Archived: Insiders Thread

[pro-bassoonist]

Paidgeek:

I wanted to ask a quick question which has spurred a lengthy discussion at DVDTALK. I would really appreciate it if you could provide a succinct answer for me.

In post #996 you noted that performance issues are going to be fixed with firmware updates. And in post # 1046 you note that you are an engineer. So, my specific question is:

Is BD-J 1.1 compatibility going to be addressed for those of us who bought earlier Sony BR-models via firmware update? In fact, I would very much appreciate your thoughts on Sony's future stance on BD-J 1.1 in general regarding already released players.

Thank you once again for your invaluable contribution to this forum,

Pro-B

[DaViD Boulet]

Hey Paidgeek,

In Ben's review of the new 5E BD on this very site:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...56&show=review

he says this regarding the audio:

In theory, these tracks should sound the same, but the reality of the situation is somewhat different. For whatever reason, I found the PCM track to be much more robust. There is a slight variance in volume between the two tracks, with the TrueHD track being slightly softer. Once volume corrections had been made, the PCM track was still superior in many ways. In addition to the aforementioned richness and intensity of the PCM track, I also found dialog to be a bit more crisp and the entire surround soundstage more enveloping with PCM. I have no idea why this might be the case, and it remains to be seen on future release whether this disparity shows up again. But, in the case of The Fifth Element, I definitely recommend sticking with PCM. It should be noted that Dolby’s notorious Dialog Normalization is not active on Sony Blu-ray releases, so this would not account for the slight differences in the two soundtracks. What both tracks do provide is amazing low frequency effects and a visceral improvement of standard Dolby Digital. These two tracks have to be heard to be believed!

Those differences sound like a classic case of Dialog Normalization. Can you verify that this title was indeed mastered with Dolby TrueHD with the DN flag set to -31 db? Any clue as to why there would be a difference? If the level is different, obviously it's NOT the same PCM after extraction as the native LPCM on the disc. Does the PCM on the disc represent the original PCM master that was used for the Dolby TrueHD?


Curiously, Greg had this to day about his experiences with TrueHD (taken from his BD review of 300 also on this site)

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...51&show=review

Some HDTV fans are excited by Dolby TrueHD. I have been to Dolby Labs in San Francisco where I was invited by a friend from Sony Singapore to compare the TrueHD and PCM content of a promotional blu-ray disc. We heard a difference that audiophiles would describe as a more realistic resonance with the PCM. The instruments reproduced using TrueHD had less bloom, but on low-end systems, this may come across as an advantage, so I am reluctant to criticize Dolby TrueHD. Those with golden ears and a reference quality system will definitely want to opt for PCM, though.

Which also sounds like a classic case of Dialog Normalization.

[Frode]

Just a clarification here - may an insider correct me if I'm wrong, but there's no such thing as "BD-J 1.1". There is "Profile 1.1" which requires a secondary video decoder, secondary audio and mixing support along with 256MB of local storage. This has nothing to do with Java or BD-J, at all. Java features are final and should continue to work on all existing players barring the release of a completely new performance profile no one's thought or heard of yet.

Bonus question: where did "BD-J 1.1" come from and why are people so confused about it?

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Frode

Bonus question: where did "BD-J 1.1" come from and why are people so confused about it?

because rdjam at AVMS doesnt know what he's talking about and has confused the secondary video decoder w/ BD-J very early on. What did i win for answering the bonus question correctly?

[Penton-Man]

^ ^ ^ ^
One thing that I thoroughly enjoy about this forum, is that the members appreciate the fact that paidgeek is an engineer for Sony Pictures not Sony Electronics and not Sony Computer.

They seem to realize and take in stride any information that paidgeek reveals regarding the nuances of consumer electronics as icing on the cake rather than browbeating him as is sometimes done on A Virtual Smackdown forum in the demilitarized zone where they only carry darts into combat while traveling the “high road.”

