IMAX Enhanced

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

I like that DTS is coming to streaming. But I question if there will really be much of a difference or improvement from what we have now

Very much doubt it. DTS is just trying to recover some market share but reality is Dolby killed them in the 4K switch...

Dolby Atmos killed DTS:X on discs, and Atmos is also the de-facto standard for streaming as it supports a lossy DD+ container easily...

Dolby learned from it's mistakes in the BD era, where DTS HD MA was the main codec....

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

I like that DTS is coming to streaming. But I question if there will really be much of a difference or improvement from what we have now

Very unlikely to be an improvement since DTS @768 already starts to filter off high frequencies after 15kHz. Adding 5 more channels to that?

DTS always had issues with streaming codecs. They gave up on ATSC 3.0 when Dolby AC-4 was publicly demonstrated, with 7.1.4 at bitrates of something like 256kbps.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

Very much doubt it. DTS is just trying to recover some market share but reality is Dolby killed them in the 4K switch...

Dolby Atmos killed DTS:X on discs, and Atmos is also the de-facto standard for streaming as it supports a lossy DD+ container easily...

Dolby learned from it's mistakes in the BD era, where DTS HD MA was the main codec....

It's quite the turn-around but I'm not sure they really did anything wrong in the BD era, aside from making TrueHD a bit fiddly to encode with its nesting doll structure. But as soon as there was a push for yet another new format/system they made sure they were at the forefront, to the extent where Atmos has since become synonymous with immersive audio and I can only congratulate them.

DTS is trying to wheedle its way back in, DTS:X didn't work (although Universal are gamely supporting it, not surprising given their long association with DTS) so they've tried again with IMAX Enhanced but it's been a bust on UHD disc so far, hence them turning to streaming instead.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's quite the turn-around but I'm not sure they really did anything wrong in the BD era, aside from making TrueHD a bit fiddly to encode with its nesting doll structure.

Problem was it required a Mac to encode the TrueHD bitstream, whereas the discs were all Win-PC authored. Once DTS integrated their toolset into the PC authoring package it was a one-and-done. It was a few years before TrueHD was integrated into the PC authoring tools but by that time the damage was done, with studios like Lionsgate and Paramount using the updated version from time to time but studios like Disney just using what they've always used.

So with Atmos they learned their lesson making it really easy to author and encode in any format. Disc, streaming, etc.

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Very unlikely to be an improvement since DTS @768 already starts to filter off high frequencies after 15kHz. Adding 5 more channels to that?

DTS always had issues with streaming codecs. They gave up on ATSC 3.0 when Dolby AC-4 was publicly demonstrated, with 7.1.4 at bitrates of something like 256kbps.

Dolby AC4 seems to be a major brekthrough for TV broadcasting....

Here in Italy broadcasters are starting to switch to DD+ to save bandwidth while leaving behind the ancient MPEG Audio Codec (MP2)

But AC4 would make it to easy to offer 5.1 audio at 128/192 kbps.

It would have been impossibile with AC3

[d3nt0n]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

Dolby AC4 seems to be a major brekthrough for TV broadcasting....

Here in Italy broadcasters are starting to switch to DD+ to save bandwidth while leaving behind the ancient MPEG Audio Codec (MP2)

But AC4 would make it to easy to offer 5.1 audio at 128/192 kbps.

It would have been impossibile with AC3

Most DVDs were ac3 5.1 @ 192 kb/s

*edit* nevermind

[MisterXDTV]

Originally Posted by d3nt0n

Most DVDs were ac3 5.1 @ 192 kb/s

AC3 5.1 was 384 kbps or 448 kbps on DVDs

192 kbps was for mono/stereo

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by d3nt0n

Most DVDs were ac3 5.1 @ 192 kb/s

No. AC-3 on DVD typically was 448kbps for 5.1 and 192kbps for 2.0 surround.

[Alister_M]

I've seen 5.1 on DVDs get as low as 256kbps or something like that. But yeah, mostly 448 but Warners in particular had a habit of going for 348. Pink Floyd's P.U.L.S.E. DVD was a forerunner in DD bitrates, being IIRC the first DVD to include a 640kbps 5.1 track.

[hansolo]

^Maybe also only commercial DVD to have 640 kbps audio. They included also 448 kbps DD 5.1 audio on P.U.L.S.E. disc for compatibility reasons acknowledging that some hardware (back then) may not be happy with 640 kbps on DVD. I think bitrate that high is not officially supported by DVD spec.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Alister_M

I've seen 5.1 on DVDs get as low as 256kbps or something like that. But yeah, mostly 448 but Warners in particular had a habit of going for 348.

384kbps

Originally Posted by hansolo

^Maybe also only commercial DVD to have 640 kbps audio. They included also 448 kbps DD 5.1 audio on P.U.L.S.E. disc for compatibility reasons acknowledging that some hardware (back then) may not be happy with 640 kbps on DVD. I think bitrate that high is not officially supported by DVD spec.

