Ultimate AV Mag report on Blu-ray demo - lots of information
03-02-06 | 04:47 AM
#1
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Ultimate AV Mag report on Blu-ray demo - lots of information
http://blog.ultimateavmag.com/thomasnorton/
These are the main data:
******
His impressions of the visual demo:
These are the main data:
- All first titles are expected to be limited to a single layer.
- There are two Blu-ray modes: Movie Mode (used for high definition films) and BD-J Mode (a fully programmable mode that includes interactive features, like games and Internet connectivity). Both modes can be used on the same disc.
- Sony and MGM titles will be encoded on the discs at 1080/24p. The user will set the player to convert this native resolution as required to match the capability of his or her display.
- At this time Sony has no immediate plans to implement the Image Constraint Token (ICT).
- All of the Sony and MGM titles will initially be encoded using MPEG-2, at a variable bit rate, but up to a maximum of 30Mb/sec.
- When other codecs exceed MPEG-2 at all data rates, Sony will begin using them.
- On the audio side, all Sony and MGM titles will include both conventional Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. Dolby data rate is still unconfirmed. DTS data rate will be 1.5Mb/sec. Additionally all Sony/MGM releases will include a 5.1 uncompressed PCM audio track.
- The first Sony and MGM titles will each have a hidden Easter Egg containing several setup test patterns— a sweep, a standard SMPTE pattern including, among other things, a PLUGE, color bars, and a resolution monoscope. These patterns can be accessed by entering 7669 on your Blu-ray player's remote (7669 is S-O-N-Y on a telephone).
******
His impressions of the visual demo:
The most exciting part of the event involved demonstrations of Blu-ray using Sony's flagship 4K D-Cinema SXRD projector producing a peak light output of 14 foot-Lamberts onto a 23' wide screen. A split-screen image was used to compare DVD with Blu-ray, and the program source was a trailer from the upcoming film Click. It was no contest; the stunning Blu-ray was a 16-ounce New York strip sirloin next to the DVD's ground chuck. This wasn't entirely a surprise, given the size of the screen. Another split-screen presentation compared the 400Mb/sec HD master with the Blu-ray file mastered at 25-30Mb/sec. Here, only the tiniest differences were visible on film grain and the finest picture details—and we had to freeze the image to (barely) spot those.
Click was shot using the new Sony Panavision Genesis 1080/24p HD video cameras. The detail in the image, as seen on Blu-ray and presumably transferred directly from a digital file, was incredible. A final demonstration, of a clip from the conventionally filmed A Knight's Tale was not quite so jaw-dropping, but still looked better than most theatrical film presentations in all but the very best theaters equipped with state-of-the-art projectors and pristine prints.
Click was shot using the new Sony Panavision Genesis 1080/24p HD video cameras. The detail in the image, as seen on Blu-ray and presumably transferred directly from a digital file, was incredible. A final demonstration, of a clip from the conventionally filmed A Knight's Tale was not quite so jaw-dropping, but still looked better than most theatrical film presentations in all but the very best theaters equipped with state-of-the-art projectors and pristine prints.
03-02-06 | 05:04 AM
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At this time Sony has no immediate plans to implement the Image Constraint Token (ICT).
03-02-06 | 05:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Qui Gon Jim
Does this mean that they won't prohibit 1080i over component at all or they won't even allow the choice? If all the Sony title are 1080i over component, that is a HUGE arrow in the BR quiver.
ICT (aka downrezzing over component) is an option AACS gives the studios. The studios may use it or not at will, and even on a title-by-title basis.
Thomas Norton will surely explain it better than me:
At this time Sony has no immediate plans to implement the Image Constraint Token (ICT). The ICT is the part of the AACS copy protection scheme (used in both Blu-ray and HD DVD) that forces the player to down-rez its analog component video output from the disc's 1920x1080 high definition resolution to 960x540p. The result: you will get high definition only from the player's digital video output (HDMI or DVI). Early HDTV adopters of component only sets would then be limited to standard definition 540p from their fancy new players.
But all of these early Sony and MGM titles will produce full high definition from both the analog component and digital video outputs of a Blu-ray player. Whether or not to turn on the ICT, however, will rest with each studio and may be done on a title-by-title basis. How other studios will implement this feature in their releases remains to be seen.
But all of these early Sony and MGM titles will produce full high definition from both the analog component and digital video outputs of a Blu-ray player. Whether or not to turn on the ICT, however, will rest with each studio and may be done on a title-by-title basis. How other studios will implement this feature in their releases remains to be seen.
03-02-06 | 11:05 AM
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On the audio side, all Sony and MGM titles will include both conventional Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. Dolby data rate is still unconfirmed. DTS data rate will be 1.5Mb/sec. Additionally all Sony/MGM releases will include a 5.1 uncompressed PCM audio track.
03-02-06 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by joshd2012
30Mbps Video = 
03-02-06 | 02:42 PM
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That is excellent news about ICT. Hopefully the studios will just forget about that nonsense for a few years, and by the time they start using it, most of us component owners will have replaced our sets.
Great info in this post!
Great info in this post!
03-02-06 | 06:19 PM
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From: Blu-Ray: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Petition
Originally Posted by Josh Z
You can't equate that number to DVD bit rates. HD video requires higher bit rates because it contains more data.
