Assuming you are backing up your own discs (or downloading public domain/homebrew), here is the current "hot" workflow:
Enter (Compressed Hunks of Data). Originally developed for the arcade emulator MAME, CHD is a lossless compression format. Here is why the retro community is calling CHD ROMs "hot": sega saturn chd roms hot
Recently, a new development has reignited the passion for the Sega Saturn: the emergence of CHD (Compressed Hunk of Data) ROMs. For those unfamiliar, CHD is a compressed format that allows for the storage of large files, such as game data, in a smaller size. This innovation has made it possible for enthusiasts to archive and play Sega Saturn games with unprecedented ease and accuracy. Assuming you are backing up your own discs
Here is the problem: The Saturn’s CD layout is chaotic. It stores audio tracks, data tracks, and subcode data in a way that many emulators struggle with. Furthermore, a library of 100 Saturn games could eat up of hard drive space. For those unfamiliar, CHD is a compressed format
If you are a retro enthusiast wondering what this means and why it has become the gold standard for Saturn preservation, you are in the right place. This article dives deep into the CHD revolution, where to find these "hot" files, and how to get them running at full speed.
