Archived: Insiders Thread

[GasCat]

It would be interesting to see discs that cost a little bit more but were region free. (A better way of thinking about it, knock off a few bucks for region encoded discs.)

With the global boundaries evaporating it is a shame to have this in place.

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by GasCat

With the global boundaries evaporating it is a shame to have this in place.

I feel for the theater owners who aren't allowed to show a movie yet, at the same time as people can legally import an HD version of it. For instance, Breach hasn't even opened in the UK yet and it is out on HD DVD in the US. Having support in a format for region encoding is a double edged sword and Disney movies are important enough that lack of support for region encoding in HD DVD might end up being one of their downfalls (with Disney exclusive to Blu-ray and even trash talking in their ad against HD DVD with "Better Than Perfect"). I'm guessing paidgeek can verify that. Microsoft (or one Microsoft representative) can jump up and down all they want about how studios shouldn't have the option to region encode their movies, but if it costs them Disney then people can look back and see how smart a move that was on the part of those who wanted HD DVD to win and could have tried to get Disney what they wanted.

--Darin

[phloyd]

I recall that there was talk of region coding for HD DVD at one stage. I bet if Disney said "Ok, but you gotta have region coding" then HD DVD would suddenly get region coding.

Of course it is kinda late to add such a feature now...

[eat_me_cool]

DVD forum is looking at RE for HD-DVD.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by darinp2

(with Disney exclusive to Blu-ray........in their ad against HD DVD with "Better Than Perfect").
--Darin

If people are unfamiliar with what Darin is referring to, here is a visual aid brought to you by Shin-Ra for Disney’s *position* ………………

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...006#post127006

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by darinp2

Microsoft (or one Microsoft representative) can jump up and down all they want about how studios shouldn't......
--Darin

Well, he seems to “jump up and down” almost on a daily basis as to what studios should do, shouldn’t do, could do, couldn’t do….are doing, etc. but, all it serves in the end is to further isolate him to the Redmond environs and the online community.

Remember how effectual he was in quickly “bringing back” that compressionist, despite his self-proclaimed attempts.

[gandley]

Originally Posted by nyg

I'm sure paidgeek will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the BDA has left region coding as an option available to studios releasing on Blu-ray.

No one is blaming the format (well im not, HD-DVDers might be), i understand its down to the studios, just seems there is little point to use it anymore with how easy it is to buy from the USA, actually its cheaper to do so these days than support the UK market for both hardware and software.

Some studios have no problem releasing region free across all regions, its time all studios took that stand. importing is just so easy, so what exactly are they protecting?

EDIT, i do take onboard Darins point though, that was a good one.

[gandley]

One thing that would be nice is to make the PS3 region free for SD DVD.

that would be nice now that its quite a reasonable player.

[WriteSimply]

paidgeek: Is The Fifth Element done using a true 4K/2K master downconverted to 1080p, or was it using a 720p master? (puts three bucks in the coffer)


fuad

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

paidgeek: Is The Fifth Element done using a true 4K/2K master downconverted to 1080p, or was it using a 720p master? (puts three bucks in the coffer)


fuad

I second this question (and know why Fuad asked)

[Deciazulado]

Actually a 2k scan of a S-35 Scope ratio movie wouldn't have to be "downconverted" to "1080p".. just crop a few pixels on the sides...

[krinkle]

Paidgeek,

Just want to ask if there was a reason that Satoshi Kon's Paprika was released in Japan and the EU but not the States?

Just thought you should know that Paprika BD is now the number 1 selling BD title at Amazon France. Its not because the French are buying it either! This is almost solely due to enthusiasts buying the title and importing it. Many are members of this forum.

I placed my order over a week ago at Amazon.fr, and won't get my copy until August 1st because it is back-ordered for that long.

I just hope that SPHE realizes that there is a market for these titles here in the states.

This is the second title I have imported, the first was GITS: Innocence BD from Japan.

Please take note and encourage the release of a USA version of these types of animated titles in the future. If you are going to produce a BD for other parts of the world how hard can it be to add an English title to the packaging and release it here? I would think the marginal cost of doing so would be quite small. Until then I'll keep importing.

Keep up the good work and thanks for posting here.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Actually a 2k scan of a S-35 Scope ratio movie wouldn't have to be "downconverted" to "1080p".. just crop a few pixels on the sides...

I know that. But just for others who may know of 1K, 2K and 4K only. THX Rob for backing me on the question.

Originally Posted by krinkle

Paidgeek,

Just want to ask if there was a reason that Satoshi Kon's Paprika was released in Japan and the EU but not the States?

SPE is going to release this movie in the US. So unless the film gets released in the theater first, releasing the BD right now would not be profitable for the theaters who are supporting the movie by showing it. That would spell trouble for SPE.


fuad

[krinkle]

Originally Posted by krinkle

Paidgeek,

Just want to ask if there was a reason that Satoshi Kon's Paprika was released in Japan and the EU but not the States?