03-02-06 | 08:24 PM
#10
Originally Posted by flashburn
So does that mean for at least the initial launch titles, they won't be including DTS-HD or DD+ (or whatever it is called)? That is a bit disappointing.
03-03-06 | 09:10 AM
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From: Mpls, MN
Originally Posted by Josh Z
You can't equate that number to DVD bit rates. HD video requires higher bit rates because it contains more data.
03-03-06 | 09:15 AM
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From: Mpls, MN
Originally Posted by flashburn
So does that mean for at least the initial launch titles, they won't be including DTS-HD or DD+ (or whatever it is called)? That is a bit disappointing.
03-04-06 | 08:53 PM
#14
Note: The encoders being used by Sony for MPEG 2 said to be much better than previous versions. Can't wait to see what they can put out at given bitrates.
As far as audio goes it is pretty confusing to just about everyone it seems. Decoding will be done at the player and passed via HDMI 1.1, and higher, or the 5.1 outputs. S/PDIF output is going to be limited to D-theater levels. If you want to decode the new formats using a receiver you need HDMI 1.3.
As far as audio goes it is pretty confusing to just about everyone it seems. Decoding will be done at the player and passed via HDMI 1.1, and higher, or the 5.1 outputs. S/PDIF output is going to be limited to D-theater levels. If you want to decode the new formats using a receiver you need HDMI 1.3.
03-14-06 | 09:44 AM
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Is it me or is nothing ready for this HD-disc based launch?
No one has the TV's to watch it on (with the secure connections), no one has the receiver's for the sound... Why do we need it now?
Can we not wait another 5 years until more things are in place? I am not that excited about either format (okay, a little for BR-D, but still down the road).
I bought my DVD player in 1997. I bought an HDTV before there any local broadcasts to watch in 2001. I am an early adopter, and I am not all that excited...do you think the general public cares?
Rod319
No one has the TV's to watch it on (with the secure connections), no one has the receiver's for the sound... Why do we need it now?
Can we not wait another 5 years until more things are in place? I am not that excited about either format (okay, a little for BR-D, but still down the road).
I bought my DVD player in 1997. I bought an HDTV before there any local broadcasts to watch in 2001. I am an early adopter, and I am not all that excited...do you think the general public cares?
Rod319
03-15-06 | 02:22 PM
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From: Durham, NC USA
rod319. I hear ya. same boat as you. I have seen high def cable on a 106" screen so I know there is a difference. But not sure of the sense of urgency. My opinion, for what it's worth, is the high DVD is evolutionary upgrade from SD DVD .. Not Revolutionary that VHS to DVD was.
and what makes us think that studios that aren't exploiting all the features of SD DVD (e.g. only using a portion of the disc space for video) will be doing things any different with high def? I made a joke on another thread about Madacy re-releasing Night of the Living dead for BR-D "now remastered in high def" - but honestly, does anybody expect the quality of that version to be anywhere near true high def potential? yes, you can argue about the source material, but my point is that I have a lot of very dissapointing video quality from manufacturers (some highly reliable) on today's technology that allowed for higher resolution.. I will definitely wait for reviews for any high def DVDs before I buy them.
I can tell you that a well mastered anamorphic SD DVD looks very impressive on my system...
Perhaps if there wasn't a format war...or perhaps if they really revolutionized things (like putting the disc in cassette thereby ensuring durabilty and enhance PVD market), etc..
I for one could care less about compability with SD DVD.. I mean, I still have a VHS machine to watch my tapes that havent' been released on DVD. What's the hangup of keeping the old DVD player around to play the old discs? What are people going to do that actually by these new high def players - throw their DVD players in the dumpster?
And the whole business of (potentially) downrezzing video if not on HDMI.. Sigh. It's like they couldn't have taken any more fun out of this if they wanted to.
And I really don't understand the cost of these new machines. Again, if revolutionary then perhaps I could buy it. But from an end users perspective it is the same format with higher resolution - that's it. And this is going to cost me $1000?
and what makes us think that studios that aren't exploiting all the features of SD DVD (e.g. only using a portion of the disc space for video) will be doing things any different with high def? I made a joke on another thread about Madacy re-releasing Night of the Living dead for BR-D "now remastered in high def" - but honestly, does anybody expect the quality of that version to be anywhere near true high def potential? yes, you can argue about the source material, but my point is that I have a lot of very dissapointing video quality from manufacturers (some highly reliable) on today's technology that allowed for higher resolution.. I will definitely wait for reviews for any high def DVDs before I buy them.
I can tell you that a well mastered anamorphic SD DVD looks very impressive on my system...
Perhaps if there wasn't a format war...or perhaps if they really revolutionized things (like putting the disc in cassette thereby ensuring durabilty and enhance PVD market), etc..
I for one could care less about compability with SD DVD.. I mean, I still have a VHS machine to watch my tapes that havent' been released on DVD. What's the hangup of keeping the old DVD player around to play the old discs? What are people going to do that actually by these new high def players - throw their DVD players in the dumpster?
And the whole business of (potentially) downrezzing video if not on HDMI.. Sigh. It's like they couldn't have taken any more fun out of this if they wanted to.
And I really don't understand the cost of these new machines. Again, if revolutionary then perhaps I could buy it. But from an end users perspective it is the same format with higher resolution - that's it. And this is going to cost me $1000?
