CHD format

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Retroplay

I use these scripts when I need to do batch converting from archives to CHD (useful for MAME software list games).
7zip and chdman must be in path.
Just edit "workdir" and "destination" path to your own preference.

Cheers for that Retroplay, certainly know more about batch files than me on this evidence

However, mine has additional conversion steps so they can be turned back into the original files, if this isn't done, there is no way to get matching iso and wavs back from the files.

Not really important I guess, but just firing the original cue's into chdman won't produce the original iso again from my testing anyway.

[Retroplay]

Yeah, these are for chd conversion only.
I don't need to revert as I always keep the original TOSEC/Redump archives.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Radertified

I'd love for them to replace the ISO dats. A single CHD that contains everything is the ideal situation and I'm all for it. I just don't see it happening without widespread support for CHD in burning (eg. ImgBurn) or mounting (eg. Virtual Clonedrive, Alcohol, Daemon Tools) programs. Sure it's possible to extract a BIN/CUE out of a CHD but that's an unnecessary extra step when ISO and BIN/CUE don't need it at all.

I wonder how many people do burn them back to disk these day, although that is a very valid reason for CHD not to be used.

90% of the games will be played on PC I reckon, so an emu only format should really be considered in my opinion.

[Mikerochip]

Originally Posted by Ian

I wonder how many people do burn them back to disk these day, although that is a very valid reason for CHD not to be used.

90% of the games will be played on PC I reckon, so an emu only format should really be considered in my opinion.

Not sure I agree Ian, about it being a valid reason not to use them, since you can get 100% back to the original disk, shipping the collection with a small extraction script is probably all that's required?


(Or not sure my opinion really matters!)


Having it take up 30-50% of it's original footprint vastly outweighs the negative of having to do a single extraction whenever someone needs it.


I mean, while disk burning software will never support CHD files, they don't really need to.
No one is ever going to burn their entire collection in one go.
I think it's perfectly acceptable to have an extraction process.


I mean, I even use a script to extract the .chd to a bin/cue, and then run mednafen to play PS1/PC Engine/Saturn disks, or extract to the original files, mount the file using daemon tools, run the emu (in SSF's case), then dismount when the emu closes, and delete the .bin/.cue.


If you wanted to be really crazy (and I am, at times! ) you could even extract the .chd to a ramdisk as a .bin/cue, and use daemon tools to mount the image, and run your emulator or even disk burning software.
That way, you get rid of the "but it's using up valuable disk writes to my hardware" argument people too.
(I've done this, and it works fine. Use your burning software to make a 1:1 copy. Some will even let you start that via the CMD Line)


For the handful of people who want to burn an exact original disk, the TOSEC collection isn't really good enough anyhow.


That aside, for people who want an original exact copy, but in .bin/.cue get the smaller .chd files, and extract them all.


The hosting site is happy, since you have smaller downloads, less traffic, the vast majority of users are happy, since it now takes up less space, and the rest can extract and delete the .CHDs.


It makes more sense, the more files you have.


A .chd collection for just the CD32 saves a nice bit of space, but for PS1, it saves hundreds of GB. Then add PC Engine, etc etc. The saving add up very quickly.


I wonder, would a quick poll to explain the .chd, the fact that WinUAE can use them and if people would prefer the smaller size be useful??

[Ian]

Don't know if it would garner any attention to be honest. Hopefully tomse, who is the tosec iso guy sees the thread and agrees then I guess it will happen.

Your post though has motivated me to try and get the batch file to automate properly as much as possible and leave zips that couldn't be converted so these can be manually done after the script does the bulk.

Reverting is easy as filenames remain consistent. If I had spotted the errors prior to some of the last couple of days I did I would've submitted corrections.

I think this only reallly interests those posting in the thread though at the moment, I guess if it was added to TOSEC though, many more would be interested.

I have converted these mainly for Retroarch/launchbox, Started with redump sets which are a doddle as launchbox likes to unzip stuff for megadrive CD and leave it on my system SSD as most of the cores and obviosuly WinUAE work directly with the CHD it made sense just to convert everything.

