Blu-ray audio codecs. What does the future hold?

[zak88lx]

Are there any new audio codecs planned for release in the next few years?

Most Blu-ray players are able to handle all of the audio codecs listed below via internal decoding or bitstream output but what about the future codecs?

- Linear PCM
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby TrueHD
- DTS Digital Surround
- DTS-HD Master Audio
- DTS-HD High Resolution Audio

Are the above audio codecs locked down for a while or are we going to need replacement Blu-ray players in a couple of years for the new audio codecs?

Thanks,
Zak

[CAB]

Bionic implants to improve hearing and wireless transmissions directly into the brain. DTS is working on it now.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by zak88lx

Are there any new audio codecs planned for release in the next few years?

Most Blu-ray players are able to handle all of the audio codecs listed below via internal decoding or bitstream output but what about the future codecs?

- Linear PCM
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby TrueHD
- DTS Digital Surround
- DTS-HD Master Audio

Are the above audio codecs locked down for a while or are we going to need replacement Blu-ray players in a couple of years for the new audio codecs?

Thanks,
Zak

You missed DTS HD High Resoulution (DTS HD HR).

[zak88lx]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You missed DTS HD High Resoulution (DTS HD HR).

I will add this to the list.
Are any Blu-rays using this codec?
Can you list one.

Thanks,
Zak

[Yeha-Noha]

I wish I had a crystal ball to portend what the future holds.

However, I can tell you what the future ought to hold, in my opinion.

We need to have one and only one format that is lossless and universally playable on any BD player. Yup, you probably guessed it, PCM.

How is that possible since new BDs coming out these days seldom have PCM audio tracks?

I'll tell you how:

BD-Live to the rescue! Special features, extras, interactive menus, and all the other extra stuff we get on BDs can be downloaded off the internet by your BD player. The freed up BD space will allow the reinstatement of PCM as the standard universal audio format on BDs. After all, decoded DTS-HD MA is PCM anyway. The studios won't have to pay licensing fees to Dolby Labs or DTS anymore either. That means cheaper BDs and players. DTS-HD MA and DD TrueHD as competing audio formats can thus die out, the sooner the better. A house divided cannot stand.

P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! We want P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! We want P-C-M!!!P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! We want P-C-M!!!

I wish that will happen. But I know it's only wishful thinking.

[BozQ]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

I wish I had a crystal ball to portend what the future holds.

However, I can tell you what the future ought to hold, in my opinion.

We need to have one and only one format that is lossless and universally playable on any BD player. Yup, you probably guessed it, PCM.

How is that possible since new BDs coming out these days seldom have PCM audio tracks?

I'll tell you how:

BD-Live to the rescue! Special features, extras, interactive menus, and all the other extra stuff we get on BDs can be downloaded off the internet by your BD player. The freed up BD space will allow the reinstatement of PCM as the standard universal audio format on BDs. After all, decoded DTS-HD MA is PCM anyway. The studios won't have to pay licensing fees to Dolby Labs or DTS anymore either. That means cheaper BDs and players. DTS-HD MA and DD TrueHD as competing audio formats can thus die out, the sooner the better. A house divided cannot stand.

P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! We want P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! We want P-C-M!!!P-C-M!!! P-C-M!!! We want P-C-M!!!

I wish that will happen. But I know it's only wishful thinking.

Honestly, that's what I hope the future will be.

- Using only one single PCM 5.1 soundtrack for all films
- Or PCM 7.1 for any film that was originally mixed for cinema releases as Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES or SDDS-8C
- Once PCM is used, no other HD codecs to be used.
- No foreign dubs, but use foreign subs, unless it's a regional release.
- Commentary in Dolby Digital 2.0 192kbps.
- And use the remaining disc space for video.

But like you, I think the damage is done. Oh well.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by zak88lx

I will add this to the list.
Are any Blu-rays using this codec?
Can you list one.

Thanks,
Zak

Several early BDs had DTS-HD HR audio like Basic Instinct and Total Recall. The one noticeable audio format left off the Blu-ray standard was DSD. Strange since Sony was the main proponent of DSD.