Ask questions to Sony Pictures Entertainment insider "paidgeek"

[Donnie Eldridge]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Word of advice... If someone tells you about an "undocumented feature" of a product, don't go hammering the CS number for confirmation. You can verify what this and other players are doing when the appropriate test content finds its way into the market.

Nuff said. Thanks for responding.

[Andan_p]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Word of advice... If someone tells you about an "undocumented feature" of a product, don't go hammering the CS number for confirmation. You can verify what this and other players are doing when the appropriate test content finds its way into the market.

But I think the problem is that there is no test material, and everyone is really confused right now. With all due respect, and knowing that you are a representative of Sony Pictures, all we ask for is some clarity around the hardware situation. Maybe you could "nudge" the hardware guys?

Another question I have is around the adoption of TrueHD instead of PCM. In my opinion everyone with a Blu-ray player can appreciate PCM. Even though this is the case I see an increased (or almost exclusive) use of TrueHD over PCM from Sony while others like Disney is sticking with PCM to enable people to get the maximum high def experience out of the format. Seeing the current state of the hardware, why aren't you sticking with PCM as a standard? I can relate to the bandwidth issue, but with 50GB it doesn't really feel like a constraint...

[GaS]

Paid, first let me say thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.

On that note, is Saawaryia (spelling?) still scheduled to be released in march? I saw somewhere that it has been pulled.

Thank you sir.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Andan_p

But I think the problem is that there is no test material, and everyone is really confused right now. With all due respect, and knowing that you are a representative of Sony Pictures, all we ask for is some clarity around the hardware situation. Maybe you could "nudge" the hardware guys?

Another question I have is around the adoption of TrueHD instead of PCM. In my opinion everyone with a Blu-ray player can appreciate PCM. Even though this is the case I see an increased (or almost exclusive) use of TrueHD over PCM from Sony while others like Disney is sticking with PCM to enable people to get the maximum high def experience out of the format. Seeing the current state of the hardware, why aren't you sticking with PCM as a standard? I can relate to the bandwidth issue, but with 50GB it doesn't really feel like a constraint...

Given that DTHD decoding is now broadly available in hardware, it makes sense to transistion to that, especially in Europe where we have to deliver multiple languages and want to do so with equally high quality. Further to this, 20 bit does sound better than 16 bit coding depth put 20 bit LPCM is pushing storage and bandwidth a bit too hard, particularly when there is multiple language support.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by djOS

I agree completely but unfortunately there seems to be a movement away from using LPCM tracks to TrueHD and DTS-HD/MA.

The point is to let the Player, S1, PS3, S300 etc. do the audio decoding/mixing internally and pass as LPCM through HDMI.

[Scorxpion]

Paidgeek,

A special thanks for you and for every member who did this for Sony exclusivity distributor in middleast and especially my country Lebanon where i can get 3 titles of sony and paid only for two of them.Keep the good job.

http://www.circuit-empire.com/

look at the blu-ray logo buy two get the third one for free at the lower left corner.

Thank you very much

[RickD]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

The full installation of SDDS is 7.1 but it is five channels for fronts and two for surrounds.

And paidgeek works for SPHE, not Sony Consumer Electronics nor Sony Computer Entertainment.

fuad

I remember when Episode I was released and George Lucas was excited about Dolby Digitial Ex because of the matrixed rear center channel. And then DTS countered with their ES system with a fully separate rear channel. These were both 6.1 of course. The Senator Theater here in Maryland even installed speakers for the rear channel specifically because Episode I was using DD Ex.

That was why I was curious when paidgeek mentioned that they are still using 5.1 for the movie theater. I was wondering if many movies are using a 6.1 or 7.1 mix for theaters and if not, are they headed in that direction.

I am going to assume that your second comment was not directed at me since I never once asked paidgeek about Sony Consumer Electronics or Sony Computer Entertainment products.

Thanks for your time paidgeek and everyone else reading this thread.

Rick

[AlexBC]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Since our audio mixes are the same ones delivered to the cinema, I suspect we will look hard at supporting 7.1 on Blu-ray when the films are mixed that way.

Of course it is possible to do a special 7.1 mix for Blu-ray (maybe this is what the studios you mentioned are doing?), but if we do so, I think we also have an obligation to include the original theatrical 5.1 don't you? So then we have used 2x the audio bandwidth to include a specially prepared 7.1 right?

Paidgeek,

that's something that pleases me very much to hear.

But what's Sony's official policy regarding original audio tracks from now on?

Recent releases like The Life Of Brian, 20 Million Miles To Earth, Bram Stoker's Dracula, CEOTTK don't have the original audio tracks, let alone in lossless format. Though it would be unfair not to point the remixes are really good.

But I like the poll we ran a while back suggests, enthusiasts really miss the original soundtracks.

Thank you for your continued effort to provide us top notch information.

[Icemage]

Paidgeek:

With the announcement today from Wal-Mart, can you give us a one-word description about the mood "in the offices" at Sony today?

[john_nemesh]

Originally Posted by djOS

I agree completely but unfortunately there seems to be a movement away from using LPCM tracks to TrueHD and DTS-HD/MA.

Both TrueHD and DTS-HD/MA will sound EXACTLY the same as PCM. They are lossless compression codecs, like FLAC, or MLP (MLP is Meridian Lossless Packing, is the compression used in Dolby TrueHD and is the same as used in DVD-Audio).