Still got the PS1 dat to convert, just waiting for a 5 or 6 USA images to become available and then convert the set as is at the moment "complete"

[Mikerochip]

Fair enough!

Just if anyone wants it:

REM Path to CHD hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Path to Mednafen also hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Converts .chd to .cue/bin, runs emu, deletes .cue/bin afterwards

M:\Arcade\MAME\MAMEx64\chdman.exe extractcd -i "%1" -o "%1".cue -ob "%1".bin
M:\Emulatio\NEC_PC_Engine\Mednafen\x64\mednafen.exe -force_module ss "%1".cue
del "%1".cue
del "%1".bin
REM pause

That's the batch file to run mednafen (or anything, really) that doesn't support .chd files.

It just decompresses them, runs mednafen in Sega Saturn mode, then deletes.

To run it in PC Engine, change -force_module ss to -force_module pce or pce_fast and for PS1 use -force_module psx

You can let it autodetect, but I prefer to set it by hand.

and for SSF:

REM Path to CHDMan hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Path to SSF also hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Path to Daemon Tools uses shot file name, to prevent problems
REM Converts .chd to .cue/bin, mounts with DaemonTools, runs emu, deletes .cue/bin afterwards

M:\Arcade\MAME\MAMEx64\chdman.exe extractcd -i "%1" -o "%1".cue -ob "%1".bin
M:\Emulatio\NEC_PC_Engine\Mednafen\x64\mednafen.exe -force_module ss %1.cue

C:\Progra~1\DAEMON~1\DTAgent.exe -mount dt, 0, "%1"
M:\Emulatio\Sega_Saturn\SSF\SSF.exe
C:\Progra~1\DAEMON~1\DTAgent.exe -unmount 0

del "%1".cue
del "%1".bin
REM pause

You may need to remove the " from the batch file, depending on the emulator/front end you use, if it supplies it's own double quotes.

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by Ian

Don't know if it would garner any attention to be honest. Hopefully tomse, who is the tosec iso guy sees the thread and agrees then I guess it will happen."

You're obviously not up-to-date with news...

tomse left the TOSEC team many, many months ago. At the beginning of the year, from memory.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Mikerochip

Fair enough!

Just if anyone wants it:

REM Path to CHD hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Path to Mednafen also hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Converts .chd to .cue/bin, runs emu, deletes .cue/bin afterwards

M:\Arcade\MAME\MAMEx64\chdman.exe extractcd -i "%1" -o "%1".cue -ob "%1".bin
M:\Emulatio\NEC_PC_Engine\Mednafen\x64\mednafen.exe -force_module ss "%1".cue
del "%1".cue
del "%1".bin
REM pause

That's the batch file to run mednafen (or anything, really) that doesn't support .chd files.

It just decompresses them, runs mednafen in Sega Saturn mode, then deletes.

To run it in PC Engine, change -force_module ss to -force_module pce or pce_fast and for PS1 use -force_module psx

You can let it autodetect, but I prefer to set it by hand.

and for SSF:

REM Path to CHDMan hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Path to SSF also hardcoded to prevent problems
REM Path to Daemon Tools uses shot file name, to prevent problems
REM Converts .chd to .cue/bin, mounts with DaemonTools, runs emu, deletes .cue/bin afterwards

M:\Arcade\MAME\MAMEx64\chdman.exe extractcd -i "%1" -o "%1".cue -ob "%1".bin
M:\Emulatio\NEC_PC_Engine\Mednafen\x64\mednafen.exe -force_module ss %1.cue

C:\Progra~1\DAEMON~1\DTAgent.exe -mount dt, 0, "%1"
M:\Emulatio\Sega_Saturn\SSF\SSF.exe
C:\Progra~1\DAEMON~1\DTAgent.exe -unmount 0

del "%1".cue
del "%1".bin
REM pause

You may need to remove the " from the batch file, depending on the emulator/front end you use, if it supplies it's own double quotes.

I should turn your attention to retroarch, these all work from the emu using the bettle core (renamed and 'improved' medefen), for pc engine anyway, wasn't a fan of it to begin with, but despite it's looks and configurations it's pretty good with something else handling the front end eg launchbox.

