BDR-S12CBK fell through. Well, I ended up getting a BDR-PR1JAME, and I raised a dispute, and despite giving them proof of the conversation with the vendor, I only got 1 50% refund. That left me out $75 only, but the drive I got wasn't worth even that much. So it has dampened the risks I'm willing to take there, even when vendors explicitly promise features or items.

If the vendor knows they can get away with getting even only half of the purchase price for an otherwise worthless drive, it's worth it to them.

Can the bdr/bde pr1jame drive not be flashed to be UHD compatible? I am under the impression that Amethystum drives are simply rebadged Pioneer drives from the 11 and 12 generations. I would also love to see the makemkv info of the drive too.