detail information

Now we'll start testing the reading of copy-protected data discs. Copy-protections are used on almost every game nowadays so it's important a writer can handle the various protections out there. For the tests we used CloneCD version 3.3.4.1 from Elaborate Bytes. We scanned every disc with the latest German ClonyXXL version 2.0.0.2 Beta e to determine the used copy-protection. ClonyXXL can be obtained from home.arcor.de/bejot.

The 'skeletons' underneath each ClonyXXL scan-result screen indicate the toughness of the used protection:

We'll test the following, most common, copy-protections. Afterwards we'll conclude the reading of protected data with our usual conclusions:

• LaserLock
• SafeDisc
• SafeDisc 2
• SecuROM
• PlayStation/LibCrypt
• Conclusion

Protected Data - LaserLock:

For this test we'll use a game called 'Desperados' protected with LaserLock 2. We scanned the disc with the German ClonyXXL and it indeed finds the LaserLock protection:

CloneCD was set-up with the following settings:

• Read Speed: Max
• Fast Error Skip:
  • Read Retries: 0 (default)
  • Error Correction: Software (default)
• Intelligent Bad Sector Scanner:
  • Sector Skip: 100 (default)

LaserLock 2 is hard to read for a lot of recorders but the Mitsumi CR-480ATE performed very well. Whereas the Waitec MEGALUS needed well over 1 hour and 30 minutes to read the disc, the Mitsumi finished the job in under 21 minutes:

Protected Data - SafeDisc:

For this test we'll use a game called 'Beavis and Butthead: BungHole in One' protected with the normal SafeDisc. Note that 'Alt' means 'Old' since SafeDisc is a rather old protection:

CloneCD was set-up with the following settings:

• Read Speed: Max
• Fast Error Skip:
  • Read Retries: 0 (default)
  • Error Correction: Software (default)

Again the Mitsumi produces an excellent result here. It skips the SafeDisc errors very fast and can read the entire disc in just over 3 minutes. Really a lot faster than the Waitec MEGALUS which needed well over 1 hour and 30 minutes:

Because the Plextor PX-W2410A and the Lite-On 24102B reviews were done with different SafeDisc games we cannot fully compare the achieved results. However we can say that the Mitsumi is the fastest SafeDisc reader here. It beats all drives we have reviewed with ease.

Protected Data - SafeDisc 2:

For this test we'll use a game called 'The Sims: House Party' protected with SafeDisc 2:

CloneCD was set-up with the following settings:

• Read Speed: Max
• Fast Error Skip:
  • Read Retries: 0 (default)
  • Error Correction: Software (default)

Again the Mitsumi is extremely fast. This time the CR-480ATE finishes the job in 2 minutes and 30 seconds! Again a lot faster than the Waitec MEGALUS which needed well over 46 minutes. Please note that this time we read from a back-up disc:

Like expected the Mitsumi blasts away all previous drives we've tested when it comes to reading SafeDisc 2 protected discs. However, as most people will know, we also need to check if the drive can write SafeDisc 2. Unlike the other protections SafeDisc 2 back-ups depend on whether or not the drive support 'Correct EFM Encoding' which is needed to write 'regular bit patterns'. For more info on SafeDisc 2 read this article.

We re-read the disc again only this time at 4x just to make sure that the created image was good. We used the same 'Fast Error Skip' settings as before:

• Read Speed: 4x
• Fast Error Skip:
  • Read Retries: 0 (default)
  • Error Correction: Software (default)

We wrote the disc with the default settings enabled ('buffer underrun protection and 'always close last session' on). Unfortunately the Mitsumi CR-480ATE fails in making a working SafeDisc 2 back-up. We tested the back-up in these drives:

• Toshiba SD-M1502: failed
• Mitsumi CR-480ATE: failed

Next we tried to write the disc with CloneCD's 'Amplify Weak Sectors' option enabled. This is a new CloneCD feature which is supposed to help writers like the Mitsumi produce better (read: working) back-ups of SafeDisc 2 protected discs. For more info on this new feature read this article.

With CloneCD's 'AWS' the Mitsumi CR-480ATE succeeded in making a working back-up. We tested the back-up disc in these drives:

• Toshiba SD-M1502: success
• Mitsumi CR-480ATE: success

Protected Data - SecuROM:

The final normal protected data tests we'll do is with a game called 'V-Rally 2 Expert Edition' protected with SecuROM 2:

CloneCD was set-up with the following settings:

• Read Speed: Max
• Read SubChannel Data from Data Tracks
• Read SubChannel Data from Audio Tracks

The Mitsumi CR-480ATE supports the reading and writing of the full 96 bytes of SubChannel Data and had no problems with SecuROM 2. The drive is again really fast, faster than the drives we've previously tested.

Protected Data - PlayStation/LibCrypt:

The final protected data test we'll do is with a LibCrypt protected PlayStation disc called 'Final Fantasy VIII'. We used the first (of four) disc(s) of this game:

CloneCD was set-up with the following settings:

• Read Speed: Max
• Read SubChannel Data from Data Tracks
• Read SubChannel Data from Audio Tracks

And again the Mitsumi CR-480ATE is extremely fast... It can read the entire disc in 2 minutes and 43 seconds. As a comparison, the Waitec MEGALUS needed about 12 minutes to read the same disc.

Protected Data - Conclusion:

Well as you might have guessed we love the Mitsumi CR-480ATE. With every protection thrown at it, the drive was extremely fast and never complained... It's too bad the drive cannot handle 'Correct EFM Encoding' which is needed to copy SafeDisc 2 but luckily the drive did work with CloneCD's 'Amplify Weak Sectors' option. On top of the great reading speeds the drive can read and write the full SubChannel Data without problems. Two thumbs up for the Mitsumi!

Now that we've covered the reading (and writing) of normal/unprotected data and protected data discs it's time to see how the Mitsumi CR-480ATE performs with audio...