The Project
After following Swithey's thread for a while and then continuing the HD demo theme with ScubaSteve2365's decided to try to make an HD demo disc for myself. The learning process was quite steep and requires many different tools and programs, and with help and cooperation from Steve and others finally have a disc... or with this project five DVD discs plus one Blu-Ray disc..
This project is geared to have HD material, audio and video, in a regular DVD that can be played on a Blu-Ray player. Due to size constraints the media has been chosen to be DVD-DL. The final project consists of 1 top menu and 5 segments; Bass, animation, visual, surround and music, where each segments has 8 clips. When I say final project I mean a full Blu-Ray 50gig disc, while in the interim, there will be a segment on its own that will fit into a DVD-DL disc. The average running time for each disc is 34 minutes and for the full BD50 175 min.
Technical Issues
Having HD audio and video on media other than blu-ray brings some technical challenges. The term for hd content on DVD is know as BD9, so we'll be referring to the discs as BD9 discs from here on.
Most players have no problem playing BD9 discs, but it is a well know fact that most Sony players as well as Panasonics do not play this type of disc. However, there is a patch that can be applied to the Index file on these type of disc that will trick the player on recognizing the disc as being an AVCHD type of disc that these players accept. Even with this patch applied there are restrictions on how the disc plays. It has been my experience that once the patch is applied the disc looses PopUp menus functionality. Although not a huge deal, not quite complete compared to the regular disc. Thus if you are going to try the BD9s be aware that your player might not play these dissc with their full functionality or not play them at all, so I make no claim that these discs will play on all or any blu-ray players, so be very clear that you might be burning non functional disc or as we better know them "coasters". So you are burning discs and testing this project at your own risk.
I suggest you do some research on your player if you are concern on wasting media, I am not an expert on what players play what other than what has been said before. I've tested the BD9 discs on the players that I own: Insignia (Best Buy player), Magnavox (very entry level player), PS3 (old model 60gig) and Sony BDP-CX960 with very mixed results. I've managed to make the discs play on all players, the cheap players, Insignia and Magnavox, play the disc with no problem what so ever and with no patch needed, while the Sony players require the patch to be applied and as mentioned before loose the PopUp menu functionality. Please be aware that your results might be different.
What it's Needed
Some of the software recommended/needed is shareware (not free) if you decide to use it after the test period but usually you can find freeware that has the same functionality of the recommended software, so its up to you what software you use, this are just recommendations. If you are using a Mac... I'm illiterate on that, even though all my kids use nothing but Macs, so ask someone else for help if it has to do with Mac software or usage.
After experimenting different things and the latest experience we all had with Steve's latest disc, I decided to keep the extra step of RARed the discs, avoiding some troubled on how some programs translate folders and files, therefore you would have to unpacked each disc first before you have usable files.
Below is a list of stuff you would need:
- Utorrent can be downloaded from here (and other places)
http://utorrent.en.softonic.com/
- WinRAR can be downloaded from here (and other places)
http://www.downloadwinrar.org/
- ImgBurn can be downloaded from here (and other places)
http://www.imgburn.com/
- DVD burner capable of burning on double layered media
- Double layered DVD media
- Blu-Ray 50G media (optional)
BD9s
The name for the project is "Reference Blu-Ray Demo Disc". Each individual BD9 has the same heading except the subheading that corresponds to its category description.
My intention was to choose clips that are representative of reference material in its own category. The determination was made by recommendation from threads on this site and others. The clips are not intended to appeal to a specific group, or with specific taste on movies, music or gander. The approach needs to be taken on the merits for each clip being and having reference qualities. I do not expect all clips to appeal to all people ... so it is what it is. Also, some of the disc segments have similar/same clips as Steve's disc.
Sony/PS3 - Panasonic Compatibility
Before burning the disc you need to know if your player will play the disc with the patch or with out the patch. The torrent will include a folder with the already patched files. If your player will not play the disc with out the patch then you need to replace the index file and the movieobject file on the root directory and inside the BACKUP folder with the provided patched files.
There is a player compatibility list at the display calibration side of avsforum - AVS HD 709 - Blu-ray & MP4 Calibration ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496 ), this disc is first and formost and excellent resource to complement any display and invaluable tool for all serious videophiles or simply for someone in the persuite of video excellence. Besides checking here for your player do some digging and ask around, once again, if you are concern on waiting media discs be aware that the discs might not play at all on your player.
Creating the discs
This paragraph describes the general process, if you need the details on how to do any of the steps you can either do a search on how to do the specific step or ask since its been discussed in several different places before. And of course install all the software prior to any step below.