[Retroplay]

Originally Posted by Mikerochip

I mean, I even use a script to extract the .chd to a bin/cue, and then run mednafen to play PS1/PC Engine/Saturn disks, or extract to the original files, mount the file using daemon tools, run the emu (in SSF's case), then dismount when the emu closes, and delete the .bin/.cue.

If you use Retroarch and the Mednafen cores (PSX, Saturn, PCE CD) you don't even have to extract chds to play.
Same with Flycast core for Dreamcast, gdi images converted to chd works too (I recently completed Soul Reaver this way, haven't played that game in 20 years, still a bloody good game worth a revisit).
A few examples:
PlayStation:

retroarch.exe -L cores\mednafen_psx_libretro.dll "[path to chd]"

Saturn:

retroarch.exe -L cores\mednafen_saturn_libretro.dll "[path to chd]"

Dreamcast:

retroarch.exe -L cores\flycast_libretro.dll "[path to chd]"

[Mikerochip]

I know, but, Retroarch has some weird laggy frame skips at times.
The PCE core almost never suffers from them now, but the SS definitely does.
And the PSX one does, the odd times.

Nothing to do with FPS / CPU either, mine sits idly at around 20% or something.
There's more than a few people complaining, but it drops off over time, as people get used to it.
I like retroarch for lots of things, but if often doesn't feel right, playing a given system.

Neither of those cores, nor the PSX one, feel as responsive as Mednafen.

[Ian]

must be some option somewhere screwing it up. never noticed any stuttering when playing, but have never use mednafen to notice any difference between them.

The only one that says it will cause issues is threaded video, is that enable on your setup? I guess all the latancy stuff will also cause this too.

[Mikerochip]

No, standard blank install, out of the box, Sega Saturn sometimes used to stutter playing just the intro video.

It doesn't any more, but, it still doesn't feel as responsive, most of the time.
They also eventually fixed the Dreamcast stuttering.

Anyhow:
Things like these: https://forums.libretro.com/t/mednaf...-video/2556/20
and
https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/issues/9668

I have about 30 different set ups of Retroarch, and config file combinations, just for messing about. (ie, using GL driver, Vulcan, older GL, D3D9, D3D12, different kinds of shaders, run ahead on/off, threaded video on/off, hard sync video, sync on audio, sync on video, etc etc. There's a lot of options, and I like to test them all)

Some people were complaining that they had stuttering if they didn't precache the disk image (which I do, take a few seconds, but then the entire disk is in memory.)

Anyhow. Off topic.

Retroarch is fine, but it has some major problems in places.
It's only recently it finally fixed it's god awful controller config handling.

And Mame on there is, well, bad is an understatement.

[ransom1122]

I already have these, if theres an interest i can always share..

