No, I do not want to know specifics necessarily (although I would be open to them), I'm just wondering how it is possible for someone to take an HD-DVD rip (or what I assume is a movie that began as an HD-DVD rip) and compress it in size to something that would fit on a single DL DVD disk. I have a friend who linked me to a site where you can download a new release HD-DVD that is winrar'd at only 6.55 gbs.

How is this possible? I just bought an XBOX 360 HD-DVD add-on (like about 75% of the people who frequent this thread) and if there is a way to store backups of my movies while taking up less than 10 gbs per movie I would be all for it.

ps-like I said, not trying to break any forum rules, and if I did, please delete this thread immediately, but I am just curious as to how these people can make this work. DISCLAIMER: I have not downloaded any of these movies (I am stuck on slow DSL, so no bother), so they might not be legit or not close to HD-DVD quality, which would obviously explain it.

I think the title answers this question (key word: compress). You can't take 30GB and compress it down to 8 without losing quality. If you could, then there would be no point in HDM or worrying about if 30GB was enough or bother spending money to modify replication lines, etc.

Blu-ray and HD DVD can be re-encoded as 1280x720p also I believe.

No, I do not want to know specifics necessarily (although I would be open to them), I'm just wondering how it is possible for someone to take an HD-DVD rip (or what I assume is a movie that began as an HD-DVD rip) and compress it in size to something that would fit on a single DL DVD disk. I have a friend who linked me to a site where you can download a new release HD-DVD that is winrar'd at only 6.55 gbs.

How is this possible? I just bought an XBOX 360 HD-DVD add-on (like about 75% of the people who frequent this thread) and if there is a way to store backups of my movies while taking up less than 10 gbs per movie I would be all for it.

ps-like I said, not trying to break any forum rules, and if I did, please delete this thread immediately, but I am just curious as to how these people can make this work. DISCLAIMER: I have not downloaded any of these movies (I am stuck on slow DSL, so no bother), so they might not be legit or not close to HD-DVD quality, which would obviously explain it.

Ironically, they compress it using the same exact codecs that HD DVD use. They take the releases then re-encode them using lower bit rates, usually in x264/h264 if I'm not mistaken. I believe some also use WVC1. If you don't already know, h264 is an AVC codec, and I'm sure you can guess what kind of codec WVC1 is.

Ironically, they compress it using the same exact codecs that HD DVD use. They take the releases then re-encode them using lower bit rates, usually in x264/h264 if I'm not mistaken. I believe some also use WVC1. If you don't already know, h264 is an AVC codec, and I'm sure you can guess what kind of codec WVC1 is.

ahh, I see. I thought maybe there was some kind of magical codec that could compress the size of the file whilst keeping the video quality almost exactly the same. I figured if nothing else they cut corners with the audio and just stuck regular DD on the files and not TrueHD or DD+, but I was curious as to how they did it with the video. Thanks for the lesson!

How is this possible?

I have seen alot on the newsgroups that are converted to 1280x720 WMV. That will bring the size down alot.

Unfortunately, unless you do something like that, you will lose alot of quality going from HD-DVD to DL DVD.

remember, the xbox live marketplace downloads are vc1 at 720p with (usually) DD 5.1..they range from 4-7gb. These rips use similar compression with extras/extra audio stripped..so they can easily fit DL dvd.

Well, those smart guys figured out the way to put a short movie on a single D5 disk with 1280x816 or 1440x816 (stretched to 1920x816/2.35:1 during playback), or longer movie on a D9 disc to preserve the best quality.

I am tempted to download a D9 Transformers (7.9GB) with DD+ soundtrack. No I am not trying to break the law. I bought the HD-DVD version, I think I can save a copy in my computer. I just love it so much that I want to have a copy on my laptop to watch it whenever I want. DVD looks crappy on my laptop screen.

they compress with either tmpgenc or canopus...you can re-encode to anything really, just depends on the PC used and how long you want to wait...I re-encode my .TS files (legally taken off my cable box) to WMV-HD files and mp4 for an external HDD connected to my Xbox 360. the HDD is formatted with macdrive 7 so the 360 can see the greate than 4gb files...normally it only reads fat32, no NTFS.

