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simoninns merged 2 commits into from
Dec 7, 2025
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Update to ld-decode readme to make it focused on ld-decode again #980

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simoninns Dec 7, 2025
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simoninns Dec 7, 2025
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simoninns committed Dec 7, 2025
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# ld-decode
# What is ld-decode?

**ld-decode** is a software-defined decoder for LaserDisc RF captures made using modified LaserDisc players and capture devices such as the DomesdayDuplicator

This is the GitHub repo for ld-decode. This is the (hopefully stable) merged development branch.
ld-decode recovers video, analog audio, digital audio and metadata content from raw RF samples captured directly from LaserDisc players, bypassing the analog signal chain to achieve preservation-quality digital transfers.

Although ld-decode was originally dedicated to LaserDiscs it has become part of a larger ecosystem including **vhs-decode** (for videotape formats), **cvbs-decode** (for composite video), and **hifi-decode** (for audio processing), amongst others. All sharing common tools and techniques by being active forks of this repository.

# Installation & Downloads
ld-decode is a GPL3 open-source project run entirely by volunteers and provided for free (as in freedom).

---

- [Linux](https://github.com/happycube/ld-decode/wiki/Installation)
- [Windows](https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode/wiki/Windows-Build)
- [MacOS](https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode/wiki/MacOS-Build)
This is the GitHub repository for ld-decode - the (hopefully stable) merged development branch.

You will find self-contained binary bundled ready-to-use packages of current and future builds of the decoders and ld-x tools in the [vhs-decode repository](https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode/wiki/), combining `ld-decode`, `vhs-decode`, `cvbs-decode` & `hifi-decode` into one package, alongside [tbc-video-export](https://github.com/JuniorIsAJitterbug/tbc-video-export/releases) a more fluid cross format export tool to make CVBS/S-Video type TBC files into video files.

# Installation & Downloads

> [!NOTE]
> vhs-decode is not limited to VHS and supports many tape media formats!
Note that the main repo is under constant development and, while we strive to keep it stable, it is a part of the active development cycle. Contributors maintain read-made binary builds which are far more suitable for end-users and are available for platforms such as Windows and Apple MacOS. The main repo targets only Ubuntu (generally the current LTS version).

> [!IMPORTANT]
> The decoders and tools are CLI - Commandline Interface, only ld-analyse & hifi-decode have a GUI - Graphical User Interface.
If you'd like to download binaries or compile the project from source please see the project's wiki for detailed instructions.


# Documentation

> [!Important]
> If in doubt read the wiki!

Documentation is available via the GitHub wiki's. This includes installation and usage instructions.

Start with the wiki if you have any questions.
You can find the wiki here: [ld-decode Wiki](https://github.com/happycube/ld-decode/wiki)

If you only care about Laserdiscs please read

- [LD-Decode Wiki](https://github.com/happycube/ld-decode/wiki)
# The decoding tool-chain

If you want to learn about FM RF archival overall and other media formats such as tape or RAW Composite/CVBS decoding then please read:

- [VHS-Decode Wiki](https://github.com/oyvindln/vhs-decode/wiki/)


The wiki also includes details of the decode community's Discord / IRC Bridge and the now legacy Facebook group.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> The decoders and tools are primarily command line based, only the ld-analyse tool provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface)

If you intend on contributing or have general questions please join the [Discord server](https://discord.gg/pVVrrxd) which has the entire family of decode projects developers on it (or IRC if you must) as the Facebook group is mostly inactive there is also the [r/vhs-decode](https://new.reddit.com/r/vhsdecode/) subreddit that is fairly active.
# Want to get involved?

The wiki includes details of the ld-decode community's Discord / IRC Bridge and the now legacy Facebook group.

## *If in doubt - Read the Wiki!*
If you are interested in contributing or have general questions please join the [Discord server](https://discord.gg/pVVrrxd) which has the entire family of decode projects developers on it (or IRC if you must) as the Facebook group is mostly inactive.

There is a VHS specific subreddit [r/vhs-decode](https://new.reddit.com/r/vhsdecode/) that is fairly active.

# Source code locations

# Source code structure

The source is split roughly into three parts:
The source is split roughly into three sections:

- ld-decode - The main Python application responsible for decoding lds/ldf LaserDisc RF samples into tbc files (time-base corrected framed video)
- ld-decode-tools (under the tools/ directory) - The tool-chain for processing tbc files in various ways
- scripts (under the scripts/ directory) - Various scripts to assist with dev and decoding
- ld-decode - The main Python application responsible for decoding lds/ldf LaserDisc RF samples into tbc files (time-base corrected framed video) and generating the initial metadata
- ld-decode-tools (under the tools/ directory) - The Qt based tool-chain for processing tbc files and associated metadata in various ways
- scripts (under the scripts/ directory) - Various scripts to assist with development and decoding