Akira (Europe).chd
Akira (Europe).uae
Alfred Chicken (Europe).chd
Alfred Chicken (Europe).uae
Alien Breed - Tower Assault (Europe).chd
Alien Breed - Tower Assault (Europe).uae
Alien Breed 3D (Europe).chd
Alien Breed 3D (Europe).uae
Alien Breed '92 Special Edition & Qwak (Europe).chd
Alien Breed '92 Special Edition & Qwak (Europe).uae
Amiga CD32 Sports Football (Europe).chd
Amiga CD32 Sports Football (Europe).uae
Arabian Nights (Europe).chd
Arabian Nights (Europe).uae
Arcade Pool (Europe).chd
Arcade Pool (Europe).uae
ATR - All Terrain Racing (Europe).chd
ATR - All Terrain Racing (Europe).uae
Banshee (Europe).chd
Banshee (Europe).uae
Base Jumpers (Europe).chd
Base Jumpers (Europe).uae
Battle Chess (Europe).chd
Battle Chess (Europe).uae
Battletoads (Europe).chd
Battletoads (Europe).uae
Beavers (Europe).chd
Beavers (Europe).uae
Beneath A Steel Sky (Europe).chd
Beneath A Steel Sky (Europe).uae
Benefactor (Europe).chd
Benefactor (Europe).uae
Black Viper (Europe).chd
Black Viper (Europe).uae
Brian the Lion (Europe).chd
Brian the Lion (Europe).uae
Brutal - Paws of Fury (Europe).chd
Brutal - Paws of Fury (Europe).uae
Brutal Football - Brutal Sports Series (Europe).chd
Brutal Football - Brutal Sports Series (Europe).uae
Bubba 'n' Stix (Europe).chd
Bubba 'n' Stix (Europe).uae
Bubble And Squeak (Europe).chd
Bubble And Squeak (Europe).uae
Bump 'n' Burn (Europe).chd
Bump 'n' Burn (Europe).uae
Cannon Fodder (Europe).chd
Cannon Fodder (Europe).uae
Castles II - Siege & Conquest (Europe).chd
Castles II - Siege & Conquest (Europe).uae
Cedric And The Lost Sceptre (Europe).chd
Cedric And The Lost Sceptre (Europe).uae
Chambers of Shaolin (Europe).chd
Chambers of Shaolin (Europe).uae
Chuck Rock (Europe).chd
Chuck Rock (Europe).uae
Chuck Rock II - Son of Chuck (Europe).chd
Chuck Rock II - Son of Chuck (Europe).uae
Clockwiser (Europe).chd
Clockwiser (Europe).uae
Dangerous Streets & Wing Commander (Europe).chd
Dangerous Streets & Wing Commander (Europe).uae
Dangerous Streets (Europe).chd
Dangerous Streets (Europe).uae
Dark Seed (Europe).chd
Dark Seed (Europe).uae
Death Mask (Europe).chd
Death Mask (Europe).uae
Deep Core (Europe).chd
Deep Core (Europe).uae
Defender of the Crown II (Europe).chd
Defender of the Crown II (Europe).uae
Dennis (Europe).chd
Dennis (Europe).uae
D-Generation (Europe).chd
D-Generation (Europe).uae
Diggers & Oscar (Europe).chd
Diggers & Oscar (Europe).uae
Diggers (Europe).chd
Diggers (Europe).uae
Disposable Hero (Europe).chd
Disposable Hero (Europe).uae
Donk! - The Samurai Duck! (Europe).chd
Donk! - The Samurai Duck! (Europe).uae
Dragonstone (Europe).chd
Dragonstone (Europe).uae
Emerald Mines (Europe).chd
Emerald Mines (Europe).uae
Exile (Europe).chd
Exile (Europe).uae
Fears (Europe).chd
Fears (Europe).uae
Fields of Glory (Europe).chd
Fields of Glory (Europe).uae
Fightin' Spirit (Europe).chd
Fightin' Spirit (Europe).uae
Fire Force (Europe).chd
Fire Force (Europe).uae
Flink (1994)(Psygnosis)[!].chd
Flink (1994)(Psygnosis)[!].uae
Fly Harder (Europe).chd
Fly Harder (Europe).uae
Frontier - Elite II (Europe).chd
Frontier - Elite II (Europe).uae
Fury of the Furries (Europe).chd
Fury of the Furries (Europe).uae
Gamers' Delight (Europe).chd
Gamers' Delight (Europe).uae
Global Effect (Europe).chd
Global Effect (Europe).uae
Gloom (Europe).chd
Gloom (Europe).uae
Grandslam Gamer Gold Collection (Europe).chd
