The Blu-ray Disc is a technology platform that can store sound and video
while maintaining high quality and also access the stored content in an
easy-to-use way. This will be important in the coming broadband era as
content distribution becomes increasingly diversified. The ten companies
involved in the announcement will respectively develop products that
take full advantage of Blu-ray Disc's large capacity and high-speed data
transfer rate. The Blu-ray-discs from Philips will be available in
several versions, the singlelayer discs will be able to contain 25GB of
data and the duallayer discs double that to 50GB. According to Sony, the
inventor of the Blu-ray format, there will be four and eight-layer
discs on the market by the year 2007 wuth a maximum capacity of 200GB of
data. There will be three kinds of Blu-ray-discs (BD) available, The
BD-ROM is a read-only disc for distribution of software and movies, the
BD-R as write-once and BD-RE as re-writable medium.
Dolby
Surround uses 4 signals witch are implemented in a stereo-signal by fase-changes.
A Dolby Surround amplifier or receiver divides those signals into the 5
connected front, centre and rear speakers. Dolby Digital works totally
different. With Dolby Digital you have six independent channels. Five of
them use the entire frequency range from 20Herz to 20KHz. The sixth
channel only passes through the low tones in the frequency range of
20Herz to 120Herz, for the deep bass-effects. Because five of the six
channels generate the whole of the frequency range and the sixth only
the low frequencies, this is called 5.1 channels. All six channels are
digitally compressed before a Dolby Digital amplifier or receiver
decodes it so 6 separate channels are generated. Because Dolby digital
uses the entire frequency range on all channels there’s an optimal
channel division, are the dynamics en purity of the sound and the
placement of the sounds much better compared to the Dolby Surround Pro
Logic-system.
Digital Theater Systems (DTS) is, just as Dolby Digital (AC-3) a 5.1
system, which means that five of the six channels use the entire
frequency range and the sixth channel (the subwoofer channel) only
uses the low frequencies. Because DTS uses less compression during
de coding process, DTS is experienced by certain people as a better
standard for the reproducing sound. Where Dolby Digital is meant for
soundtracks in movies, DTS is mostly used for mixing and reproducing
music registrations, like concerts.
information
DVD-Audio
is a format specifically designed to provide the highest
possible audio fidelity capable on DVD. The audio fidelity of
DVD-Audio far exceeds the quality of conventional CD's and audio
on DVD-Video. DVD-Audio takes advantage of the large storage
capacity, speed and flexibility possible with DVD. DVD-Audio
provides for audio in stereo and in multi-channel surround in a
wide range of specifications. In addition to audio, a DVD-Audio
disk can contain a limited amount of video, which can be used to
display text, such as lyrics or notes; or stills such as a photo
album. Up to 16 graphic stills can be associated with each track
and on-screen displays can be used for lyrics and disc
navigation. As an option, a DVD-Audio disc can also include
audio tracks recorded in the DVD-Video specification (Dolby
Digital and DTS) for compatibility with DVD-Video players. A DVD
disc is capable of recording video, audio and data information
of many different types and formats. An industry group, named
the DVD Forum has responsibility for establishing the industry
standards and formats for DVD. In 1996, The DVD Forum released
the DVD-Video format, which was designed to deliver video at a
quality exceeding VHS tape with surround sound and better than
CD audio. Before defining a DVD format optimized for audio, the
DVD Forum sought the opinions of the music industry and audio
equipment manufactures. In January 1998, the DVD Forum’s Working
Group 4 released a draft DVD-Audio standard. In July 1998, the
DVD Forum released the preliminary 0.9 version. In March 1999,
the DVD Forum released the final version 1.0 of the DVD-Audio
specification.
DVD is the new generation
of optical disc storage technology. DVD is essentially a bigger,
faster CD that can hold cinema-like video, better-than-CD audio,
still photos, and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home
entertainment, computers, and business information with a single
digital format. It has replaced laserdisc, is well on the way to
replacing videotape and video game cartridges, and could eventually
replace audio CD and CD-ROM. DVD has widespread support from all
major electronics companies, all major computer hardware companies,
and all major movie and music studios. With this unprecedented
support, DVD became the most successful consumer electronics product
of all time in less than three years of its introduction. In 2003,
six years after introduction, there were over 250 million DVD
playback devices worldwide, counting DVD players, DVD PCs, and DVD
game consoles. This was more than half the numbers of VCRs, setting
DVD up to become the new standard for video publishing. It's
important to understand the difference between the physical
formats (such as DVD-ROM and DVD-R) and the application
formats (such as DVD-Video and DVD-Audio). DVD-ROM is the base
format that holds data. DVD-Video (often simply called DVD) defines
how video programs such as movies are stored on disc and played in a
DVD-Video player or a DVD computer (see
4.1). The
difference is similar to that between CD-ROM and Audio CD. DVD-ROM
includes recordable variations: DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM, and DVD+R/RW. The
application formats include DVD-Video, DVD-Video Recording (DVD-VR),
DVD+RW Video Recording (DVD+VR), DVD-Audio Recording (DVD-AR), DVD
Stream Recording (DVD-SR), DVD-Audio (DVD-A), and Super Audio CD (SACD).