Its like a .zip file in a computer, when you unzip, the contents are the same as before you zipped it up, there is no lost data.

Sonically, you should not be able to hear ANY difference between the three. The only difference would be that some receivers can not decode the newer formats. However, most Blu-Ray players will decode internally and output LPCM for older receivers, or output decoded analog. In short, this trend will free up valuable space on the disc for more content and/or better video while still preserving the master quality audio.

[ckenisell]

I'm just guessing.

Originally Posted by Icemage

Paidgeek:

With the announcement today from Wal-Mart, can you give us a one-word description about the mood "in the offices" at Sony today?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by AlexBC

Paidgeek,

that's something that pleases me very much to hear.

But what's Sony's official policy regarding original audio tracks from now on?

Recent releases like The Life Of Brian, 20 Million Miles To Earth, Bram Stoker's Dracula, CEOTTK don't have the original audio tracks, let alone in lossless format. Though it would be unfair not to point the remixes are really good.

But I like the poll we ran a while back suggests, enthusiasts really miss the original soundtracks.

Thank you for your continued effort to provide us top notch information.

Do you have a link to that earlier poll?

I can't speak about "The Life Of Brian" or "20 Million Miles to Earth", but CE3K and Dracula both are original 6 track mixes.

[Slec]

PG,
I've noticed comments about some films that say a remaster won't help because the source contains artifacts/excessive grain/something else. Is there a way for your average film watcher to know if their favorite films would benefit greatly from Blu-ray? Would it be as simple as checking what the source film is and the time it was made?

Comes to mind because I would have thought Life of Brian would have looked pretty rough but I couldn't be happier with its PQ and the level of visible detail.

Thanks!

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Icemage

Paidgeek:

With the announcement today from Wal-Mart, can you give us a one-word description about the mood "in the offices" at Sony today?

I think most people here are surprised that things are falling into place quickly. You can't help but be pleased when years of work start to pay off.

[DaViD Boulet]

Recent releases like The Life Of Brian, 20 Million Miles To Earth, Bram Stoker's Dracula, CEOTTK don't have the original audio tracks, let alone in lossless format.

20 million miles to earth seems to be a vintage sound mix to my ear (it's not 5.1, has fewer channels but I can't remember the exact spec).

It's also TrueHD lossless.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Slec

PG,
I've noticed comments about some films that say a remaster won't help because the source contains artifacts/excessive grain/something else. Is there a way for your average film watcher to know if their favorite films would benefit greatly from Blu-ray? Would it be as simple as checking what the source film is and the time it was made?

Comes to mind because I would have thought Life of Brian would have looked pretty rough but I couldn't be happier with its PQ and the level of visible detail.

Thanks!

I'm glad you like "Life of Brian". The studio used heavy duty tools to get to what we considered an acceptable result on this title. We would not be nearly so heavy handed on most releases.

There is also no easy way to know if a title will present well in HD or not. It starts with how the film is shot and regardless if it is old or new, some are shot better than others. I have seen 50 year old masters that would blow you away, I have seen recent titles that would leave you underwhelmed.

[WickyWoo]

Paid

Life of Brian is lovely indeed. I very much appriciated the subtitles on the commentary, it's a best of both worlds thing

However the PCM and THD mixes to me sounded radically different, with the THD much richer. It sounded scrubbed and sweetened.

Is it possible that the PCM track is the original mix? I know some Japanese releases have done 2-channel PCM on original and then 5.1 THD on the restored

[Slec]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I'm glad you like "Life of Brian". The studio used heavy duty tools to get to what we considered an acceptable result on this title. We would not be nearly so heavy handed on most releases.

Wow, whatever criteria was used to bring this film to BD, I hope is the criteria used on all movies you bring to us! Please pass on my thanks to the team and Sony!

[Member-9711]

Paidgeek,

Sony Pictures in Sweden recently began issuing their blu-ray discs with a sticker on them (Blu-Ray Disc - High Definition Movie PLays on BD Players and PS3...). Unfortunaly the sticker is placed inside the wrapping plastic which makes it very hard to remove, to make things worse the sticker is in many cases placed on top of the movie title on the case.
Anyways, I've been trying to find an email-adress to send a kind suggestion to place them somewhere else or remove them entirly (perhaps place them outside the wrapping plastic so they give the information but arn't in the way once you unwrapp it)...any chance you know how to make an email find its way to them?

Btw watched both Across the Universe and 30 Days of Night yesterday, extremely nice looking titles!

Thank you for your input here.

[djOS]

Originally Posted by john_nemesh

Both TrueHD and DTS-HD/MA will sound EXACTLY the same as PCM. They are lossless compression codecs, like FLAC, or MLP (MLP is Meridian Lossless Packing, is the compression used in Dolby TrueHD and is the same as used in DVD-Audio).

Its like a .zip file in a computer, when you unzip, the contents are the same as before you zipped it up, there is no lost data.

Sonically, you should not be able to hear ANY difference between the three. The only difference would be that some receivers can not decode the newer formats. However, most Blu-Ray players will decode internally and output LPCM for older receivers, or output decoded analog. In short, this trend will free up valuable space on the disc for more content and/or better video while still preserving the master quality audio.

Im not a HT (or IT) Noob john - just a Blu-Ray forum Noob.

My concern about not getting LPCM on many newer BD Movies is purely related to my players internal decoding capabilities.