Archived: Insiders Thread

[TauRus]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Gattaca has had a new film transfer and should come back on the schedule. The new master looks good, so you won't be disappointed when it comes out.

Gattaca is one of the movies I am waiting for. I'll order one as soon as its announced. Thanks, Sony, I am pretty confident the release will have a superb transfer.

[Paul H]

Questions for insiders as to how the system works:

Why is it that certain (Blu-ray) titles that have been announced way back on August 20, 2007 by Fox/MGM, (Official Announcements) still can't be pre-ordered at some major online sites?

Titles such as 'I, Robot', 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' 'Independence Day,' 'Cast Away,' 'Ronin'?
In the past when this has happened, certain titles have been postponed and some have even been cancelled.

Another popular title, this time by Warner, that is hard to find for pre-order with less than 3 weeks until release, is "The Polar Express" (Blu-ray), to be released on October 30, 2007? When asked, Amazon.com won't give a clue to why they don't have it listed and it's conveniently absent from almost every major online store.

Can an insider help figure this out?

Thanks

Paul
Edit: "Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Blu-ray) is now available for pre-order on Amazon.
Edit: 10/25/07 Independence Day (Blu-ray) is now available for pre-order @ Amazon.com.

[kjack]

Originally Posted by Rio

So, what will happen when main feature is 24p while secondary video is 60i?

(1) The 60i secondary video gets converted to 24p before being mixed with the main video, or (2) the 24p main video gets converted to 60i, mixed with the secondary video, and the result converted to 24p.

The big difference is where this is done -- professionally at authoring (BD) or consumerly real-time inside a cheap player (HD DVD).

[fronn]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I'll pass on the comments about "Superbad". I presume the higher cost is due to the two disc set. There is also quite a bit of work going into the added value.

Thanks, Paidgeek.

DVD does the same thing... sort of -- high priced 2 disc sets with lots of special features. DVD also inevitably has two versions to choose from when a higher cost version is around -- one with 2 disc and tons of special features and one with 1 disc and only a few.

The problem in the case of Spiderman 3 and Superbad is there is no alternative if you want a high def version -- not everyone wants the special features, even in the high-def world and the added value (and cost) isn't perceived as such (same issue with the hd dvd combo flippers that most people seem to dread).

I'd be fine with higher cost versions being a regular occurrence (with tons of special features that are worthwhile) if there was a lower cost alternative that I could get sometimes.

On a side note:

I saw Across the Universe last weekend and I have to say it was my favorite movie of the year -- I can't wait for it on BD! I also watched Dracula last night and actually really enjoyed the commentary track with FFC (I don't usually listen to them). Tell everyone (and yourself) to keep up the good work there!

[shamus]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

You can thank Sony BMG for using the audio feature to the max. Not likely to happen on a film release since the movie masters are only 48k 24bit. There are so many layers in the film mixes that it would likely be a waste.

Then thank Sony BMG for forever ruining all audio codecs that aren't recorded like that!

[GoldenRedux]

paidgeek,

Is there any chance we'll see Rise: Blood Hunter, preferably the unrated version, starring the lovely Lucy Liu released on BD anytime soon?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by fronn

On a side note:

I saw Across the Universe last weekend and I have to say it was my favorite movie of the year -- I can't wait for it on BD! I also watched Dracula last night and actually really enjoyed the commentary track with FFC (I don't usually listen to them). Tell everyone (and yourself) to keep up the good work there!

You just reminded me of an old post that I made on this thread awhile back.
Give me a moment to find it.............

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I don't believe it, but we are going to take advantage of some Paramount titles that have both so that we can do some controlled experiments. In my opinion, there is little chance that you can slice up an audio soundrack with a perceptual coding system, then reassemble it without having at least some audible consequences. I always prefer the sound of our LPCM tracks to DD640 and I can reliably pick it out every time. I don't think 1.5Mbps DD+ will be that much better, but we will give it a fair test.

I am not going to begin to question what another audio engineer hears or not hears. However, he is a little contridictory at times. He stated many moons ago that Dolby Digital at 448kbps sounds basically on par with Dts at 1.5mbps. Soldare's white paper to AES already pointed out that DD at that bitrate is not transparent, and has pretty significant harmonic distortion when compared to an uncompressed master. Dts has held too many double blind tests to keep track of. Some of the most prominent audio engineers in the trade have participated in these test, and they have said that Dts produces minimal losses when compared to an uncompressed master.

Roger Dressler has stated, and I have the post, that DD+ has minimal audio benefit for 5.1 at bitrates above 448kbps. He even stated that he does not recommend that DD+ be run at bitrates over 1.0mbps. He states, and I quote:

The new encoder tools in DD+, that materially improve coding efficiency at low bitrates, do not operate at high bitrates like 640 kbps.

We thought it was cool that Universal matched our bitrate to DTS's. But that rate is not necessary to get the full benefit of DD+ for 5.1. It is indeed rapidly diminishing returns beyond 640 kbs.

He has also stated this on AVS, which put into doubt what filmixer says.

I never said DD is transparent. Dolby never claims its lossy codecs are transparent. I said for most people, most of the time, with most program material, it sounds transparent. In my opinion, DD 640 sounds darn good.


So while I think the audio sounds better at 1.5mbps than at 448kbps, transparency to uncompressed audio is suspect IMO. I know for a fact that 640kbps is not transparent to uncompressed audio. I have worked enough with Dolby Digital at different rates to clearly hear this. So if there is diminishing returns at data rates above that, then it is pretty impossible for DD+ at 1.5mbps to be transparent.