Just thought you should know that Paprika BD is now the number 1 selling BD title at Amazon France. Its not because the French are buying it either! This is almost solely due to enthusiasts buying the title and importing it. Many are members of this forum.

I placed my order over a week ago at Amazon.fr, and won't get my copy until August 1st because it is back-ordered for that long.

I just hope that SPHE realizes that there is a market for these titles here in the states.

This is the second title I have imported, the first was GITS: Innocence BD from Japan.

Please take note and encourage the release of a USA version of these types of animated titles in the future. If you are going to produce a BD for other parts of the world how hard can it be to add an English title to the packaging and release it here? I would think the marginal cost of doing so would be quite small. Until then I'll keep importing.

Keep up the good work and thanks for posting here.

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

SPE is going to release this movie in the US. So unless the film gets released in the theater first, releasing the BD right now would not be profitable for the theaters who are supporting the movie by showing it. That would spell trouble for SPE.

So you are saying the film is still coming to theaters in the US? I guess that makes sense if they are holding off the BD until after that. Doesn't look like Paprika will be in wide release, maybe just a few "arthouse" theaters then? What about GITS: Innocence? I thought that had a run in US theaters years ago.

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by krinkle

So you are saying the film is still coming to theaters in the US?

According to imdb.com it came out May 27th in the US, but only made $478k.

--Darin

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Question about BD+:

Paidgeek stated a week ago (or so) that a BD title using BD+ would be coming to market very shortly. Does anyone have any information on this: most germane would be:

1. what studio.
2. what title.
3. what release date.

Naturally we're all curious how this will affect FOX/MGM.

Or was the "in the next few weeks" regarding the beginning of disc production (sounded from the posts earlier like it meant actual release)?

thanks!

dave

Sorry for my delayed response. I've been vacationing a bit.

The first title was delayed in order to test it on some new players just now in beta. Because the title is not ours, I prefer not to announce it, but I believe it is ready to go pending these final tests.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

paidgeek: I don't know how you can help figure this one out.

There are PS3 ads in Europe and elsewhere. There are also the recent BD ad from Sony Europe, the one with the blue laser.

Can any of the Sony sites provide those ads as a 1080p download file for playback on PS3s or something? Thanks!


fuad

I'm sure it can be done, but in all honesty, It would be hard for me to assist since our studio did not prepare this.

[Frode]

Dreamworks has the license to Innocence so they're the ones you have to ask for that.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Eric_C

Paidgeek....another vote for lossless on audio.

I have several questions regarding audio and the PS3. Are there plans for bass management? You mention the problem with consumers buying 5 full range speakers to get the right sound out of SDDS(SACD, DVD-A, etc) but what I've done since I'm an avid SACD/DVD-A collector is to add an external analog bass manager. I can trim each speaker at a certain level and it pumps everything below that level into my subs. It makes a fantastic difference in sound and 'fixes' the big problem with not having all full range speakers.

Listening to a few SACD's via the PS3 and my Yamaha player w/ the ICBM(bass manager) hooked up the PS3 has a ways to go to mimic the fullness of the sound from my other setup.

Are there bass management plans? Even for regular 2 channel CD's I get far better SQ out of the analog outs using the analog cross over than all the digital stuff in both the Yamaha receiver or DVD player.

Does BD have the -10db LFE problem like DVD-A? I heard the formats for some BD audio formats were basically the DVD-A spec wrapped in a new wrapper and along with it came the -10db LFE issue. Again this is something I compensate for with the external bass manager.

I switched from HD-DVD to BD because of the impending price drop, the BB deal, and new titles on BD. I was always worried about audio quality from wht I read in comparison to HD-DVD. Granted I've only watched one title, Crank, but what I was worried about seems to be true, a lack of depth in the sound field.

I'm watching the PCM track but something seems to be missing....as it does with SACD. I didn't play around too much with regular CD but will today.

I'm happy with the idea though that everything in the PS3 is software, right? There is no hardware dedicated to the sound processing so Sony can do whatever they want with the processing to improve it.

I'd love to be able to move my CD collection to lossless and have the PS3 match the output of my other setup. If SACD could match on the PS3 what I get out of my analog setup then I'd be happier yet....and I know it will never happen but DVD-A support would be so welcomed.

Thanks

Sorry for my delayed response.

I don't think you will see bass management in the PS3. This feature can be implemented well in receivers with dedicated DSP(s). You have probably seen the many other choices that can be made through the receivers user menus in order to set speaker position, size, distance and so on. This would be a big burden to implement in the PS3.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by nyg

I'm sure paidgeek will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the BDA has left region coding as an option available to studios releasing on Blu-ray.

This is correct. We use region coding to protect new releases in their theatrical windows. Another instance where we use it is when a title has split rights. That is to say that we only are entitled to distribute the title in a certain market. This amounts to a handfull of titles, but the ability to honor split right deals and protect theatrical windows makes the format more attractive to content companies.