- Get the individual header/tracker for the torrent
- Download the Torrent to your computer or storage device, each disc is roughly 8.5Gb.
- Unpack the file to your local drive or storage device.
- Determine which index files you need for your player.
- Replace index files and movieObject files if needed
- Use Imgburn to burn the disc. Very important and essential to use UDF 2.5.
- Test your disc
Imgburn How To
-Open Imgburn and click on the select burn folder or files.
-Open Explorer to where you unpacked your disc files, and navigate to the BMDV folder level.
-Drag and drop the entire folder into imgburn. It is recommended to also include the CERTIFICATE folder, so drag and drop the CERTIFICATE folder into imgburn.
-Go to the Options tab on the right hand side and select UDF 2.5
-Go to the Lable tab on the right had side and type in disc label.
-Go back to the Information tab and click the calculator, this will give you all the information about the disc.
-Once you have a disc loaded and ready to burn the icon will be colored. Click the icon to burn the disc
======================================================================================
Cover Art, Label Art and Fan Art
Box Cover (Blu-Ray Box Format)
Box Cover high resolution image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/ReferenceBluRayBoxCover.jpg
When printing the box cover make sure that you have the check mark to fit the page un-clicked, then you would need to trim the top and bottom and maybe a little on each side.
Label Art
High Resolution Label image... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/SuperleosDisclabel.jpg
The label can be printed directly onto the disc or a label through a label printing software. I have omitted the disc pattern but if you center the image will print as it should.
Label Art (Simple)
High Resolution image: http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/SuperleosDisclabelSimple.jpg
Fan Art
Some of you keep your discs and media on HTPC and thus use some type of front end for it. I've been requested Fan Art for these folks. Keep in mind that I'm not a very creative or artistic person so I hope this will do.
BASS Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition Image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/BassFanArt.jpg
ANIMATION Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/AnimationFanArt.jpg
MUSIC Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition image... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/MusicFanArt.jpg
SURROUND Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high resolution image... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/SurroundFanArt.jpg
VISUAL Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/VisualFanArt.jpg
BLU-RAY Fan Art
you can Download the high resolution Image… http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/BD50FanArt.jpg
The Project
After following Swithey's thread for a while and then continuing the HD demo theme with ScubaSteve2365's decided to try to make an HD demo disc for myself. The learning process was quite steep and requires many different tools and programs, and with help and cooperation from Steve and others finally have a disc... or with this project five DVD discs plus one Blu-Ray disc..
This project is geared to have HD material, audio and video, in a regular DVD that can be played on a Blu-Ray player. Due to size constraints the media has been chosen to be DVD-DL. The final project consists of 1 top menu and 5 segments; Bass, animation, visual, surround and music, where each segments has 8 clips. When I say final project I mean a full Blu-Ray 50gig disc, while in the interim, there will be a segment on its own that will fit into a DVD-DL disc. The average running time for each disc is 34 minutes and for the full BD50 175 min.
Technical Issues
Having HD audio and video on media other than blu-ray brings some technical challenges. The term for hd content on DVD is know as BD9, so we'll be referring to the discs as BD9 discs from here on.
Most players have no problem playing BD9 discs, but it is a well know fact that most Sony players as well as Panasonics do not play this type of disc. However, there is a patch that can be applied to the Index file on these type of disc that will trick the player on recognizing the disc as being an AVCHD type of disc that these players accept. Even with this patch applied there are restrictions on how the disc plays. It has been my experience that once the patch is applied the disc looses PopUp menus functionality. Although not a huge deal, not quite complete compared to the regular disc. Thus if you are going to try the BD9s be aware that your player might not play these dissc with their full functionality or not play them at all, so I make no claim that these discs will play on all or any blu-ray players, so be very clear that you might be burning non functional disc or as we better know them "coasters". So you are burning discs and testing this project at your own risk.
I suggest you do some research on your player if you are concern on wasting media, I am not an expert on what players play what other than what has been said before. I've tested the BD9 discs on the players that I own: Insignia (Best Buy player), Magnavox (very entry level player), PS3 (old model 60gig) and Sony BDP-CX960 with very mixed results. I've managed to make the discs play on all players, the cheap players, Insignia and Magnavox, play the disc with no problem what so ever and with no patch needed, while the Sony players require the patch to be applied and as mentioned before loose the PopUp menu functionality. Please be aware that your results might be different.