Grandslam Gamer Gold Collection (Europe).uae
Guardian (Europe).chd
Guardian (Europe).uae
Gulp! (Europe).chd
Gulp! (Europe).uae
Gunship 2000 (Europe).chd
Gunship 2000 (Europe).uae
Heimdall 2 - Into The Hall Of Worlds (Europe).chd
Heimdall 2 - Into The Hall Of Worlds (Europe).uae
HeroQuest II - Legacy Of Sorasil (Europe).chd
HeroQuest II - Legacy Of Sorasil (Europe).uae
Humans 3 - Evolution - Lost in Time... (Europe).chd
Humans 3 - Evolution - Lost in Time... (Europe).uae
Impossible Mission 2025 - The Special Edition (Europe).chd
Impossible Mission 2025 - The Special Edition (Europe).uae
International Karate + (Europe).chd
International Karate + (Europe).uae
International Open Golf Championship (Europe).chd
International Open Golf Championship (Europe).uae
James Pond 2 - Codename Robocod (Europe).chd
James Pond 2 - Codename Robocod (Europe).uae
James Pond 3 - Operation Starfi5h (Europe).chd
James Pond 3 - Operation Starfi5h (Europe).uae
Jetstrike (Europe).chd
Jetstrike (Europe).uae
John Barnes European Football (Europe).chd
John Barnes European Football (Europe).uae
Jungle Strike (Europe).chd
Jungle Strike (Europe).uae
Kang Fu (Europe).chd
Kang Fu (Europe).uae
Kid Chaos (Europe).chd
Kid Chaos (Europe).uae
Kingpin - Arcade Sports Bowling (Europe).chd
Kingpin - Arcade Sports Bowling (Europe).uae
Lamborghini American Challenge (Europe).chd
Lamborghini American Challenge (Europe).uae
Last Ninja 3 (Europe).chd
Last Ninja 3 (Europe).uae
Legends (Europe).chd
Legends (Europe).uae
Lemmings (Europe).chd
Lemmings (Europe).uae
Liberation - Captive II (Europe).chd
Liberation - Captive II (Europe).uae
Litil Divil (Europe).chd
Litil Divil (Europe).uae
Manchester United - Premier League Champions (Europe).chd
Manchester United - Premier League Champions (Europe).uae
Marvin's Marvellous Adventure (Europe).chd
Marvin's Marvellous Adventure (Europe).uae
Mean Arenas (Europe).chd
Mean Arenas (Europe).uae
Microcosm (Europe).chd
Microcosm (Europe).uae
Mitre Soccer Superstars (Europe).chd
Mitre Soccer Superstars (Europe).uae
Morph (Europe).chd
Morph (Europe).uae
Myth - History in the Making (Europe).chd
Myth - History in the Making (Europe).uae
Naughty Ones (Europe).chd
Naughty Ones (Europe).uae
Nick Faldos Championship Golf (Europe).chd
Nick Faldos Championship Golf (Europe).uae
Nigel Mansell's World Championship (Europe).chd
Nigel Mansell's World Championship (Europe).uae
Overkill & Lunar-C (Europe).chd
Overkill & Lunar-C (Europe).uae
PGA European Tour (Europe).chd
PGA European Tour (Europe).uae
Pierre le Chef is... Out to Lunch (Europe).chd
Pierre le Chef is... Out to Lunch (Europe).uae
Pinball Fantasies (Europe).chd
Pinball Fantasies (Europe).uae
Pinball Illusions (Europe).chd
Pinball Illusions (Europe).uae
Pinball Prelude (Europe).chd
Pinball Prelude (Europe).uae
Pinocchio (Europe).chd
Pinocchio (Europe).uae
Pirates! Gold (Europe).chd
Pirates! Gold (Europe).uae
Power Drive (Europe).chd
Power Drive (Europe).uae
Premiere (Europe).chd
Premiere (Europe).uae
Prey - An Alien Encounter (Europe).chd
Prey - An Alien Encounter (Europe).uae
Project-X & F17 Challenge (Europe).chd
Project-X & F17 Challenge (Europe).uae
Project-X & Ultimate Body Blows (Europe).chd
Project-X & Ultimate Body Blows (Europe).uae
Rise Of The Robots (Europe).chd
Rise Of The Robots (Europe).uae
Roadkill (Europe).chd
Roadkill (Europe).uae
Ryder Cup - Johnnie Walker (Europe).chd
