[tizer111]

Hi,

I'm new here and wanted someone to help explain something.


If say, Warner Bros. have a movie e.g. Bugs Bunny as an example and they encode this movie and transfer it to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray and release it - what's the difference? If both movies are taken from the same encoded source and are bit for bit identical, how is one release better than the other?


I assume all movie studio's want to release the best quality they can and all manufacturers want to release the best quality players they can so in the end they will all be pretty equal.


Can anyone explain why both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray won't be equal in the end please.


I do plan on getting a player at some point, either the 360 add-on or a PS3 but don't understand why one format will always be ahead in the end when it basically comes down to the quality of the studio encoding and the quality of the player hardware, both of which will be refined over time.



Thanks.

 

[wittangamo]

That's pretty much the case. Taking Warner for example, their current releases look the same on both formats, but sound better or HD DVD because they have a TrueHD audio track missing on the BR.


When it comes to exclusive titles, both formats have really good releases and really disappointing ones. Overall, most would agree that HD DVD titles have been more consistent and there have been fewer duds, but BD seems to be getting its act together.


If you already have an Xbox 360 the add-on is the cheapest way to test the waters. It's a good player. If you have already decided to buy a PS3, it's a good player too.


Right now I'm HD DVD only with the Xbox and am very happy with that choice. YMMV.

 

[tizer111]

Thanks for answering my question as I couldn't really understand what all the fuss was about with the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray fanatics.


I'm from an IT background and couldn't see what the difference was as to me they are both just optical media storage formats. What goes on them and what plays them are going to evolve and change over the next few years.


I really don't understand why people are arguing over something that in many cases will be identical.

 

[moovtune]



Probably they will be identical eventually - but there is a difference in the encoding technology used. Many Blu-Ray titles have used MPEG2 encoding, while HD-DVD uses VC-1. That's where some of the difference lies presently. Now with double layer discs and as they refine the encoding, if they stick with MPEG2 it'll probably equal VC-1 in quality, if not in reduced dataspace used.

 

[gooki]

Also for HD-DVD uses a different scripting/menu system to BD which at the current moment is more mature resulting in a better user experience for many.

 

[JOHNnDENVER]

Your point has validity tizer111.....


I actually think both formats will survive for the long term.

 

[eapleitez]

This is an example where it goes to show why HD DVD is just as good as blu ray when it comes to movies. When this was demonstrated last summer, I for the life of me couldn't see why people were still rooting for blu ray.

 

[Tim Neuland]



Quote:
Originally Posted by moovtune /forum/post/0


Probably they will be identical eventually - but there is a difference in the encoding technology used. Many Blu-Ray titles have used MPEG2 encoding, while HD-DVD uses VC-1. That's where some of the difference lies presently. Now with double layer discs and as they refine the encoding, if they stick with MPEG2 it'll probably equal VC-1 in quality, if not in reduced dataspace used.

I cannot answer this as well as Amir, but VC-1 is an amazing codec. It is much better than MPEG-2 and it takes up less space. MPEG-2 can approach the same quality, but must use much higher bit rates to achieve this. That is why it needs more than 25GB available in the single layer BD disk. H-264 should be the top codec but it requires so much more space and more time to encode the movie, that VC-1 wins hands down as the cost effective, quality solution.


Either format supports VC-1. HD-DVD uses it almost 100% of the time. I don't know of any transfer that doesn't use it for HD-DVD. BD group was relying on Sony for production support. Sony pushes MPEG-2 hard on it's supporters. The results are much of the BD library looks less than it could due to the codec used to encode the movies.


The formats can be equal, but VC-1 makes a huge difference in the final product, movie viewing.