There are also special application formats for game consoles such as
Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox.
Enhanced Versatile Disc. Beijing E-world Technology, which includes leading Chinese consumer electronics manufacturers SVA, Shinco, Xiaxin, Yuxing, Skyworth, Nintaus, Malata, Changhong and BBK, has developed a new digital video format called Enhanced Versatile Disc (EVD). Supported by the Chinese government, the first HD EVD content and optical disc players were unveiled at a special event in Beijing on November 18, 2003. LSI Logic is providing E-world with HD encoding and decoding technologies based on the popular DoMiNo™ architecture. EVD is the first HD format created by using MPEG-2-based technology and a standard optical red laser. To deliver the industry's best quality HD and SD images, the DoMiNo architecture uses LSI Logic's award-winning PerfectView® MPEG-2 encoding algorithm. EVD-enabled devices can include optional backward compatibility with DVD, VCD, SVCD and CD, making EVD the most versatile format in the market. Chinese consumers will be able to watch high-definition video content, play back their favorite music files, or display high-resolution JPEG pictures on HD-, LCD-, Rear Projection- and Plasma TVs.
Forward Versatile Disc. FVD was developed by the Advanced Optical Storage Research Alliance, a consortium of 28 Taiwanese optical storage firms, and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). The platform uses Microsoft’s Windows Media 9 (WM9) advanced video encoding technology to store content on a standard red laser disc. It was officially released in April 2004, and has a 6 Gb capacity on a single-layer disc and 11 Gb on a dual-layer. This means that a single disc can store 135 minutes of content at 720p (not true HD). Like EVD, it is a localised effort to reduce the cost of royalty payments paid by DVD hardware manufacturers. The disc physics have been specifically developed by CMC Magnetics, RITEK, U-Tech Media and Prodisc Tech, whilst hardware manufacturers Lire-On Technology, Mustek, Quanta Storage, ALi and BenQ are making the player hardware drives. Limited supplies of FVD hardware was in Taiwanese shops by end 2004, with the first main shipments expected - probably in the Chinese mainland - about now .
High
Definition Compatible Digital, or
HDCD, is a patented process for delivering on CD the full richness and
detail of the original microphone feed. When listening to HDCD
recordings, you hear more dynamic range, a focused 3-D soundstage, and
extremely natural vocal and musical timbre. You get the body, depth, and
emotion of the original performance-not a flat, digital imitation.
HDCD-encoded CDs sound better because they are encoded with 20 bits of
real musical information as compared with 16 bits for all other CDs.
HDCD overcomes the limitation of the 16-bit CD format by using a
sophisticated system to encode the additional 4 bits onto the CD while
remaining completely compatible with the CD format.
An alternative standard for Blu-ray is developed by Toshiba and NEC and approved DVD Forum goedgekeurd as a new standard, so it can use the name DVD. Het original working title was AOD (Advanced Optical Disc), but was later changed to HD DVD. Just like Blu-ray, HD DVD uses a blue laser with a wavelength of 405nm. The discs used in HD DVD are physicaly identical to DVD-discs. It uses a top layer of 0,6 mm just like DVD. That's why HD DVD's can be made with the same equipment.
There are 3 version for HD-DVD in development:
-
HD DVD-ROM, disc with a capacity of 15GB each side. These can be used for distributing movies.
-
HD DVD-RW, with 20GB of writable and rewritable space on both sides.
-
HD DVD-R , with 15GB of writable space on both sides.
Holographic
Versatile Disc. A Japanese company
has achieved the world's first reliable recording and playback of
digital movies on a transparent holographic recording disc. Optware
plans to offer reader/writer players and 200Gbyte holographic versatile
discs (HVD) in 2006 for enterprise users. Much less expensive consumer
versions could be on the market by 2007, said Yasuhide Kageyama, manager
of business development and marketing at Optware. The company has
developed a collinear holographic data storage system that uses a green
532 nanometer laser to read holographic data on a 12-centimetre disc.
