The Anime Blu-ray Video Quality Thread

[Naiera]

And what the hell does that have to do with anything? Feel free to swing by and fix it, oh wise one.

[Sylontack]

Originally Posted by BMill

That's your prerogative. But I remember you. You couldn't even diagnose a ground loop in your audio system.

lmao imagine being an arrogant prick on an anime forum because you have a friend who told you something about audio . Have a little class here people- we're all losers and halfwits here anyway.

[Ajc228]

So I know people have thrown screenshot comparisons up here before but is Wolfs rain worth buying on bluray since it’s a digipaint show?

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by Ajc228

So I know people have thrown screenshot comparisons up here before but is Wolfs rain worth buying on bluray since it’s a digipaint show?

Bandai's old DVDs are OOP, so it's the cheapest (and best looking) release.
So, yeah. I'd say so.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by Ajc228

So I know people have thrown screenshot comparisons up here before but is Wolfs rain worth buying on bluray since it’s a digipaint show?

IMO, yes.

[vincentric]

Finally ordered the FUNi BD release of Ergo Proxy (I haven't seen the UK BD version but from what I've read it's basically a port of the FUNi release), I can do a screencap comparison between it and the JP version when I get it delivered if people are still interested? I do not own the JP version but there are screencaps available from a previous fandompost that I can use for comparisons. I still have my old Geneon DVDs that I can compare as well but the aforementioned fandompost has that covered already.

[Sylontack]

Originally Posted by vincentric

Finally ordered the FUNi BD release of Ergo Proxy (I haven't seen the UK BD version but from what I've read it's basically a port of the FUNi release), I can do a screencap comparison between it and the JP version when I get it delivered if people are still interested? I do not own the JP version but there are screencaps available from a previous fandompost that I can use for comparisons. I still have my old Geneon DVDs that I can compare as well but the aforementioned fandompost has that covered already.

I'd really like to see a JP comparison to the UK/US release, was hoping one would come out right away but obviously that hasn't happened yet. I mean considering the rarity of the JP set I'm strapped for options anyway, but I figure NBC might reissue their set super cheap like they did with Lain if I wait- should that end up being the right decision.

[Girls With Guns]

I own a copy of the JP release of Ergo Proxy, along with the Funi BD, but I don't know the first thing about taking proper screen captures. I don't own the UK release, though.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by Sylontack

I'd really like to see a JP comparison to the UK/US release, was hoping one would come out right away but obviously that hasn't happened yet. I mean considering the rarity of the JP set I'm strapped for options anyway, but I figure NBC might reissue their set super cheap like they did with Lain if I wait- should that end up being the right decision.

I'll get to it then if no one else has done it. Should be getting it delivered on Friday the 22nd, but my RS shipments usually show up a day or two early by Wednesday perhaps I can start to work on comparing it.

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

I own a copy of the JP release of Ergo Proxy, along with the Funi BD, but I don't know the first thing about taking proper screen captures. I don't own the UK release, though.

The programs/utilities I primarily use are makemkv, vlc, flickr and fraps. There are other options available but those are my favorite ones.

[Yuripa]

Originally Posted by vincentric

The programs/utilities I primarily use are makemkv, vlc, flickr and fraps. There are other options available but those are my favorite ones.

From what I heard, using programs who re-encode the .M2TS file in the Blu-ray (like MakeMKV) are not a good way to take 100% accurate screenshots.
Your screenshot will not be the same as it should be.
I personnaly try to avoid at all cost using these type of programs when I take screenshot.
Oh by the way, VLC is one of the worst media player ever, if I can make a recommandation, use something else, like MPC Classic (The best).

[SeaFox]

Originally Posted by Yuripa

From what I heard, using programs who re-encode the .M2TS file in the Blu-ray (like MakeMKV) are not a good way to take 100% accurate screenshots.

MakeMKV does not re-encode the video unless you have it set that way. All you're doing it moving the AVC video from one container format (m2ts) to another (mkv).

[Girls With Guns]

Looks like MPC is dead though, they stated their final update was back in July, and there won't be any more releases. I guess it will be fine to use for most things for quite some time, though.

[NLScavenger]

I use MPC-HC + madVR renderer to make screenshots.These screenshots are stored as .PNG and losslessly re-compressed with optipng to shorten the upload time.

I use an older version of madVR because version 0.92.3 introduces a glitch that hasn't been fixed yet. These versions of madVR from 0.92.3 onward seem to apply some kind of undefeatable dithering, so two screenshots of the exact same frame never have the exact same file size and amount of colors.


