Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Media Descriptor File
View on WikipediaThis article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2011) |
| Media Descriptor File | |
|---|---|
| Filename extension |
.mdf |
| Type of format | Disc image |
| Media Descriptor | |
|---|---|
| Filename extension |
.mds |
| Magic number | MEDIA DESCRIPTOR |
| Type of format | Sidecar file |
Media Descriptor File (MDF) is a proprietary disc image file format developed for Alcohol 120%, an optical disc authoring program. Daemon Tools, CDemu, MagicISO, PowerDVD, and WinCDEmu can also read the MDF format.[1][2] A disc image is a computer file replica of the computer files and file system of an optical disc.
Unlike an ISO image[citation needed], a Media Descriptor File can contain multiple layers (as used in dual-layer recording) and multiple optical disc tracks. Like the IMG file format, a Media Descriptor File is a "raw" image of an optical disc. The word raw implies that the copy is precise, bit-for-bit, including (where appropriate) file-system metadata.
A Media Descriptor File may be accompanied by a Media Descriptor Sidecar file. This optional binary file (with file extension .mds) contains metadata about an imaged optical disc, including a delineation of where disc layers begin and end ("layer breaks"), and which portions of the MDF belong in which disc layer. The MDS file also stores the location and value of the layer breach bit, a CD/DVD copy protection mechanism. The MDS file is comparable to the CloneCD Control File and cue sheet (.cue) file formats. However, their capabilities are not identical; also the cue sheet is a text file format.
Alcohol 120%'s MDF/MDS format is one of the few formats besides Nero's NRG, BIN/CUE and CloneCD's CCD/IMG/SUB disc image formats to support Mixed Mode CDs which contain audio CD tracks as well as data tracks.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ ".MDF File Extension". FileInfo.com. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
- ^ "libMirage library". Retrieved 1 August 2017.
Media Descriptor File
View on GrokipediaOverview
Definition and Purpose
The Media Descriptor File (MDS) is a proprietary sidecar file format developed by Alcohol Soft for use with their Alcohol 120% disc imaging software, storing descriptive metadata for CD and DVD disc images in a binary structure that begins with the ASCII identifier "MEDIA DESCRIPTOR."[4][5] Primarily associated with the accompanying .MDF binary image file, which holds the raw sector data, the MDS provides essential details on the disc's organization to enable complete image functionality.[6] The primary purpose of the MDS is to preserve critical layout information from the original optical media, such as track positions, session boundaries, and layer breaks for dual-layer discs, allowing accurate emulation, virtual mounting, or burning of the image without requiring the physical disc.[6][7] This metadata ensures that software can replicate the disc's behavior, including multi-session structures and copy protection cues, which are vital for faithful reproduction in archiving or playback scenarios.[5] Developed in the early 2000s as part of Alcohol 120%, common use cases include generating descriptors for single-layer CDs to support audio ripping and track extraction, or for dual-layer DVDs to handle video backups with precise layer transition points.[6][7]Relation to MDF Files
The Media Descriptor File (MDS) complements the Media Descriptor File (MDF) by forming a paired disc image format, where the MDF acts as the primary binary container for the raw sector data extracted from an optical disc, encompassing tracks, sectors, and optional subchannel information. In contrast, the MDS supplies the essential index and structural metadata, such as session details and track layouts, to enable proper interpretation of the MDF's contents.[5][4] The pairing mechanism relies on the MDS referencing the MDF explicitly by filename, stored in a dedicated block within the MDS structure, which points to the binary data file without duplicating any sector content. This reference allows the MDS to define mappings, such as sector offsets to specific tracks and sessions, facilitating targeted access to data blocks in the MDF for tasks like emulation or burning.[5][8] This dual-file approach provides key advantages, including the maintenance of a compact, editable metadata component separate from the voluminous raw image, which supports modifications to disc properties like layer breaks in dual-layer DVDs without altering the underlying sector data. Such separation enhances flexibility for tools handling protected or multi-session media, ensuring accurate replication of physical disc characteristics and copy protections.[9][10] Format-wise, the MDS is a structured binary file, typically measuring under 1 KB due to its metadata-only role, while the MDF is a large-scale binary format that scales with disc size—for instance, around 4.7 GB for a standard single-layer DVD image.[5][8]History