Yes, out of DVD spec but external AC-3 decoders were expected to handle the 640kbps rate. It was a question if the built-in decoders of the DVD players would bitstream it or decode it properly.

[Alister_M]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

384kbps

Ho on, a Tpyo!

[Hydra Spectre]

We're finally getting a new IMAX Enhanced disc release with Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time.

["Shin Evangelion Theatrical Version EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME" 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Specification Information]
This UHD video material is produced with the same specifications as those mastered for IMAX® screening.

No IMAX aspect ratio, though. And it would be 5.1-only like Nolan's IMAX Enhanced releases. And it's also SDR-only. Also, no English subs or dub.

[Geoff D]

So…it’s not “IMAX Enhanced” in all the ways that actually makes that content “IMAX Enhanced” then? Nolan’s movies carry the embiggened AR but they’re not “IMAX Enhanced” either.

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

So…it’s not “IMAX Enhanced” in all the ways that actually makes that content “IMAX Enhanced” then? Nolan’s movies carry the embiggened AR but they’re not “IMAX Enhanced” either.

Batman Begins and the 35mm scenes in his pre-Dunkirk films carry IMAX DMR-like DNR.
I know the MCU movies on Disney+ have a tad bit more DNR on the IMAX Enhanced streams because they underwent IMAX DMR.

There are, however, some filmmakers who prefer not having DMR on their films even for an IMAX release, such as Roger Deakins (Skyfall, Blade Runner 2049, 1917).
If khara made the film with an IMAX spec in mind, then maybe the disc still has IMAX DMR just like the Nolan films. Or maybe they went with the Deakins approach and bypassed IMAX DMR even for the IMAX release.

Even animated films get DMR passes, such as Makoto Shinkai's films.


Sony, however, is planning on making new IMAX Enhanced discs this year, including an IMAX Enhanced box set.
https://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1468073.html

They will apparently release the following films in IMAX Enhanced:
- Gran Turismo
- Madame Web
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Equalizer 3
- Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Hoping for IMAX Enhanced re-releases of the MCU Spider-Man films, Into the Spider-Verse, The Amazing Spider-Man films, maybe the Sam Raimi Trilogy (in open matte), and of course: Blade Runner 2049.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

So…it’s not “IMAX Enhanced” in all the ways that actually makes that content “IMAX Enhanced” then? Nolan’s movies carry the embiggened AR but they’re not “IMAX Enhanced” either.

As long as the logo is on the slip!

[nick4Knight]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

Hoping for IMAX Enhanced re-releases of the MCU Spider-Man films, Into the Spider-Verse, The Amazing Spider-Man films, maybe the Sam Raimi Trilogy (in open matte), and of course: Blade Runner 2049.

Not required. IFKYK, that is.

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by nick4Knight

Not required. IFKYK, that is.

Yeah... And BR2049's 4K UHD's Atmos mix already sounds amazing. It would still be nice to get it in an even higher bitrate as an IMAX Enhanced release with IMAX DTS:X audio.
Still, I would love IMAX Enhanced 4K UHD releases of Far From Home and No Way Home, preferably with the extended cuts. And also open matte versions of the Sam Raimi Trilogy and at least TASM 1.

[unberechenbar]

Originally Posted by Hydra Spectre

Sony, however, is planning on making new IMAX Enhanced discs this year, including an IMAX Enhanced box set.
https://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/1468073.html

They will apparently release the following films in IMAX Enhanced:
- Gran Turismo
- Madame Web
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Equalizer 3
- Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Hoping for IMAX Enhanced re-releases of the MCU Spider-Man films, Into the Spider-Verse, The Amazing Spider-Man films, maybe the Sam Raimi Trilogy (in open matte), and of course: Blade Runner 2049.

Interesting. First IMAX Enhanced discs in 3 years. I didn't even think the Whitney Houston movie would be getting a UHD release.

[Hydra Spectre]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Interesting. First IMAX Enhanced discs in 3 years. I didn't even think the Whitney Houston movie would be getting a UHD release.

Evangelion:3.333 You Can (Not) Redo. came out as an IMAX Enhanced UHD (or at least the UHD went through the IMAX DMR process but not the standard Blu-ray) in 2021.
Evangelion:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time will also be IMAX Enhanced (or have IMAX DMR) for its UHD release this March.

Still, this is the first time we're getting more IMAX Enhanced discs outside of Japan and something that's not Evangelion.

I'm hoping that the GKIDS 4K releases of the Rebuild of Evangelion films (if they even happen) would still be IMAX Enhanced.
Maybe with the Amazon Studios English dubs remastered (and partially rerecorded) for IMAX standards. The dubs on Prime Video have poor sound quality, especially compared to the phenomenal sounding Neon Genesis dubs on Netflix, the much older FUNimation dubs, or even the Platinum ADV dubs of the Neon Genesis series.
Still better than the Manga dubs of the Neon Genesis movies and the Perfect Collection/VHS ADV dubs of the series.