Why do neutral studio discs have different/better featurs on HD-DVD than on Blu-Ray?

[metalore]

Most of the Blu-Ray titles I see have sound encoded in the normal (old) Dolby Digital 5.1 format.

But the same titles on HD-DVD are encoded with Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD (what´s the difference between Plus and TrueHD btw?).

Why?

And Superman: The Director´s cut on HD-DVD includes the Audio Commentary and Documentaries and Trailers.

But on Blu-Ray it only has the Theatrical Trailer. No other extras!!

Why are the exact same titles receiving better treatment on HD-DVD?

Furthermore, why was the Matrix collection released on HD-DVD by Warner, but not on Blu-Ray (same goes for other titles from the dual-format supporters)?

-metalore

[u_nick]

browse the first couple pages of this forum. you'll find you answer in numerous spots.

[Sir Terrence]

Warner has not supported both formats equally even though they can to a certain extent. Maybe not with IME, but with audio they can certainly supply equal audio to both, they just don't for some likely political reason.

Out of the other side of their collective mouths they say they want to support both equally. So take that with a teaspoon of vinegar.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by metalore

Most of the Blu-Ray titles I see have sound encoded in the normal (old) Dolby Digital 5.1 format.

But the same titles on HD-DVD are encoded with Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD (what´s the difference between Plus and TrueHD btw?).

Why?

This would be Warner failing to offer a proper audio encodings.

DD+ is lossy, while True HD is lossless compression (the original LPCM is recovered on decoding).

Sony and Disney titles have glorious LPCM tracks, which means no decoding is neeeded (Sony has done titles with THREE). And Fox has been using DTS-HD Master Audio which is DTS' answer to TrueHD. It is also a lossless codec. But, so far, nobody can decode these tracks.

On Blu-ray, the lossless codecs also have a lossy core (DD and DTS) making them trivially compatible with older sound systems. And allowing a high quality studio encoding, rather than the real-time re-encoding to DD or DTS that occurs from TrueHD on HD DVD.

All in all Blu-ray has FAR better sound capability. But Warner has chosen to deliberately restrict the audio quality on their Blu-ray releases.

That said, DD on Blu-ray is 640Kbps (versus 484Kbps on HD DVD) and Richard Dressler of Dolby Labs has said that it really is diminishing returns after that for the DD algorithm with 5.1. The DD+ of Blu-ray is designed more for extending beyond 5.1 than it is to improving on DD.

Gary

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Originally Posted by metalore

And Superman: The Director´s cut on HD-DVD includes the Audio Commentary and Documentaries and Trailers.

But on Blu-Ray it only has the Theatrical Trailer. No other extras!!

I would suspect previous contracts/deals are to blame for that. As in, IMO, Warner was supporting HD more out of the box then BD, and thus why some tiles are that way. It's just my Educated Guess.

Furthermore, why was the Matrix collection released on HD-DVD by Warner, but not on Blu-Ray (same goes for other titles from the dual-format supporters)?

-metalore

Again, previous deals. And bottom line greed. The studios know they can release a 'hot' title with this and that, and then later, re-release it again, with even MORE stuff, and a lot of folks will buy it again.

See STAR WARS for more proof on that.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by metalore

Most of the Blu-Ray titles I see have sound encoded in the normal (old) Dolby Digital 5.1 format.

But the same titles on HD-DVD are encoded with Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD (what´s the difference between Plus and TrueHD btw?).

Warner's Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital+ are both the same: 5.1 640 kb/s

TrueHD is supposedy losslesly compressed audio (most Blu-ray discs to date use lossless uncompressed LPCM audio)

Originally Posted by metalore

And Superman: The Director´s cut on HD-DVD includes the Audio Commentary and Documentaries and Trailers.

But on Blu-Ray it only has the Theatrical Trailer. No other extras!!

mmm My Superman Blu-ray states on the back:

SPECIAL FEATURES
Commentary by director Richard Donner and creative consultant Tom Mankiewicz
Taking Flight: The Developement of Superman
Making Superman: Filming the Legend
Superman screen test
Music -Only audio track
Theatrical trailer & TV spot

Originally Posted by metalore

Furthermore, why was the Matrix collection released on HD-DVD by Warner, but not on Blu-Ray (same goes for other titles from the dual-format supporters)?

All Paramount (the other dual format supporter) titles are on Blu-ray.
As for Warner, they have already released about 60 of 80 on Blu-ray, and have stated that Matrix and others will come out in BD too

"It is still our plan to release everything on Blu-Ray that we release or released on HD-DVD" - Warner Brothers

(Blood Diamond with LPCM audio is supposed to hit the streets in a couple of days, month before than on HD DVD. )


Not that you don't bring some valid points about Blu-ray not always treated equal.. nor preferential.