best encoding??

[ObiTrentKenobi]

i've had an hdtv and bluray for a little while now, but i'm wondering the answers to these -probably basic- questions...


In terms of bluray movie encoding;

Which is the best (highest quality) video encoder?

Which is the best (highest quality) audio encoder?

[Siri]

Codecs

Codecs are compression schemes that store audio and video more efficiently, optimizing for either low space usage or quality per megabyte. There are both lossy and lossless compression techniques.

The BD-ROM specification mandates certain codec compatibilities for both hardware decoders (players) and the movie-software (content). For video, all players are required to support MPEG-2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, and SMPTE VC-1.[47] MPEG-2 is the codec used on regular DVDs, which allows backwards compatibility. MPEG-4 AVC was developed by MPEG and VCEG. VC-1 is a codec that was mainly developed by Microsoft. BD-ROM titles with video must store video using one of the three mandatory codecs. Multiple codecs on a single title are allowed.

The choice of codecs affects the producer's licensing/royalty costs, as well as the title's maximum runtime, due to differences in compression efficiency. Discs encoded in MPEG-2 video typically limit content producers to around two hours of high-definition content on a single-layer (25 GB) BD-ROM. The more advanced video codecs (VC-1 and MPEG-4 AVC) typically achieve a video runtime twice that of MPEG-2, with comparable quality.

MPEG-2 was used by many studios, including Paramount Pictures (which initially used the VC-1 codec for HD DVD releases) for the first series of Blu-ray discs that were launched throughout 2006. Modern releases are now often encoded in either MPEG-4 AVC or VC-1, allowing film studios to place all content on one disc, reducing costs and improving ease of use. Using these codecs will also free many GBs of space for storage of bonus content in HD (1080i/p) as opposed to the SD (480i/p) typically used for most titles. Some studios (such as Warner Bros.) have released bonus content on discs encoded in a different codec than the main feature title; for example the Blu-ray release of Superman Returns uses VC-1 for the feature film and MPEG-2 for bonus content (presumably because it is simply ported from the DVD release).

For audio, BD-ROM players are required to support Dolby Digital, DTS, and linear PCM. Players may optionally support Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, as well as lossless formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.[48] BD-ROM titles must use one of the mandatory schemes for the primary soundtrack. A secondary audiotrack, if present, may use any of the mandatory or optional codecs.

For users recording digital television programming, the recordable Blu-ray Disc standard's initial data rate of 36 Mbit/s is more than adequate to record high-definition broadcasts from any source (IPTV, cable/satellite, or terrestrial). BD-Video movies have a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbit/s, a maximum AV bitrate of 48 Mbit/s (for both audio and video data), and a maximum video bitrate of 40 Mbit/s. This compares to HD DVD movies which have a maximum data transfer rate of 36 Mbit/s, a maximum AV bitrate of 30.24 Mbit/s, and a maximum video bitrate of 29.4 Mbit/s.[49]

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Codecs

For audio Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-MA video, I am not sure

[ObiTrentKenobi]

according to wikipedia... it sounds like mpeg4 avc and vc-1 are lossy compared to the bluray mpeg2 codecs, am i right about that?

if you look at wikipedia's page of codecs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_codecs)
mpeg4 avc is listed under video- lossy compression.


from wikipedia...
"Discs encoded in MPEG-2 video typically limit content producers to around two hours of high-definition content on a single-layer (25 GB) BD-ROM. The more advanced video codecs (VC-1 and MPEG-4 AVC) typically achieve a video runtime twice that of MPEG-2, with comparable quality."

this sounds to me that mpeg2 is a higher quality codec, and vc-1 and mpeg-4are lossy, but appear to be of the same quality (comparable).

OR.......does this mean that vc-1 and mpeg-4 are just more advanced compression codecs? that they can encode the same movie at the same quality with half the file size?

[franklinpross]

MPEG-4

If I see that and the flick is to my liking I buy.

MPEG-4 most probably is a Disney/Pixar phenom.

Why can't the whole world be MPEG-4?

[lch]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

according to wikipedia... it sounds like mpeg4 avc and vc-1 are lossy compared to the bluray mpeg2 codecs, am i right about that?

all are lossy format.
if you want lossless, you can imagine a few terabytes for a movie
mpeg2 is less efficient that avc/vc1 so that the same content take more space. mpeg4 was originally design for mobile devices as it more space saving.
given unlimited space/bitrates, all codecs will look the same.

[SkantDragon]

MPEG4 was not designed for mobile devices. MPEG4 is actually a whole range of specifications and profiles, some intended for mobile devices, others intended for network streaming, and still other parts of it aimed at motion pictures.

Anyway... to answer the ops question.

H.264 is the best codec overall. H.264 and AVC are different names for the same codec. And MPEG4 generally refers to H.264 as well (though MPEG4 is actually a broader term which could refer to the part 2 codec).

MPEG2 is the predecessor codec. It is older, simpler, and less capable.

For audio codecs, Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio are the highest quality. They're both lossless. Other differences between them aren't really germane to an end user.