Is analog Blu-ray possible? - Alt history

[roxics]

As a fan of alternate history concepts (potential technologies), I'm curious if analog blu-ray would be possible. Like a laserdisc that uses an analog signal, perhaps the MUSE HD compression system, but with a blu-ray style ultraviolet laser and a blu-ray sized 12cm disc. And if so, how much video would fit on each side?

Or maybe I should begin by asking if even standard definition (like a laserdisc) is possible on a 12cm disc using an ultraviolet laser and if so how much video per side? More like an analog DVD format. Before jumping and asking if HD is possible on the same size disc.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by roxics

As a fan of alternate history concepts (potential technologies), I'm curious if analog blu-ray would be possible. Like a laserdisc that uses an analog signal, perhaps the MUSE HD compression system, but with a blu-ray style ultraviolet laser and a blu-ray sized 12cm disc. And if so, how much video would fit on each side?

Or maybe I should begin by asking if even standard definition (like a laserdisc) is possible on a 12cm disc using an ultraviolet laser and if so how much video per side? More like an analog DVD format. Before jumping and asking if HD is possible on the same size disc.

Why would one want analog video recorded, and analog audio recorded on a blu-ray sized 12 cm disc?

You have video & audio track, multiple channel all embedded in a bit stream being sent over HDMI. While it is possible, you are going back to the days of numerous separate connectors for audio, and some kind of video connector that is far better then s-video which were used to transmit 480i video. Without looking this up I imagine that you could never achieve the data density with analog recordings that are possible with digital data is the likely reason analog blu-ray was never even considered. Compare a laser disk in size to a DVD, and todays UHD 4k movies media that could store 100 GB is just unimaginable with something trying to read multiple analog information in a similar size.

[Katatonia]

Vinyl Blu-rays?

[kfbkfb]

http://www.cedmagic.com

If only the RCA CED VideoDisc system had succeeded, we could have UHD/HDR CED (with just a little skipping).


Kirk Bayne

[roxics]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Why would one want analog video recorded, and analog audio recorded on a blu-ray sized 12 cm disc?

Again it's an alternative history concept. It's not that I want to go that route. I obviously realize that digital is superior in many ways. But it does fascinate me.

It's a what if scenario. What if we had ended up with an HD analog disc the size of a CD/DVD/Blu-ray back in 1978 instead of the 12" standard def laserdisc.

I just want to know if it's technically possible to fit an analog HD (or even SD) movie on that size of disc using a finer laser.

[roxics]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

Vinyl Blu-rays?

Originally Posted by kfbkfb

http://www.cedmagic.com

If only the RCA CED VideoDisc system had succeeded, we could have UHD/HDR CED (with just a little skipping).


Kirk Bayne

We already covered that topic. lol
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=326106

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by roxics

We already covered that topic. lol
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=326106

Isn't this basically just the same question then? Or the compact size matters for some reason?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by roxics

Again it's an alternative history concept. It's not that I want to go that route. I obviously realize that digital is superior in many ways. But it does fascinate me.

It's a what if scenario. What if we had ended up with an HD analog disc the size of a CD/DVD/Blu-ray back in 1978 instead of the 12" standard def laserdisc.

I just want to know if it's technically possible to fit an analog HD (or even SD) movie on that size of disc using a finer laser.

Let me redirect the question towards evading piracy that the studios would require for any current media. How could you use encryption with analog recording on a CD sized media? Answer that before you dwell on what could have been.

That is the main reason we progressed the way we did, besides simplifying interconnects instead of this.

[roxics]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Let me redirect the question towards evading piracy that the studios would require for any current media. How could you use encryption with analog recording on a CD sized media? Answer that before you dwell on what could have been.

That is the main reason we progressed the way we did, besides simplifying interconnects instead of this.

What did they use for Laserdisc and Hi-Vision Laserdisc? I know they used Macrovision for VHS.

Personally I'm not too concerned about the separate wires. I actually think that's kind of cool. HDMI is a little boring despite being super handy. lol

[roxics]

Also let's be fair, it's not like any of the piracy solutions have actually been impenetrable. At best they've stopped good people from having more versatility with their media.

[roxics]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

Isn't this basically just the same question then? Or the compact size matters for some reason?

One is vinyl and is not physically possible. So it was really just a question about desire from a fun/collectability perspective, if it were magically possible.

Whereas I don't know if it's physically possible to do the mini-laseredisc (SD or HD) thing with a 12cm disc and a finer laser. That's why I'm asking. Hoping there was someone here who was really technical and could tell me.

[nissling]

Originally Posted by roxics

What did they use for Laserdisc and Hi-Vision Laserdisc? I know they used Macrovision for VHS.

Nothing. Also keep in mind that there was no way to copy from Laserdisc or Hi-Vision to other video formats at the time without a significant quality loss, which in itself was a strong selling point.

Only real exception were some Hong Kong distributors as they had major issues with piracy. Many video stores bought one LD and made hundreds of VHS copies that they sold, so films started getting A/B editions meaning you had to buy the film split into two separate releases to get the full film. This essentially made copying more of a hassle even for features that were shorter than two hours, but overall I don't think it really changed anything.