What it's Needed
Some of the software recommended/needed is shareware (not free) if you decide to use it after the test period but usually you can find freeware that has the same functionality of the recommended software, so its up to you what software you use, this are just recommendations. If you are using a Mac... I'm illiterate on that, even though all my kids use nothing but Macs, so ask someone else for help if it has to do with Mac software or usage.
After experimenting different things and the latest experience we all had with Steve's latest disc, I decided to keep the extra step of RARed the discs, avoiding some troubled on how some programs translate folders and files, therefore you would have to unpacked each disc first before you have usable files.
Below is a list of stuff you would need:
- Utorrent can be downloaded from here (and other places)
http://utorrent.en.softonic.com/
- WinRAR can be downloaded from here (and other places)
http://www.downloadwinrar.org/
- ImgBurn can be downloaded from here (and other places)
http://www.imgburn.com/
- DVD burner capable of burning on double layered media
- Double layered DVD media
- Blu-Ray 50G media (optional)
BD9s
The name for the project is "Reference Blu-Ray Demo Disc". Each individual BD9 has the same heading except the subheading that corresponds to its category description.
My intention was to choose clips that are representative of reference material in its own category. The determination was made by recommendation from threads on this site and others. The clips are not intended to appeal to a specific group, or with specific taste on movies, music or gander. The approach needs to be taken on the merits for each clip being and having reference qualities. I do not expect all clips to appeal to all people ... so it is what it is. Also, some of the disc segments have similar/same clips as Steve's disc.
Sony/PS3 - Panasonic Compatibility
Before burning the disc you need to know if your player will play the disc with the patch or with out the patch. The torrent will include a folder with the already patched files. If your player will not play the disc with out the patch then you need to replace the index file and the movieobject file on the root directory and inside the BACKUP folder with the provided patched files.
There is a player compatibility list at the display calibration side of avsforum - AVS HD 709 - Blu-ray & MP4 Calibration ( http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=948496 ), this disc is first and formost and excellent resource to complement any display and invaluable tool for all serious videophiles or simply for someone in the persuite of video excellence. Besides checking here for your player do some digging and ask around, once again, if you are concern on waiting media discs be aware that the discs might not play at all on your player.
Creating the discs
This paragraph describes the general process, if you need the details on how to do any of the steps you can either do a search on how to do the specific step or ask since its been discussed in several different places before. And of course install all the software prior to any step below.
- Get the individual header/tracker for the torrent
- Download the Torrent to your computer or storage device, each disc is roughly 8.5Gb.
- Unpack the file to your local drive or storage device.
- Determine which index files you need for your player.
- Replace index files and movieObject files if needed
- Use Imgburn to burn the disc. Very important and essential to use UDF 2.5.
- Test your disc
Imgburn How To
-Open Imgburn and click on the select burn folder or files.
-Open Explorer to where you unpacked your disc files, and navigate to the BMDV folder level.
-Drag and drop the entire folder into imgburn. It is recommended to also include the CERTIFICATE folder, so drag and drop the CERTIFICATE folder into imgburn.
-Go to the Options tab on the right hand side and select UDF 2.5
-Go to the Lable tab on the right had side and type in disc label.
-Go back to the Information tab and click the calculator, this will give you all the information about the disc.
-Once you have a disc loaded and ready to burn the icon will be colored. Click the icon to burn the disc
======================================================================================
Cover Art, Label Art and Fan Art
Box Cover (Blu-Ray Box Format)
Box Cover high resolution image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/ReferenceBluRayBoxCover.jpg
When printing the box cover make sure that you have the check mark to fit the page un-clicked, then you would need to trim the top and bottom and maybe a little on each side.
Label Art
High Resolution Label image... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/SuperleosDisclabel.jpg
The label can be printed directly onto the disc or a label through a label printing software. I have omitted the disc pattern but if you center the image will print as it should.
Label Art (Simple)
High Resolution image: http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/SuperleosDisclabelSimple.jpg
Fan Art
Some of you keep your discs and media on HTPC and thus use some type of front end for it. I've been requested Fan Art for these folks. Keep in mind that I'm not a very creative or artistic person so I hope this will do.
BASS Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition Image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/BassFanArt.jpg
ANIMATION Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/AnimationFanArt.jpg
MUSIC Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition image... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/MusicFanArt.jpg
SURROUND Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high resolution image... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/SurroundFanArt.jpg
VISUAL Disc Fan Art
You can Download the high definition image ... http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/VisualFanArt.jpg
BLU-RAY Fan Art
you can Download the high resolution Image… http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/CastilloLeo/Demo%20Disc/BD50FanArt.jpg