Made a few screenshots of the Macross Frontier Movie 2 BD a few days ago, but forgot to post it here: https://imgbox.com/g/TbkPC4GTxM

Also made BDInfo scans of the UK Madoka Beginnings and Eternal films. Exact same video bitrate as Aniplex release.

Madoka Beginning:

[Show spoiler]

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA M1
Disc Size:      45.586.357.641 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No
BDInfo:         0.5.8

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00002.MPLS
Length:                 2:11:09.861 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   41.819.867.136 bytes
Total Bitrate:          42,51 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        35541 kbps          1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS Audio                       English         768 kbps        5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio             Japanese        4025 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 4025 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           English         0,211 kbps                      
Presentation Graphics           English         44,183 kbps

Madoka Eternal

[Show spoiler]

DISC INFO:

Disc Title:     PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA M2
Disc Size:      37.674.306.511 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No
BDInfo:         0.5.8

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:                   00002.MPLS
Length:                 1:51:02.656 (h:m:s.ms)
Size:                   34.855.170.048 bytes
Total Bitrate:          41,85 Mbps

VIDEO:

Codec                   Bitrate             Description     
-----                   -------             -----------     
MPEG-4 AVC Video        34829 kbps          1080p / 23,976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
DTS Audio                       English         768 kbps        5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio             Japanese        4111 kbps       5.1 / 48 kHz / 4111 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)

SUBTITLES:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description     
-----                           --------        -------         -----------     
Presentation Graphics           English         1,151 kbps                      
Presentation Graphics           English         37,005 kbps

[Yuripa]

I personally use MPC-HC with MadVr v0.86.1, easiest and best way to take accurate screenshots.
I could upgrade Madvr to a new version (before 0.92.3) but the version I have don't have any problems as far as I know.

[Pyoko]

I've also used MPC-HC and madVR for a long time. Development on MPC-HC has stopped but it's pretty feature-complete right now so not in a hurry to replace it, but if/when I do PotPlayer will probably be it.

I've always hated VLC with a passion so it was a long time ago last I had to deal with it, but historically it's been very unreliable when it comes to YUV to RGB conversions using the correct matrix and things like that.

MadVR also allows you to do your own Q-tec/Funi-like filtered upscales on the fly, except possibly less horrible. (First is regular bicubic upscale, second is upscaled with NGU anti-alias and anti-ringing/banding/compression noise.)

[omarchafa]

VLC is junk, I don't know why it's so popular and well recognized. MPC-HC plus madVR is the best way to go for the best video playback experience.

[SeaFox]

Originally Posted by Girls With Guns

Looks like MPC is dead though, they stated their final update was back in July, and there won't be any more releases. I guess it will be fine to use for most things for quite some time, though.

That's kinda shocking. Did they say why they were stopping?

I'll admit I rarely use MPC-HC, but it's my default app for files because if I want to open something and just leave it windowed it's there. I have Zoom Player set to go full-screen automatically so I don't want to keep it as my file-associated app.

Oh well. There's still MPV and that also works great, even if it has less of an interface.

[Lambadelta]

Originally Posted by SeaFox

That's kinda shocking. Did they say why they were stopping?

No more developers willing to commit to the project.

[LexInHD]

Media players (in general) are dead due to lack of devs, no desire for competition, and the rise of hardware media players powered by Android and KODI/PLEX. There used to be dozens of Windows (and Linux) media players, including "one-man jobs" that were not half bad, but I don't think we'll ever go back to the old days when many were willing to work on such things, often for profit. On Linux, almost all the players are abandon-ware and even VLC is 99% Windows bug-fix development these days, with hardly any focus on other platforms or new features. KODI on various platforms has pretty much killed off everything else and Microsoft's "Movies and TV" (WTF?!) app is pretty much on point for KISS users, with it's simple interface and Microsoft's Media Extension (Codec Pack) updates, though it's a bit kludgy, IMO.

[vincentric]

Originally Posted by SeaFox

MakeMKV does not re-encode the video unless you have it set that way. All you're doing it moving the AVC video from one container format (m2ts) to another (mkv).

Pretty much this.

I also use mpc hc and vlc, mpc hc have better organized menus and is snappier to use but vlc is more stable (particularly with mkv) and able to play a wider range of files without having to install additional third party codecs. All in all, I still keep mpc installed for its ease of use but prefer vlc for its stability. As for screencaps, fraps and faststone to me are almost unbeatable for capturing and viewing.

Lastly, PotPlayer is looking like another good media player option but haven't tried it yet.