And now, just shoot me to put me out of my misery if I have to hear anymore of this………………………

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eTF54aA-ZU

[Penton-Man]

Folks, I’ve read all your responses regarding Fox and I’ll do my best to get back to you with anything I can share…… or else, nudge Fox into an official news announcement regarding Blu-ray titles in the pipeline.

I make no promises but it is at the top of my priority list.
In regards to Uni, I suspect I will be able to share with you in Dec. if they plan to make any announcement in or around CES regarding publishing in Blu-ray.

[Penton-Man]

I see my PM's in my inbox are stacking up again.

I'll try to get to them by the end of the week.
My apologies (in regards to this) especially to a Blu-ray forum member from the northwest.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Paidgeek:

I wanted to ask a quick question which has spurred a lengthy discussion at DVDTALK. I would really appreciate it if you could provide a succinct answer for me.

In post #996 you noted that performance issues are going to be fixed with firmware updates. And in post # 1046 you note that you are an engineer. So, my specific question is:

Is BD-J 1.1 compatibility going to be addressed for those of us who bought earlier Sony BR-models via firmware update? In fact, I would very much appreciate your thoughts on Sony's future stance on BD-J 1.1 in general regarding already released players.

Thank you once again for your invaluable contribution to this forum,

Pro-B

It is expected that the PS3 will have updates offered that can support profile 1.1 and even 2.0. For current hardware players, it is unlikely that updates are coming to add profile 1.1 capability. This is because profile 1.1 requires a higher level of hardware performance than current players are capable of.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Hey Paidgeek,

In Ben's review of the new 5E BD on this very site:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...56&show=review

he says this regarding the audio:



Those differences sound like a classic case of Dialog Normalization. Can you verify that this title was indeed mastered with Dolby TrueHD with the DN flag set to -31 db? Any clue as to why there would be a difference? If the level is different, obviously it's NOT the same PCM after extraction as the native LPCM on the disc. Does the PCM on the disc represent the original PCM master that was used for the Dolby TrueHD?


Curiously, Greg had this to day about his experiences with TrueHD (taken from his BD review of 300 also on this site)

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...51&show=review



Which also sounds like a classic case of Dialog Normalization.

I will do some more research on TFE and see what I can find out...

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I have heard rumors about some Dave Mathews coming to the format.

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds live from Radio City Music Hall 2007 is coming to Blu-ray Disc from SonyBMG on September 4th.
Originally slated for August 28th it has been pushed back by one week.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

It is expected that the PS3 will have updates offered that can support profile 1.1 and even 2.0. For current hardware players, it is unlikely that updates are coming to add profile 1.1 capability. This is because profile 1.1 requires a higher level of hardware performance than current players are capable of.

Paid, I know this isn't your forte but can you ask someone WHY they turned off the automatic decoding of TrueHD inside the PS3 when HDMI is set to "bitstream"? Especially since the PS3 can't pass TrueHD as bitstream so there is no chance of receivers getting damaging digital noise. Now I have to manually change it to "PCM" for TrueHD titles and back to "bitstream" to pass on unmolested DD & DTS tracks to my receiver. Thanks for any help.

[WickyWoo]

Paid, I know this isn't your forte but can you ask someone WHY they turned off the automatic decoding of TrueHD inside the PS3 when HDMI is set to "bitstream"?

Because "bitstream" means "bitstream". It's supposed to pass the raw audio data right out.

[PeterTHX]

Not necessarily. Especially when there's no way to pass that particular bitstream in the first place (or DSD).

[FTX]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I don't know when the AACS media will be on the market.

Will these new media work with existing writers (possibly with firmware update) or will it also need new writers to support them?

FTX

[hanser]

Hello Paidgeek!

I have a question regarding Spiderman 3 in Germany. It seems that only the German soundtrack is offered in PCM. I thought, that now the European releases use TrueHD on English AND the respective language of the country? I am very disappointed not to be able to hear the original English soundtrack in uncompressed sound. Any chance to change this still?