Blu-ray and HD DVD can be re-encoded as 1280x720p also I believe.

EEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWwww.

How come the WMV-HD version of T2 that came a few years back with the special edition DVD, was 1080p and fit on 5GB?

I'd rather just spend the 20 bucks and get the real deal.

That won't stop other from spending "the days of their lives" ripping and re-encoding for an inferior presentation.


The T2 wmv-hd is heavily compressed both audio and video wise, thats how it fit.

also remember an A2 upsamples 720p to 1080p very well, the result is of course better than 480p to 1080p so there is a benefit to a 720p encode at a much smaller size... done correctly you would be hard pressed to see the difference on j6p 42" lcd/plasma...

The ripped file is downsized to 1280x720, or even 1280x1080(then horizontally stretch back to 1920x1080 in the player). The output video quality just proves that redlaser + good codec + DL dvd is good enough for eyes but not good enough for the business men, and that BD's advantage in capacity is not important.

How come the WMV-HD version of T2 that came a few years back with the special edition DVD, was 1080p and fit on 5GB?

It was not 1080P. It was 1440 by 816. They encoded the portion that was used by the actual film per the chosen home video aspect ratio and left the unused portion that is taken up by the black bars to be filled by the video player. It's an easy way to keep the size down and increase the quality when encoding because the video player can easily add the black bars.

It was not 1080P. It was 1440 by 816. They encoded the portion that was used by the actual film per the chosen home video aspect ratio and left the unused portion that is taken up by the black bars to be filled by the video player. It's an easy way to keep the size down and increase the quality when encoding because the video player can easily add the black bars.

Yes and no. Yes, it is 1080p and no it is not 1920x1080p.

It is 1080p as movie is 2.35:1, so 1080p is effectively 1920x816.

It is not 1920x1080p as it is 1440x1080/816p. During playback, it would be stretched only in horizontal direction to 1920x1080/816p.

EEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWwww.
A perfect comment.

This recompressing ripped HD movies is the same garbage that has gone on with DVDs, for file-sharing/copyright infringement. Nobody does this stuff to make "backup copies" of their own discs. Well, if they really did, it would be stupid. It would be like "I just bought Microsoft Office, but I will make a backup copy that is missing Excel so it will fit in less space on my hard drive".

If someone really wants a "backup copy that takes up less space" of an HD movie they bought, Just go and buy an SD DVD version of it for about ten dollars! They could do the same if they wanted to make a low-resolution copy for a portable media player, or record the SD output of an HD disc playing onto such a player.

If someone really wants a "backup copy that takes up less space" of an HD movie they bought, Just go and buy an SD DVD version of it for about ten dollars!

Incorrect. While they do not retain the quality of the source, a good re-encode will look and sound much, much better than a DVD.

I don't get it. Does that mean these HD WMV files play in a standalone player off a disc?

Most of them are MKV's and no they don't play in standalone players (as far as I know at least). Eric is correct though, the quality is somewhat less than the originals, but not that much in most cases. It's roughly the same differnece as a DVD9->DVD5 recode of an SD DVD with the menu's and extras stripped.

If someone really wants a "backup copy that takes up less space" of an HD movie they bought, Just go and buy an SD DVD version of it for about ten dollars! They could do the same if they wanted to make a low-resolution copy for a portable media player, or record the SD output of an HD disc playing onto such a player.

Have you seen the quality of these rips?

I downloaded a few just to see what they looked like, and was very impressed. I have a FP with anamorphic lens shooting onto an 8'+ screen. Every one I sampled was superior to any HD broadcast I've seen. There was no blocking, or artifacts, even during high action scenes.

I'm not trying to debate the legality, etc., of downloading content. I'm just stating that the quality of lower bitrate encodes is much better than some would assume.

