Registering Discs for Disc-to-Digital Offers using an external USB Blu-ray Drive

NOTE: While a USB drive that is capable of reading Ultra HD Blu-ray discs may work for cataloging DVDs and Blu-ray discs as described in this article, the cataloging of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs is not supported.

On systems running kOS 10.14.0 or later, a Blu-ray disc or DVD can be registered for disc-to-digital offers in the Kaleidescape store using a compatible USB Blu-ray drive connected to the USB port on the back of any Strato class player. When using this method, Blu-ray discs and DVDs will be cataloged and added to the system’s library. For more information about disc cataloging, refer to the “How do I catalog a movie or TV series?” knowledge base article.

Using USB Blu-ray drives
In order to be used for cataloging, the drive must have a USB 2.0 or 3.0 interface and its own external power supply. The drive must meet the following guidelines:

• the drive has a USB 2.0 or 3.0 interface
• the drive has its own external power supply
• the drive is capable of reading DVDs and Blu-ray discs

While a USB drive that is capable of reading Ultra HD Blu-ray discs may work for cataloging DVDs and Blu-ray discs, the cataloging of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs is not supported.  

The drive must be connected directly to the USB port of the Strato player. Use of USB hubs is not supported. In situations where access to the back of the Strato is limited, a 10-foot USB 3.0 A to B (male to male) replacement cable is recommended to allow the drive to be positioned in a more accessible location.

Registering discs from Kaleidescape Strato players
BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

• Stop playback of any movies prior to connecting the external USB Blu-ray drive to the player.
• If your Strato has been configured to use low-power standby, you must bring the Strato out of standby to catalog discs. Strato players that are using the default standby configuration can remain in standby while cataloging discs.

STEPS:

1. Connect a compatible USB Blu-ray drive directly to the USB port on the back of the Kaleidescape Strato player.
2. Ensure the external power supply is connected to the USB Blu-ray drive and powered on.
3. The Strato player will enter disc recognition mode. This is indicated by the front panel or internal light blinking every 3 seconds.
4. Open the browser interface for the system and monitor the History page (http://my-kaleidescape.local/history).
5. Insert a Blu-ray disc or a DVD into the tray of the USB Blu-ray drive and close the tray. The Strato player will automatically process the disc. While it is doing so, the player’s front panel or internal light will pulse every second.
6. Once identified, the movie is cataloged and added to your library where it appears in the browser interface alongside titles downloaded from the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
7. After the disc has been processed, it will be automatically ejected and the Strato player’s front panel or internal light will return to blinking every 3 seconds.
8. After all discs have been processed, disconnect the USB drive from the Strato player’s USB port. The Strato player’s front panel or internal light will cease blinking and return to steady illumination.

NOTE:

• Cataloged Blu-ray discs will not appear on the Strato player’s onscreen display (OSD) as Strato players do not support playback of Blu-ray discs. The title will appear on the browser interface on both the Movie page and the History page. Cataloged DVDs will be displayed on a Strato C player’s OSD in addition to appearing on the browser interface.
• Neither cataloged Blu-ray discs nor DVDs will appear on a Strato V's, M's, or E's OSD. The titles will appear on the browser interface on the History page if the Strato V, M, or E is in standalone mode.
• Playback of Blu-ray discs or DVDs via the connected USB drive is not supported.

Disc to Digital Offers
Information about the newly cataloged title will be synced to the Kaleidescape Movie Store shortly thereafter which will enable disc-to-digital offers on qualifying titles. Offers for cataloged discs will appear in your store account under Store > Manage > Digital Offers. Once a digital offer for the cataloged disc is displayed on the store it is safe to delete the cataloged title from your local library in the browser interface.

Troubleshooting
In the event of an error when attempting to catalog a disc (e.g., the disc cannot be read or is of an unsupported media type), the disc will be automatically ejected. The error state will be displayed on the front panel in one of two ways:

On newer Strato C models (with “Kaleidescape” to the right of the jewel logo) and on Strato V, the front panel will change to amber and blink rapidly (every half second).  The internal light for Strato M and E behaves similarly.

On Strato, Strato S, and older models of Strato C players (with “Kaleidescape” text beneath the jewel logo) the front panel will display the general error LED and the jewel light will blink every 3 seconds.

This error state will be automatically cleared when a new disc is inserted into the drive for cataloging or when the USB drive is disconnected from the Strato.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What media types can be cataloged?

• DVDs
• Blu-ray discs

• Audio CDs
• 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs

2. Can a drive be connected directly to a Terra server?

3. Can a drive be connected to an Alto player?

4. How long does it take to catalog a disc once it’s inserted into a drive?

5. My cataloged disc was not recognized.