Thanks a lot,

Hartwig

[LembasBread]

paidgeek,
What is the resolution of all those lossless audio tracks on Immortal Beloved?
Thanks

[Mulder]

Originally Posted by Jamh

paidgeek,

Will there be extras with SM1 and SM2 or just the films?

Thanks.

I've searched for an answer to this question as well but I can't seem to find one. Anyone know?

[DaViD Boulet]

Not necessarily. Especially when there's no way to pass that particular bitstream in the first place (or DSD).

Hey Peter,

I agree that TrueHD is in a special category, since it can't be passed natively, which would be the most accurate meaning for "bitstream".

But since TrueHD *does* have a "bitstream" core-alternative provided on BD, apparently that's what the PS3 designers decided to extract for those of us without HDMI with our "bitstream" settings.

I agree that for me personally, I'd prefer a 2.0 PCM mix-down from the decoded lossless signal than the lossy 5.1. DD "core", but I can understand the confusion that might place on many less-tech-savvy PS3 users.

Too bad they can't give us a separate set-up for TrueHD all by itself. Maybe that would solve the problem?

BTW, everyone BEWARE: HTF has just insituted a "no war talk" policy which means folks can't discuss bit-rate or storage capacity in any thread regarding mastering quality etc. Only two threads have been deemed safe-zones for format-difference conversation.

Not sure if I'll be able to participate over there anymore...

[Azumi]

Hi. A question to all BD insiders:

I'd like to know if the cumulative number of disc weekly sales is improving -- seasonality notwithstanding.

Nielsen gives weekly ratios but not the actual numbers, and so we don't know to what extent the PS3 repricing, the 5-disc promo offer and the new releases are converting new customers to Blu-ray.

Without giving specifics that might put you in trouble, could you tell us how many BD are sold weekly at this moment?

Paidgeek, Sony released in March an extensive report with actual numbers. How about publishing a new one?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by benes

I hope the mods will allow this informational post.

Everyone might want to read the AVS insiders thread (I know, I know ) especially talkstr8t's recent posts. There may not be any new "AACS blank media" after all. Its all very confusing right now and hopefully we can get things straightened out soon. I think some insiders, through no fault of their own, might not have had the full story so there is possible conflicting information out there right now. And it also doesn't help that we have all these people who are just looking to find some new blu-ray controversy they can jabber about.

But I hope everyone realizes how important the recordable side of blu-ray is....

I agree with everything you say benes (in your post) and not just what I quoted above.

I think the thing that really irks some Blu-ray supporters, though is that they believe it is truly disingenuous to have a forum member like jamming-rj constantly query paidgeek for immediate clarification of an issue that is not his forte to begin with, and then cross exam talkstr8t, and then go back to paidgeek in a fashion that appears to be innocently searching for the truth, when longtime readers know damn straight that he doesn’t give a hoot about any clarification of Blu-ray specs/capabilities, etc. and is just involved in the *questioning* to a play a game of gottcha.

This all relates to the problems they have over there and have been having for quite a while.
Even talkstr8t had enough of it at one point when he said....
“I'm looking forward to a break from your questions, rdjam (which I suspect are aimed at finding some way to represent this as the next big Blu-ray Disc scandal for your website).”

Rest assured that on any issues that paidgeek perceives it truly important to Blu-ray supporters, of which he personally only has superficial knowledge, he contacts other people in the Sony organization (such as Sony Electronics in this case) for a more definitive analysis of the topic at hand.

That takes time, as these other consultants are working people and have daily responsibilities to management that far exceed the immediacy of some internet posters that are rabid HD-VD supporters looking to exploit a situation of contradictory Insider postings.

And his resolution *to do the right thing* should really never be questioned after proving himself with the remastering and reissue of TFE, which he personally spearheaded and guided to fruition.