The quality of some of the rips are fanatastic. If you get it from the right place.

This is mostly silliness. Buy a dvd copy if you want something that will fit on a regular disc.

I can see a lesser re-encode that somehow manages to do a consistent decent "sample/recode" of the high def/res content possible but not desirable at all.

I guess if you are watching it on a pc, it is not as big a deal as trying to play it on a big screen plasma through a dvd player. First you can see the flaws and limitations of the re-encode on the big screen, and second you have to find a player to play whatever codec you end up with the downrezzed sample in.

All in all, a great deal of time, and energy not worth it and possibly illegal. Yes you could probably sample something decent on a blank 8.5 gb dual layer dvd but when you add up the time and energy I personally don't see the payoff.

You could also just wait for a sale to load up on content you want. I am surprised the mods are even allowing this thread.

You're right about one thing ZZ. Most people are not going to be interested in those recodes. It takes a fairly high end PC to play them even.

A perfect comment.

This recompressing ripped HD movies is the same garbage that has gone on with DVDs, for file-sharing/copyright infringement. Nobody does this stuff to make "backup copies" of their own discs. Well, if they really did, it would be stupid. It would be like "I just bought Microsoft Office, but I will make a backup copy that is missing Excel so it will fit in less space on my hard drive".

If someone really wants a "backup copy that takes up less space" of an HD movie they bought, Just go and buy an SD DVD version of it for about ten dollars! They could do the same if they wanted to make a low-resolution copy for a portable media player, or record the SD output of an HD disc playing onto such a player.

This is pretty on the mark, but there are a number of folks that keep flawless originals of dvd movies as backups and only remove the extras so as to save space. However, this isn't really compressing anything. You can save quite a bit of space by removing any audio tracks you are not interested in, any extras, previews, menus, etc...and then play them back without getting your lazy butt off the couch.

I guess if you are watching it on a pc, it is not as big a deal as trying to play it on a big screen plasma through a dvd player. First you can see the flaws and limitations of the re-encode on the big screen, and second you have to find a player to play whatever codec you end up with the downrezzed sample in.


I guess you didn't read my post above yours?

I've watched several re-encoded HD movies on my 8 foot wide front projection setup. There were no artifacts, or blocking, that I could see. The quality is much better than you would assume.

Those that make backup copies for their own use, do not re-encode. They use ANYDVD-HD to rip the movie to hard disk at the same bitrate as the original. Then they use their (dual core) PC as a media server to their projector, etc.

You are correct that the average Joe isn't going to go through the trouble to do this.

I guess you didn't read my post above yours?

I've watched several re-encoded HD movies on my 8 foot wide front projection setup. There were no artifacts, or blocking, that I could see. The quality is much better than you would assume.

Those that make backup copies for their own use, do not re-encode. They use ANYDVD-HD to rip the movie to hard disk at the same bitrate as the original. Then they use their (dual core) PC as a media server to their projector, etc.

You are correct that the average Joe isn't going to go through the trouble to do this.


Yeah I did read it, the illegally downloading of ripped copies of hi-def discs caught caught my eye and I did not what to say I guess.

If you're screaming for shows like The Office or House in HD, this is the best way to get them, especially if you don't have OTA. Getting the shows over cable (Rogers sucks), results in heavy artifacts, and annoying commercials.

Here in Ottawa, we only get one HD station OTA, CBC.

As for these HD movies being easily downloaded over BT and newsgroups, it just highlights the pointlessness of DRM. DRM just bugs legitimate consumers, and is a fun challenge to pirates. Transformers on HD DVD introduced a new key and encryption mechanism that was broken in about a week.

It's kinda fun to play a bluray exclusive, encoded in WVC1/WMV, on my 360. BTW, WMV-HD files play great on the 360, either burned to a DVD9, or streamed from the PC. No addon required.

They really could have just made dual sided DVD9s, one side SD DVD, and the other side WMV-HD or h264.