Development by Alcohol Soft
The Media Descriptor File (MDF) format was created by Alcohol Soft, a software company based in Belfast, UK, as part of their suite of optical disc emulation tools designed to facilitate CD and DVD backup and virtual mounting.[11] The company specialized in developing software for disc imaging and burning, aiming to provide users with reliable solutions for handling physical media in digital form. The format was introduced alongside Alcohol 120% version 1.0 in October 2002, specifically to overcome shortcomings in standard ISO formats, which often failed to preserve essential structural information from multi-session CDs or multi-layer DVDs during imaging.[12] This allowed for more faithful reproductions of disc layouts, including session breaks and track configurations that ISO images could not adequately capture. Development was driven by the need to enable precise duplication of complex or protected media, such as copy-protected CDs and DVDs, where conventional formats like ISO discarded critical data such as subchannel information or protection schemes, leading to incomplete or non-functional backups.[1] Initial versions of the MDF/MDS implementation emphasized support for CD media, enabling emulation of multi-session discs common in the early 2000s software distribution. By 2003, enhancements were added to accommodate DVD capabilities, particularly handling layer breaks in dual-layer DVDs to ensure seamless playback and burning without data loss.[11] This evolution laid the groundwork for broader use in disc emulation, with subsequent adoption extending its utility beyond Alcohol Soft's ecosystem.Adoption and Evolution
Following its initial release, the Media Descriptor Small (MDS) format saw rapid third-party adoption, particularly in virtual drive emulation software. By 2004, DAEMON Tools version 3.47 integrated support for MDS files, enabling users to mount them as virtual optical drives for applications in gaming and software testing, which broadened the format's utility beyond Alcohol 120%'s native ecosystem.[13] This integration facilitated easier handling of disc images with embedded metadata, such as layer break information for dual-layer DVDs, without requiring the proprietary authoring tool.[14] The format's evolution remained conservative, with minimal structural changes but incremental enhancements to accommodate emerging media standards. In 2009, Alcohol 120% version 2.0 introduced support for Blu-ray discs, allowing MDS files to describe single- and dual-layer Blu-ray images while preserving compatibility with older CD and DVD formats.[15] By 2008, freeware tools like ImgBurn added read and write compatibility for MDS files, enabling users to create or burn such images without proprietary software, which further democratized access and sustained the format's relevance in disc imaging workflows.[16] Despite these updates, the core MDS specification—focused on metadata like track layouts and session details—stayed largely unchanged, prioritizing backward compatibility over major overhauls. As of 2023, the latest version of Alcohol 120% (2.1.1.2201) continues to support the format without major revisions.[12] MDS prominence peaked in the mid-2000s alongside the height of optical media usage, when DVD sales reached approximately $16 billion annually in the United States.[17] By the 2020s, however, the format was overshadowed by more universal standards like ISO, as streaming services dominated media consumption and reduced demand for physical disc emulation; U.S. DVD and Blu-ray sales had plummeted over 93% from their 2005 peak, dipping below $1 billion in 2024.[18] Nonetheless, MDS persists in niche archival applications, where its ability to capture detailed disc metadata aids in preserving legacy optical media against degradation. The format also gained notoriety in warez communities during the mid-2000s for its capacity to replicate copy-protected discs, as MDS files could store subchannel data and Defect Position Management (DPM) information essential for emulating protections like SafeDisc and SecuROM.[19] This association drew legal scrutiny from copyright holders concerned about unauthorized replication, though it prompted no significant alterations to the MDS structure, which remained focused on accurate media description rather than anti-piracy measures.[19]Technical Specifications
