HD video...

[Rod Rod]

It creates what Apple calls a High Definition DVD; but it is *NOT* the same as the new standard called "HD-DVD". It encodes HD in H.264 and burns it onto a standard 4.7 or 8.5 GB DVD (or DVD DL.)

They will play back on any recent Mac running 10.4.1 or higher (10.4.1 is when Apple DVD Player got the ability to play them back.) (Obviously, it helps if the Mac is fast enough...) But, they are *NOT* compatible with HD-DVD or BluRay commercial players, and not compatible with PCs.

The funny thing is this past weekend I created an HD-DVD in DVD Studio Pro 4, and it encoded not in H.264, but rather in MPEG-2.

Curiously, the high definition DVDs from DVD Studio Pro do indeed conform to the preliminary spec for HD-DVD. Such DVDs are confirmed as working on a prototype Toshiba HD-DVD player. Now that the HD-DVD spec is apparently finalized, Apple will either issue an update to DVD Studio Pro 4 or make us pay extra for final spec compliance in DVDSP 5.

I just looked at bestbuy.com and apparently the Toshiba HD-DVD player is in stock at stores. I'll take my recently created (red laser, DVDSP 4 authored) HD-DVD to Best Buy either tomorrow or Wednesday to test.

For PCs, one needs to author a WMV-HD disc.

 

[twoodcc]

thank you for your replies and answer to my question.

what is the format for this HD-DVD? (like for a DVD, you have 2 folders, 1 is VTS_Video, and the other audio)

 

[Rod Rod]

You're welcome.

This is what the folder structure of a DVDSP 4 HD-DVD looks like:

It's just a single folder called "HVDVD_TS" with a bunch of files inside.

 

[rand()]

If you could be so kind...

I'll take my recently created (red laser, DVDSP 4 authored) HD-DVD to Best Buy either tomorrow or Wednesday to test.

Part of the confusion in this thread is that you insist on calling the 4.7 GB DVD with HD content an "HD-DVD." It is not. HD-DVD refers not only to the filesystem spec on the disc, but also to the actual media format of the disc, meaning a 15GB single layer disc, or a 30GB double-layer disc.

It is a DVD with HD content. In DVD Studio Pro 4, Apple denotes this difference by saying "HD DVD" with a space and not a hyphen. I know it's a small semantic difference, but I think the confusion would be averted since this actually visually suggests a separation of HD content from DVD standard disc.

So you currently can't burn an HD-DVD, but you can burn an HD DVD.

It is worth noting that an HD DVD cannot be played back in a standard DVD player - though it might be interesting to look into the up-res-ing DVD players to see if any support the Apple HD DVD. And yes, I've seen reports that the Toshiba HD-DVD player will play back Apple's HD DVD's. I'm hoping to test this myself at a Best Buy real soon!

Thanks!

-rand()

 

[Rod Rod]

thank you sir

rand(), I didn't mean to upset anyone, and I can't be blamed for confusing people. Best Buy doesn't put a dash in "HD DVD," and most likely they're just pasting Toshiba's copy. Here is a list of formats the Toshiba HD-A1 plays: "HD DVD, HD DVD-R, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, CD, CD-R/-RW, MP3 and WMA formats."

According to that list, what we make with DVDSP 4 are "HD DVD-Rs."

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat80500050007&id=1134699969167

Here's what Toshiba calls it. You're correct with respect to the dash in "HD-DVD" and lack of dash in "HD DVD-R." I'd bet that the reason they didn't call it "HD-DVD-R" is because that'd have too many dashes.

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvd/hddvd.asp
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvd/product.asp?model=hd-xa1
http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvd/product.asp?model=hd-a1

 

[killr_b]

I'm not quite sure why you are comparing iPods to Firestores. That's pretty Apples to Oranges. The Firestore is a niche product in a niche industry so Focus Enhancements will sell significantly few Firestores than Apple will iPods so Apple can charge less per unit.

Yeah, but they're more than 4x the price. That's pretty gouger. 3x as MSRP and 2- 2.5x for deals. I want an 80GB firestore for $999. Is that too much to ask?

