@nflux @EndlessMason @BlueSCSI it's just literally some parallel style, proprietary low-speed interface where the drives tend to basically be told what to play, where to skip to and so forth.

• This is also how "AntiShock" was implemented: just a big read buffer and sometimes a 2x-8x drive.

The proprietary nature is also why the #SegaSaturn remained uncracked way past it's lifespan and how a #NeoGeoCD #ODE was created by @furrtek…

@nflux @EndlessMason @BlueSCSI oftentimes the only somewhat standardized part is the laser assembly & A/D electronics to deliver your 135kBit/s bitstream but then they use some proprietary connectors to handle that.

So Redbook (CD) Audio is it's own format (that's why it's lenght-based) because it's with a strict data density (CAV) to the point that many consumer #CDROM (and even some DVD-ROM drives) had a dedicaded Play-Button that would allow them and their integrated electronics to just spit out digital and/or analog audio directly to the soundcard.

• In fact that's how some early CD-ROM games did their Audio in a mixed-mode disc format and even the #NeoGeoCD used that for excellent music in games and the by far best CD-exclusive extra ever made for a game...

Halo Zero Unofficial Remake: il fan game retrò ispirato a Halo arriva su Amiga, Mega Drive e NeoGeo CD

https://www.bitchronicles.net/2025/12/halo-zero-unofficial-remake-il-fan-game.html

@giochi

#AMIGA #NEOGEOCD #MEGADRIVE