File Structure
The Media Descriptor File (MDS) is a binary file format used alongside the MDF disc image file to store structural metadata about optical discs, such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, enabling accurate emulation and parsing by software like Alcohol 120%. Developed by Alcohol Soft, the MDS format organizes information in a compact, hierarchical binary structure rather than plain text, facilitating efficient reading of disc layout details including sessions, tracks, and sector offsets. This binary design supports features like multi-session discs and subchannel data, distinguishing it from text-based formats like CUE sheets.[5] The file opens with an 88-byte (0x58) header that provides core disc descriptors. This header includes a 16-byte ASCII identifier "MEDIA DESCRIPTOR" at offset 0x00, followed by unknown bytes (e.g., 0x01 or 0x03) at 0x10 (2 bytes), the media type (a 2-byte value, e.g., 0x00 for CD-ROM, 0x01 for CD-R, 0x02 for CD-RW, or 0x10 for DVD-ROM) at 0x12, the number of sessions (typically 1, as a 2-byte integer at 0x14), a 4-byte offset to read errors (usually 0x00) at 0x54, and a 4-byte offset to the first session block (usually 0x58) at 0x50. Additional fields in the header cover reserved bytes for future extensions. Layer breaks for dual-layer DVDs are implied through media type and session data.[5] Following the header are one or more session blocks, each 24 bytes (0x18) in length, describing the organization of sessions on the disc. A session block starts with the session's start sector (4 bytes at 0x00, often 0xFFFFFF6A or -150 for lead-in areas), end sector (4 bytes at 0x04), first track number (2 bytes at 0x0C, e.g., 0x01 to 0x63), and a 4-byte offset to the first track data block (typically 0x70) at 0x14. These blocks allow for multi-session support, common in CD-ROMs with data added across multiple recording sessions.[5] Each session references track data blocks, which are 80 bytes (0x50) each and detail individual tracks within the session. A track data block includes the track mode (1 byte at 0x00, e.g., 0xA9 for audio/2352-byte raw sectors or 0xAA for Mode 1/2048-byte sectors), number of subchannels (1 byte at 0x01, 0=none or 8 for +96 bytes subchannel data), track number or point index (1 byte at 0x04, ranging from 0x01 to 0x63 for standard tracks or 0xA0+ for lead-in/lead-out), track start sector (4 bytes at 0x24, LBA e.g., 0x00000000), and track start offset in MDF (8 bytes at 0x28). A 4-byte offset to the associated index block follows at an appropriate position within the block. Index blocks (8 bytes) specify sector counts for indices 0 and 1 (4 bytes each), aiding precise navigation. Filename blocks (16 bytes or 0x10) point to null-terminated strings like "*.mdf" for the paired image file (filename strings 6 bytes). Lead-in and lead-out sectors are handled via special point indices (e.g., 0xA0 for lead-in). Subchannel data, if present, adds 96 bytes per sector (MSB first for P-W channels). A read errors section, if used, records LBAs of read errors at the offset specified in the header.[5] A simplified structural outline of an MDS file for a single-session DVD-ROM might appear as follows in conceptual terms (actual content is binary hex data):- Header (0x00-0x57): ID="MEDIA DESCRIPTOR"; Unknown=0x01; MediaType=0x10 (DVD-ROM); Sessions=0x01; OffsetToErrors=0x00; OffsetToSession=0x58
- Session Block 1 (0x58-0x6F): StartSector=0xFFFFFF6A; EndSector=0xXXXXXXX (disc total); FirstTrack=0x01; OffsetToTrack=0x70
- Track Data Block 1 (0x70-0xBF): Mode=0xAA; Subchannels=0x00; Point=0x01; ... StartSector=0x00000000 (at 0x24); StartOffset=0x00000000 (at 0x28); OffsetToIndex=...; Length=0xXXXXXXX; FilenameOffset=... (*.mdf)
- Index Block: Index0Sectors=0x00000000; Index1Sectors=0xXXXXXXX
- Footer Elements: Optional additional tracks, filename strings, or read errors at end.
