Production Method for Released HD-DVDs

Production Method for Released HD-DVDs

• bszenith

  All other things aside, please stop using "M$" to refer to Microsoft as it is unprofessional.
  
  

• Bill_C

  Yes, H264 is hard to decode. But I think the software and hardware
  (CPU and GPU) will be optimized, like MPEG2 with DVD Video 7 years ago
  (in 1998-1999 PowerDVD need CPU at 400MHz, but at last of 1999 WinDVD need
  only 300Mhz CPU).
  
  And it is hard to put a movie in HD DVD on DVD disc with VC1 codec.
  
  HD DVD format advantages are :
  - "iHD" technologie (from Microsoft, good work ;-) )
  - TwinFormat (not Combo) : same side with one DVD layer and one HD DVD layer
  - HD DVD on DVD disc ( DVD Rom at 3X speed)
  
  For iHD, thank you at Microsoft for this forum and the help from its good developers.
  But the multiplexer are expensive and do only multiplexing not authoring
  (Sonic, MemoryTech,...)
  
  For TwinFormat, I don't see HD DVD from US market with this option. It is hard
  to make it (I know only one manufacture on the world which make it, in Japan...)
  
  For HD DVD on DVD, I see not thing on market but I think all PC sold this year
  can play it (with H264 codec with some restrictions, no MBAFF use, no multi B frame
  reference,...). We need only to buy the HD DVD player software
  
  There are not lot of people with HD DVD hardware player because there is only Toshiba
  which make it (no more than 50 000 player on world...).
  At last Ceatec in Japan, all others companies show its BluRay player and there is only
  Toshiba with HD DVD player on small part of his stand (not like Ceatec 2005 where
  we could see a big HD DVD stand show)
  
  
  
  Golgot13
  
  

• coolkay

  That depends on your encoding tools... some are better than others, and it has nothing to do with how efficient the codec itself is.

  Remember, pretty much every released HD DVD title is in VC-1, and for good reason.

  VC-1 is not only easier to encode, it is also easier to decode, so will work better on lower-end PCs.

  
  
  

• Mohsen Kokabi

  Sorry
  
  Because Microsoft is a long name, I don't want to refer at an other thing.
  
  So Sorry
  
  
  
  Golgot13
  
  

• james_m

  I think some houses have their own multiplexing tool.
  

• Rogermon

  Accelerated decode of H.264 is definitely on the horizon...as well as VC-1.

  It is not uncommon for VC-1 to achieve high-quality encodes for HD distribution in the 12mbps range. There have been major HD DVD movie releases at this bitrate...and I think you would be surprised if I told you which ones (which I can't...so don't ask :->). These movies were encoded using Microsoft's VC-1 Deployment Kit which is the best encoding solution available for VC-1 today. If that encoder isn't used as the reference for any kind of quality comparisons between codecs then your efforts are fruitless.

  This means that it is certainly possible to include a full movie on a DVD9. You are going to see releases on these discs soon...but not from the major studios. Those releases will be in VC-1 because it provides the control needed to optimize your media for those bitrates. H.264 can get close...but not close enough. The downside here is that there won't be a lot of room left over for bonus material, additional audio tracks and of course rich and immersive interactivity. So HD DVD discs should be the preferred path.

  -Dan

  
  

• Ravel

  I saw lot of things at the last NAB (I know the last version of Studio encoder is better).
  I saw some test on Microsoft standwith Inlet hardware encoder (Fathom), the less video bitrate is
  12Mbps (yes in real time).
  And with VC1 codec with can NOT have a good HD video at 4Mbps.
  But I saw in NTT Docomo stand (at NAB) a H264 HD video demo at 2.81Mbps
  (1920x1080 29.97i with MBAFF option in High Profil), the H264 software encoder
  use X Pass encoding mode (for this 2.81Mbps they needed 13 Pass...). This software is not
  available on market (only on NTT laboratory)
  
  And today, with Ateme or Mainconcept (exactly Elecard) encoders we can have
  the same HD video quality than VC1 video on HD DVD at 6Mbps - 8Mbps
  (in France, there are H264 HD VoD on "Free" ISP at 4.5Mbps with
  1440x1080 resolution in 25fps, in 2 pass encoding).
  
  I know it is not possible with VC1 technology (TF1 and TPS test it with Inlet HD card encoder).
  I saw the test...
  
  To my mind, "iHD" technology in HD DVD project with H264 video codec and Dolby Digital Plus
  audio on DVD disc is the futur of HD DVD technology.
  
  If you want I can send you a video with H264 codec and HD DVD restriction
  (you can go at forum of doom9.org to see a HD challenge between
  MPEG2, VC1 and H264 same video, sames bitrates
  and VC1 is from a Microsoft developper...)
  
  
  
  
  Golgot13
  
  

• Hooper

  "MS" is fine :-)
  
  

• Raju Datla

  The titles that are currently out from Warner, Universal, and Paramount were created with Toshiba tools.
  

• eldiener

  Yes, but MS is for Memory Stick.
  
  
  Golgot13
  
  

• allison_h

  Some studio use only Memory Tech software (with verification tool, emulator,...).
  
  I think Toshiba don't want to develop more his tool (not sell, no new release, ...).
  
  But I think some company like Nero (there is some people from this company
  on this forum) will do more (Standard Content is ready, High Profil will be optimized).
  
  I think the futur of HD DVD is "iHD" with H264 codec on DVD disc (can play on all
  good PC with DVD Rom drive).
  
  With H264 codec it is possible to save 30%-45% of bitrate than VC1 (but it need
  a long time to encode... between 2 - 5 more times)
  
  
  
  
  

• mikesnp

  I work at a post production facility. It is my understanding that Toshiba only provided their muxing tool to a handful of Authoring houses; why I'm not sure. It's even difficult to get your hands on the Toshiba emulator. Ironically, Toshiba recently decided to sell their emulators through Sonic. I'm not sure why Toshiba is acting in such constrast to Sony. Sony rolls out the red carpet on Authoring tools. They understand the format war and want to guide as many Authoring facilities as possible. Toshiba is behaving like there is no format war out there or they have some other really good reason for not making their muxing tool readily available. Outside of the Toshiba muxing tool, Sonic is the only solution.
  

• Giedrius Banaitis

  I suspected there was a Toshiba tool. Interesting.
  
  
  
  
  
• Production Method for Released HD-DVDs