I have worked with all of Dolby's professional encoder/decoder combinations since 1994. While it is capable of sufficiently coding primary parts of the soundtrack, secondary elements such as soundstaging and soundfield creation sorely lack under that weight of Dolby's reliance on Perceptual encoding. When I listen to soundtracks, I pay attention to the orchestra in the film score. Often the placement of instruments within the soundfield are pretty difficult to detect. That includes DD+. For some reason Dts does not have that problem. When you compare it to the uncompressed audio, you lose a little "air" in the high end, but that is about it. Its soundfield recreation is so close to the uncompressed master, that you are hard pressed to hear a difference.

Sorry for the long post

[Nick Graham]

Penton - did you ever find out which Across the Universe cut will be gracing theaters? Will it be Taymor's version or the Joe "I'm awful picky considering my production company produces 95% crap" Roth cut?

[Penton-Man]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...cue#post184890

^
Do some here remember the above post from several weeks ago?
Well several days later, if you recall, I confirmed to inquiring minds on this thread that I was referring to the title….Return to House on Haunted Hill – in regards to the presence of seamless branching with this particular feature.

I’m told that on AVS literally the next day or so, Amir claimed that the HD DVD version of this title would also demonstrate seamless branching , which was in direct contradiction to my original post back in late August – where I broke this news (8/27/07) before anyone else in my own cryptic fashion.

I guess everyone should be able to find out for themselves next week when this title debuts to consumers and which “insider” will have to dine on the proverbial barbecued crow.
Of course Amir’s definition of “seamless branching” may also be on the order of his definition of “science fiction”.

Amir, if you’re reading this. I shall miss you.

[WickyWoo]

So far as I can see it does support branching, just nothing anyone would call "seamless"

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Nick Graham

the Joe "I'm awful picky considering my production company produces 95% crap" Roth cut?

Oh come now, be kind.
Without his *input* it probably would have been un-releasable.

[bdrex28]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...cue#post184890

^
Do some here remember the above post from several weeks ago?
Well several days later, if you recall, I confirmed to inquiring minds on this thread that I was referring to the title….Return to House on Haunted Hill – in regards to the presence of seamless branching with this particular feature.

I’m told that on AVS literally the next day or so, Amir claimed that the HD DVD version of this title would also demonstrate seamless branching , which was in direct contradiction to my original post back in late August – where I broke this news (8/27/07) before anyone else in my own cryptic fashion.

I guess everyone should be able to find out for themselves next week when this title debuts to consumers and which “insider” will have to dine on the proverbial barbecued crow.
Of course Amir’s definition of “seamless branching” may also be on the order of his definition of “science fiction”.

Amir, if you’re reading this. I shall miss you.

Penton , come on, we all know Amir mainly speaks/types just so he can see him name in print.

[cjamescook]

Penton-

Since you are now clarifying the past, can you now provide details regarding, "Across the Universe"?

See:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2440
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=2475

Or is it still too early?

Thanks,
-Jim

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...cue#post184890

^
Do some here remember the above post from several weeks ago?
Well several days later, if you recall, I confirmed to inquiring minds on this thread that I was referring to the title….Return to House on Haunted Hill – in regards to the presence of seamless branching with this particular feature.

I’m told that on AVS literally the next day or so, Amir claimed that the HD DVD version of this title would also demonstrate seamless branching ,

The source of the HD DVD news was Stacey Spears.

What is interesting is that Stacey actually said 'reportedly' or similar, implying that it was not first hand knowledge.

If it is indeed the case that the information is wrong regarding the HD DVD, they have a semantic 'out' - nobody took responsibility for making the statement.

Of course, through the various reportings, by the time Amir said it, it was 100% fact...

I am looking forward to seeing the real answer myself.

[FourToedStatue]

Hey Paidgeek,

I don't know which music videos Sony may own but is there any chance of seeing a music video compilation(not concerts I'm talking MTV) of sorts on blu ray?

[Steverhcp02]

Originally Posted by JackBauer24

Hey Paidgeek,

I don't know which music videos Sony may own but is there any chance of seeing a music video compilation(not concerts I'm talking MTV) of sorts on blu ray?

I'd like to know this as well.....also, for specific bands has anything been discussed......i can only imagine some My Morning Jacket Okonokos
or Pearl Jam Imagine in Cornice, now THOSE would be some demo vids if I have ever seen one for video and audio!!!!!

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by phloyd

The source of the HD DVD news was Stacey Spears.

What is interesting is that Stacey actually said 'reportedly' or similar, implying that it was not first hand knowledge.

If it is indeed the case that the information is wrong regarding the HD DVD, they have a semantic 'out' - nobody took responsibility for making the statement.

Of course, through the various reportings, by the time Amir said it, it was 100% fact...

I am looking forward to seeing the real answer myself.

Your right, apparently Stacey was the first prophet of the notion that the HD DVD version would have seamless branching……………..

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=327

With Amir, endorsing it indirectly with his “I don't know how to keep him from disclosing things like this ……….So there, you have your answer.”

Even when challenged later, he says……….
“It is not like you were right with your previous assumption that there was no seamless branching in the HD DVDHD.”
Well I personally think mr.seder was indeed correct.
^
from…………………………….
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=348

Anyway,
I guess you will find out next week.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

Penton-

Since you are now clarifying the past, can you now provide details regarding, "Across the Universe"

Ha !
Only to say that there are even more than 2 cuts of this film in existence so if Revolution and Sony wanted to have a seamless branching fest, this baby would fit the ticket for a future Blu-ray production.

The interesting thing would be how to diplomatically name each version…..without assigning proper names or job descriptions -
Perhaps……Long, shorter, even shorter.

[Penton-Man]

Will somebody here consider making Ron an official insider, if only for his taste in music......................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C92p7AQd_2k

^
B.T.W. – They were honored at the last Grammys with a L.T.A. award and got a standing O.