Most feature film DVDs have a video bit rate much lower than 10-12 (if for no other reason than the DVD spec tops out at a video bit rate of 9.8 and a rule of thumb is to keep it below 9 'cause some players will choke on anything higher).

Huh? Not the DVD's I own. Check out if your player has 'display bitrate' as a feature. About 3mb/ sec is the audio.

DVD spec tops out at 11mb/ sec, sorry 10.8mb/ sec, but I swear I saw one that was 14 once... no it wasn't porn.

It's practical if you have a paying client that wants HD.l

Like crazy directors that want you to use the Genesis cam on a music video that will probably never be seen in HD?

 

[dejo]

The funny thing is this past weekend I created an HD-DVD in DVD Studio Pro 4, and it encoded not in H.264, but rather in MPEG-2

HD-DVD (or HD DVD; you'll find plenty of uses of both!) and Blu-ray both use the same three codecs: MPEG-2, WMV9 and H.264.

 

[Rod Rod]

HD-DVD (or HD DVD; you'll find plenty of uses of both!) and Blu-ray both use the same three codecs: MPEG-2, WMV9 and H.264.

Yup. It's fun to quote posts and "answer" them out of context, isn't it?

 

[dejo]

Yup. It's fun to quote posts and "answer" them out of context, isn't it?

It is!
Seriously, though, I wasn't "answering" anything. I just wanted to provide a bit of info on the three mandatory codecs of HD-DVDs and Blu-ray, for those that were interested.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

According to that list, what we make with DVDSP 4 are "HD DVD-Rs."

Here's what Toshiba calls it. You're correct with respect to the dash in "HD-DVD" and lack of dash in "HD DVD-R." I'd bet that the reason they didn't call it "HD-DVD-R" is because that'd have too many dashes.

I would imagine that it's because it is a "High Definition DVD-R", rather than an "HD-DVD Recordable".

 

[LethalWolfe]

Yeah, but they're more than 4x the price. That's pretty gouger. 3x as MSRP and 2- 2.5x for deals. I want an 80GB firestore for $999. Is that too much to ask?

Obviously it is.

Huh? Not the DVD's I own. Check out if your player has 'display bitrate' as a feature. About 3mb/ sec is the audio.

I just spot checked a few DVDs (Constantine, The Hills Have Eyes, Pirates of the Caribbean) and they all probably averaged 4.5-7. An occasional peak to 8 (and The Hills Have Eyes menu was 9) but that's it. Sure you aren't watching superbit DVDs?

Like crazy directors that want you to use the Genesis cam on a music video that will probably never be seen in HD?

Is it that much different than shooting 35mm for stuff destined for the small screen?


Lethal

 

[Rod Rod]

It is!
Seriously, though, I wasn't "answering" anything. I just wanted to provide a bit of info on the three mandatory codecs of HD-DVDs and Blu-ray, for those that were interested.

Gotcha.. you're right to do it, as there's such a load of confusion about all things HD. From digital broadcast (which can be SD or HD) to Apple's corporate preference between the blue laser formats (which many here assume to be Blu-Ray, when Apple is squarely in both camps), there's a lot that bears repeating just to increase understanding.

I would imagine that it's because it is a "High Definition DVD-R", rather than an "HD-DVD Recordable".

That sounds right to me . . . but once 25GB or 50GB HD-DVD blank media are available, one would suppose those could play back in those Toshibas? Of course it makes sense for Toshiba to not include that capability in the tech specs because (as far as I know) there are no such blank media, let alone burners, available at the moment.

 

[killr_b]

Is it that much different than shooting 35mm for stuff destined for the small screen?l

Not exactly. The Genesis is a better deal now.

I think we're close to thread highjacking now...

 

[LethalWolfe]

Not exactly. The Genesis is a better deal now.

I think we're close to thread highjacking now...

What was this thread about again?


Lethal

 

[JohnStrass]

Iis the Camcorder, after all

What was this thread about again?


Lethal

Helpful thread about HD video. I have the new sony HD vid cam and is is incredible. For now I jjust play back on my HD TV from the camcorder. BEAUTIFUL! I hope som eday to edit/store/iDVD thses, but the technology is just no there.