mkpsxiso

Overview

mkpsxiso is a command-line utility for authoring PlayStation CD images from XML. It is best suited to developers and researchers working with PlayStation disc layouts, rather than people looking for a general-purpose ISO creator. Its appeal is precise control over disc structure, paired with a companion extractor; the workflow is specialized and does not include disc burning.

Key features

The builder creates .bin/.cue or .iso images for burning elsewhere or using in an emulator. XML-defined file order sets LBA placement, so projects can arrange files to improve access times. That control matters for PlayStation development and reconstruction, but it also means this is a structured authoring workflow, not a quick folder conversion.

Mixed-mode CD-XA support includes XA audio and STR video, while CDDA tracks can come from WAV, FLAC, PCM, or MP3 files. This makes mkpsxiso a strong fit for projects that need data and streamed media on the same disc. It can inject Sony license data, but users must supply their own copy.

The companion dumpsxiso extracts tracks, license data, and raw sectors from 2352-sector images and CUE files. It can produce compatible XML in strict LBA order while preserving timestamps and XA attributes, making the pair useful for rebuilding images as well as creating them. The project says almost all images can be rebuilt 1:1, but that goal has limits: on ext4 and xfs, files without an XML date cannot use dates earlier than 1901-12-13.

Official documentation covers command-line usage, XML structure, track types, ordering, errors, and validation rules. Consult it before opening an issue, as the project recommends. Source builds require Git, CMake, and a compiler toolchain; FLAC encoding support requires libFLAC, though builds can disable it with MKPSXISO_NO_LIBFLAC.

Pricing

Free — free. The GPL-2.0-licensed software is free to use, with no paid tier or free-trial term. That makes it a practical choice for homebrew, ROM-hacking, and reverse-engineering work without a software cost; the trade-off is a technical, command-line-focused workflow and no built-in disc burning.

Platforms

mkpsxiso supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. GitHub CI-built releases are linked for all three, while building from source requires Git, CMake, and a compiler toolchain. Linux build instructions mention distribution packages; Windows instructions mention MSVC Build Tools or MSYS2.

Two reconstruction caveats are worth weighing before release. On Windows, certain nested structures containing identically named directories can cause directory-browsing issues, so generated images should be tested. On ext4 and xfs, the date limit can prevent some older files from being rebuilt identically.

Who it's for

mkpsxiso is aimed at PlayStation homebrew developers, ROM hackers, and reverse engineers who need control over file placement, CD-XA streams, or image reconstruction. It is less suited to users who simply want to burn a disc or create a conventional ISO with a graphical workflow.

Pros and cons

• Pros: XML-controlled LBA placement gives disc authors control over file order and access-time optimization.
• Pros: Mixed-mode CD-XA, XA audio, STR video, and multiple CDDA source formats support varied PlayStation media projects.
• Pros: dumpsxiso extracts image data and generates compatible XML that preserves timestamps and XA attributes.
• Cons: There is no disc-burning function, so burning requires a separate application.
• Cons: Sony license data must come from the user, and filesystem date limits can block some exact rebuilds.
• Cons: A Windows directory-browsing issue affects certain nested structures, requiring image checks before release.

Alternatives

For other image-authoring options, browse ISO Creation Software; for playback options, see PlayStation Emulators.

• Folder2ISO is a free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows; choose it when you need folder-to-ISO creation rather than PlayStation-specific disc structure. Its free use and distribution are noncommercial, and commercial use or distribution requires the author's permission.
• Open Burning Suite is free, open-source software under the BSD 2-Clause license for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Consider it when a general disc-burning tool is the priority.
• PhotoDirector has a free tier on macOS and Windows with limited features; choose it only if its photo-editing focus fits your needs better than a PlayStation image builder.
• bchunk is a free GPL command-line utility for Linux and macOS that requires a .bin image and .cue track index. It is a narrower fit when that input-based workflow is what you need.
• Express Burn has a free plan and trial on macOS and Windows; consider it when disc burning is more important than PlayStation-specific image authoring.
• ImgBurn is freeware for Windows disc burning; choose it when burning is the task rather than authoring PlayStation images from XML.
• InfraRecorder is free CD/DVD burning software for Windows, currently described as beta; it suits Windows users seeking a burning utility.
• SysTools ISO Creator offers a free version with large-ISO and edited or bootable ISO saving limits, plus a full version starting at $29, paid once. Consider it for ISO creation on macOS or Windows if those limits and its paid option fit your needs.

Verdict

Choose mkpsxiso if you are building or reconstructing PlayStation discs and need control over layout, streamed media, and XML-based workflows. Its strongest reason to choose it is the combination of a capable image builder and a compatible extraction tool. Look elsewhere if you need burning built in, or if your project depends on exact dates or Windows directory structures affected by its known limitations.