Ryder Cup - Johnnie Walker (Europe).uae
Sabre Team (Europe).chd
Sabre Team (Europe).uae
Seek & Destroy (Europe).chd
Seek & Destroy (Europe).uae
Sensible Soccer - European Champions (Europe).chd
Sensible Soccer - European Champions (Europe).uae
Shadow Fighter (Europe).chd
Shadow Fighter (Europe).uae
Simon The Sorcerer (Europe).chd
Simon The Sorcerer (Europe).uae
Skeleton Krew (Europe).chd
Skeleton Krew (Europe).uae
Sleepwalker & Pinball Fantasies (Europe).chd
Sleepwalker & Pinball Fantasies (Europe).uae
Sleepwalker (Europe).chd
Sleepwalker (Europe).uae
Soccer Kid (Europe).chd
Soccer Kid (Europe).uae
Speedball 2 - Brutal Deluxe (Europe).chd
Speedball 2 - Brutal Deluxe (Europe).uae
Star Crusader (Europe).chd
Star Crusader (Europe).uae
Striker (Europe).chd
Striker (Europe).uae
Strip Pot (Europe).chd
Strip Pot (Europe).uae
Subwar 2050 (Europe).chd
Subwar 2050 (Europe).uae
Summer Olympix (Europe).chd
Summer Olympix (Europe).uae
Super League Manager (Europe).chd
Super League Manager (Europe).uae
Super Methane Bros (Europe).chd
Super Methane Bros (Europe).uae
Super Putty (Europe).chd
Super Putty (Europe).uae
Super Skidmarks (Europe).chd
Super Skidmarks (Europe).uae
Super Stardust (Europe).chd
Super Stardust (Europe).uae
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Europe).chd
Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Europe).uae
Superfrog (Europe).chd
Superfrog (Europe).uae
Surf Ninjas (Europe).chd
Surf Ninjas (Europe).uae
Syndicate (Europe).chd
Syndicate (Europe).uae
The Big 6 (Europe).chd
The Big 6 (Europe).uae
The Chaos Engine (Europe).chd
The Chaos Engine (Europe).uae
The Classic Lotus Trilogy (Europe).chd
The Classic Lotus Trilogy (Europe).uae
The Clue! (Europe).chd
The Clue! (Europe).uae
The Final Gate (Europe).chd
The Final Gate (Europe).uae
The Humans 1 & 2 (Europe).chd
The Humans 1 & 2 (Europe).uae
The Labyrinth of Time (Europe).chd
The Labyrinth of Time (Europe).uae
The Lost Vikings (Europe).chd
The Lost Vikings (Europe).uae
The Seven Gates Of Jambala (Europe).chd
The Seven Gates Of Jambala (Europe).uae
The Speris Legacy (Europe).chd
The Speris Legacy (Europe).uae
Theme Park (Europe).chd
Theme Park (Europe).uae
Thomas The Tank Engine's Pinball (Europe).chd
Thomas The Tank Engine's Pinball (Europe).uae
Top Gear 2 (Europe).chd
Top Gear 2 (Europe).uae
Total Carnage (Europe).chd
Total Carnage (Europe).uae
Trivial Pursuit - The CD32 Edition (Europe).chd
Trivial Pursuit - The CD32 Edition (Europe).uae
Trolls (Europe).chd
Trolls (Europe).uae
UFO - Enemy Unknown (Europe).chd
UFO - Enemy Unknown (Europe).uae
Ultimate Body Blows (Europe).chd
Ultimate Body Blows (Europe).uae
Ultimate Super Skidmarks (Europe).chd
Ultimate Super Skidmarks (Europe).uae
Universe (Europe).chd
Universe (Europe).uae
Vital Light (Europe).chd
Vital Light (Europe).uae
Wembley International Soccer (Europe).chd
Wembley International Soccer (Europe).uae
Wendetta 2175 (Europe).chd
Wendetta 2175 (Europe).uae
Whale's Voyage (Europe).chd
Whale's Voyage (Europe).uae
Whizz_CD32.chd
Whizz_CD32.uae
Wild Cup Soccer (Europe).chd
Wild Cup Soccer (Europe).uae
Will Bridge - Initiation Junior (Europe).chd
Will Bridge - Initiation Junior (Europe).uae
Worms (Europe).chd
Worms (Europe).uae
Zool - Ninja of the 'Nth' Dimension (Europe).chd
Zool - Ninja of the 'Nth' Dimension (Europe).uae
Zool 2 (Europe).chd
Zool 2 (Europe).uae

320 files, 16 Gb