The CAVS SuperCDG format is an ISAM like file structure used to organize hundreds or thousands of tracks in just a few data files instead of the CDG+MP3 file format. A SuperCDG library consists of at least one data file, but can contain up to 256 data files. The number of data files should be a power of two (1, 2, 4, 8, etc.). For a SuperCDG library to be recognized by CAVS players and software the data files must be named CVMD0001.DAT, CVMD0002.DAT, CVMD0003.DAT and so on. CDGFix 3 Super on the other hand, recognizes SuperCDG libraries independently of the file names as long as the files have valid headers. The first data file (CVMD0001.DAT) also contains an index table of all the tracks in the library.
A SuperCDG library comes in two formats; homemade and commercial. The homemade version is the one you can create with the software supplied by CAVS, while the commercial format is the one found on commercially distributed SuperCDG discs. The commercial format is also encrypted. CDGFix 3 Super can read and write both formats.
The homemade SuperCDG format has an internal page size of 4096 bytes. Together with the addressing scheme of the SuperCDG library structure this limits the tracks that can be saved to a maximum of 1MB of graphics (MCG format) and 256MB of sound (MP3 format). Though the sound part is no real limitation the graphics may be. If you find that you have many tracks that do not fit into a homemade SuperCDG library you may want to switch to using the commercial format instead. This format has double the page size, i.e. 8192 bytes, and can thus hold twice as large tracks. The drawback of using the commercial format is that you will get more unused space in the data files, since each track must start on a page boundary, leaving unused space at the end of the previous track. The result is that each data file will hold slightly fewer tracks.
The data files in a SuperCDG library are empty when created, and will grow as new tracks are added to the library. The tracks are evenly distributed across all the data files as they are added. The maximum size of each data file is limited to about 1 GB (see notes at the bottom for updated details). With an average track size of 4MB (MCG + MP3 files) this leaves room for about 250 tracks per data file. Creating a maximum size SuperCDG library with 256 data file thus enables you to organize as much as 64000 tracks in one single unit. For SuperCDG libraries that you create and intend to burn onto a DVD there are obvious limitations of course. Refer to SuperCDG discs for more details on this topic.
The index table in the SuperCDG library stores the titles and artist names for each tracks in the library. The length of this information is limited to 32 characters for the title and 16 characters for artist name. Though sufficient in some cases, this can lead to titles and artist names being truncated. As a remedy to this problem there is the list.txt file often seen along with a SuperCDG library. This is simply a text file with one indexed line for each track in the SuperCDG library, containing complete titles and artist names. If the file is not present the SuperCDG library will still work, but if the file is found it will supply any information that is truncated in the internal library index table.
Creating a new SuperCDG library using CDGFix 3 Super is quite easy, as is adding new tracks to an already existing library.
Start by adding the tracks you want to the Project window. You are not required to add all tracks at the same time as it is easy to expand an existing SuperCDG library later, as described below. Then make sure that all tracks has the title and artist name in the appropriate columns in the project (you will get a warning before building the SuperCDG library if some tracks are missing this information). For help on adding titles and artist names please refer to Load title, artist and other track information.
When the tracks are in place in the project then select Save As on the Project menu. In the dialog that appears first select CAVS SuperCDG Libraries in the bottom drop-down list. Then enter the name of the new library and select where to save it. Note that if you intend to use the new SuperCDG library with CAVS players or software you must name it CVMD. When you click Save you will see a new dialog asking you whether to add all tracks or only the highlighted to the SuperCDG library. Confirm your choice and you will see the last dialog that allows you to select the number of data files and storage format for the new SuperCDG library. You should carefully consider the number of data files required based on how you intend to use the SuperCDG library and on how many tracks you intend to add to it. If the SuperCDG library eventually is going to be burned onto a DVD you can consult the topic SuperCDG discs for guidance.
CDGFix 3 Super will now create the SuperCDG library as specified and start adding the selected tracks. You will see a progress dialog on the screen during the process.
If you select an existing SuperCDG library in the Save As dialog you will be given the option of appending new tracks to this library, or overwriting it with a new one (this will of course delete all existing tracks in the library). If you choose to append tracks to the existing library you will not get the option of selecting the number of data files and library format. Instead CDGFix 3 Super will use the same parameters as were used when the library was created.
The option of appending new tracks to an existing SuperCDG library is quite powerful since you do not have to have all tracks in place before starting on the library. It also allows you to rip tracks directly from multiple CD+G discs into a SuperCDG library without the need to store them temporarily on the HDD first. See the topic Rip a Karaoke disc directly to a SuperCDG library for more information on this.
Using CDGFix 3 Super it is possible to build SuperCDG libraries with data files up to 64GB in size each. Using the theoretical maximum of 256 data files in a single library, this allows you to build SuperCDG libraries as large as 16TB. However, for use with CAVS equipment the practical maximum number of data files is 16, leaving you with a library of 1TB. With an average song size of 4MB this will render a library containing more than 260000 songs.
At the time of this writing large SuperCDG libraries with data file sizes up to 4GB have been tested successfully on CAVS 203G USB players. Using 16 data files this rendered a library of 64GB containing 17000 songs.
Despite the theoretical maximum data file size of 64GB there may possibly be a practical limit on 4GB as far as CAVS equipment is concerned. However, if you intend to use a SuperCDG library solely as a song archive for use with CDGFix 3 Super you can utilize the maximum size of 16TB - assuming you have the disk it takes.