[PCE] PC Engine dump

[Namida]

This is my first steps on redump.org and also my first post.
I made extensive search on this forum and read almost all posts regarding PCE, but could not figure what was the best way to dump PC Engine CDs.
It happens that today I have a complete collection (around 400 original CD-rom), and would like to contribute.

What I read is that some titles are still difficult to dump and that subcode would be needed (but I am not sure to understand technicaly the whole story behind this).

I also read somewhere on the forum that some information regarding how the master was prepared would be helpful.
By pure luck, I was able to put my hand on technical docs of the development kit.
It is an English translation based on the first version of the doc.
I don't have enough knowledge myself to spot if this doc can help the project, so here is a link :

http://www.retrospecies.org/upload/rerepcengine.zip

By the way I use Plextor drives (Premium CD and PX-760A).
What is the recommandation today for PCE ?
Wait for a better way to dump ?
Or just go and follow the actual dumping guide available on redump.org's main page ?

[GBK666]

Hi, i recommend you to also visit the redump.org IRC channel and get in touch with experiences dumpers

greets, gbk

[F1ReB4LL]

Complete collection? Do you have Lords of Thunder - Demo Disc [DUO DEMO 02] and Magical Fantasy Adventure - Popful Mail - Sample Disc [HE4005]?

As for the dumping method - it's somewhat complicated for PCE CDs currently, (nothing impossible, though).

[Rocknroms]

Welcome.

PCE CDs dumping is quite complicated at first sight as said by Fireball. You have to check subcodes (clonecd ones are the best) and probably dumping it with a audio trap cd. By the way someone has already to write down a guide, all infos are here and there.
If you really want to contribute it's better you take contact with Fireball on irc or via private msg

[Namida]

Thanks for your answer F1ReB4LL.
So I'll check this forum times to times.
Until there is a decent solution, in the mean time I'll redump HU cards games properly.

My collection is mainly Japanese commercial titles (I also collect different versions of the same game).
But another collector I am in touch with has also a large amount of "not for sale".
He has the Popful Mail Sample disk for sure and many other titles not even listed.
Not sure about Lords of Thunder Demo disk (I'll ask him).

But anyway my priority is commercial titles.
After then, why not dumping other "not for sale" or prototypes.

[F1ReB4LL]

You have to check subcodes (clonecd ones are the best) and probably dumping it with a audio trap cd.

Nope, no trap cd is needed, just a game and a plextor, but subs are needed and not the clonecd ones, so each dump can take an hour or two.

[Rocknroms]

You have to check subcodes (clonecd ones are the best) and probably dumping it with a audio trap cd.

Nope, no trap cd is needed, just a game and a plextor, but subs are needed and not the clonecd ones, so each dump can take an hour or two.

This is new, so which subs?

[Justin Bailey]

Namida, did you start to dump anything yet? And if so, is it successful?
I'm very curious, because I loved the PC-Engine CD, and I would love to have a complete set one day

[Namida]

Of course not 
I won't until everyone agrees on how to make a perfect dump.
I am okay to spend several months to dump everything properly, but won't do it twice.
And I am not in a hurry anyway (PC Engine games are far from natural death).

I hoped that my contribution with dev manuals could help, but I got zero feedback.

Until we all together find a solution, I concentrate on NEC PC-88 and PC-98 floppy games (using KryoFlux).
I have a large collection of 6000 (yes) games here.
All original with boxes and everything.
The history of the PC Engine is linked to older NEC Systems, so it's important to backup them as much as more recent CD games.

Now regarding PCE Hu cards, I have started redumping all properly.
No problem so far.

Namida, did you start to dump anything yet? And if so, is it successful?
I'm very curious, because I loved the PC-Engine CD, and I would love to have a complete set one day

[F1ReB4LL]

Of course not 
I won't until everyone agrees on how to make a perfect dump.
I am okay to spend several months to dump everything properly, but won't do it twice.
And I am not in a hurry anyway (PC Engine games are far from natural death).

Agree, the best solution for now.

I hoped that my contribution with dev manuals could help, but I got zero feedback.

Actually, we're focused on 1:1 dumping now, so the dev manuals won't be very helpful, I guess. I'll take a look, though.

Until we all together find a solution, I concentrate on NEC PC-88 and PC-98 floppy games (using KryoFlux).

What's about CDs for them? PC-88 has a 2 or 3 titles ("Mirrors" and something else), PC-98 has MANY.

The history of the PC Engine is linked to older NEC Systems, so it's important to backup them as much as more recent CD games.

And, I hope, PC-FX.