Light from the laser is split into two beams. Data to be recorded is
encoded onto one of the beams while the other beam is used as a
reference. The two beams interfere with each other inside the disc's
recording layer and in this way data is stored. Below the recording
layer is a pre-formatted layer that stores servo data and is read by a
red laser. This enables accurate tracking of the disc. Between the data
layer and servo layer is a mirror layer, which reflects the green laser
but is transparent to the red laser. It is this mirror layer that is the
secret to HVD, said Kageyama, because it stops the scattering of light
within the disc that could cause noise and deteriorate the signal
quality.
It looks just like a normal CD, but that’s where the similarity ends. The difference in sound quality is so great that you have to hear it to believe it!. Thanks to revolutionary technology called Direct Stream Digital (DSD) encoding, SA-CD represents the highest quality sound source available today. For example, the frequency response delivered by DSD is almost five times greater than that delivered by normal CD. And with a dynamic range of 120dB compared to 96dB on CD, Super Audio CD goes right to the limits of human hearing and beyond. In short, DSD enables a recording which is absolutely faithful to the original material – its kind has never been experienced before. Be it classical, pop, rock, dance or jazz you will hear the music as it originally sounded in the studio or concert… and you will be blown away.
Sony Dynamic Digital Sound.
A perceptual audio-coding system developed by Sony for
multichannel audio in theaters. SDDS split-surround format uses the
usual 5.1 stems, plus additional left-center and right-center channels.
The additional two speakers are employed at the front of the soundstage
to deliver more uniform sound in wide-format theaters of screen widths
of up to 60’ or more, where there might be seats with a
hole-in-the-middle in between the CL, and CR channels. An important
aspect of the SDDS format is that it can be decoded into four, six, or
eight channels for playback on a wide variety of audio
Superbit is the new “Magic word” of Columbia to sell you your
favourite movies once again. But what is Superbit, and is it worth
it? With MPEG-2 compression on the DVD the choice is made what to
leave in and what take out. To put a movie of 2 hours on a DVD,
choices will have to be made. MPEG-2 is a lossy way of compression,
this means that things are left out of the original file. Even if
it’s done in a right way some things are simply lost. Especially the
small details in the backgrounds will disappear and the background
will have a faded look. If the the bitrate is higher (with use of
the same encoder) on the DVD you wil have better detail because of
less compression. Superbit DVD’s are DVD’s with higher bitrates and
a DTS soundtrack as a bonus. There are no extras on these superbit
DVD’s because of the fact that there’s no space left on the disk.
Since all of the disc capacity is devoted to
presenting the best possible picture and sound, there is no room for
bonus features in the Superbit single-disc releases. This puts DVD
enthusiasts in a quandary. They have to choose between the standard DVD
release (with bonus features but lower bit rates for picture and no DTS
soundtrack option) or a Superbit release. Or shell out double the money
and buy both versions.
Well now there's a better solution. Columbia TriStar listened to the
needs of DVD enthusiasts and collectors and decided to begin releasing a
new Superbit Deluxe DVD series, as two-disc sets. Yes, Superbit
DVD fans can now have their high performance DVD transfers and
their bonus features! As you probably guessed,
the Superbit Deluxe 2-disc series will devote the first disc to just the
feature film, keeping with the mantra of the original Superbit series.
The second disc will contain the bonus features that are previously
released on the standard or Special Edition DVD. Generally, don't
expect any new bonus features above and beyond those provided with the
standard or Special Edition DVD. In fact, if the standard or Special
Edition contained a feature-length audio commentary, it would omitted
from the Superbit Deluxe release to conserve disc capacity to maximize
the bit rate for improved video and audio performance. (Remember that
feature-length audio commentaries are usually encoded along with the
feature film as a soundtrack option.)
First,
it is important to realize that THX is a quantitative measure of
quality that works in conjunction with the different surround sound
formats (e.g., Dolby Digital and DTS) to bring the quality of the
sound presentation to the highest standards. To ensure the highest
possible quality in home cinema, THX defines stringent picture and
sound track criteria for film-to-DVD (and film-to-VHS) transfers.
Such DVD titles are labeled as "THX Digitally Mastered for superior
sound and picture quality" or simply "THX Certified". THX also
defines stringent performance standards for audio/video source and
processing components. These include strict performance standards
for DVD players, receivers, preamplifiers, power amplifiers,
speakers, interconnect cables, speaker cables, and even the room's
acoustic characteristics (for dedicated home theater environments)
For the "everyday consumer", the "THX" label means that the highest
standards have been used, whether the product is a DVD-Video title,
or an audio/video component.
Other technologies
Digital Multi-layer Disc - (DMD) The DMD HD format is the brainchild of Russian company D Data. The format uses a standard red laser to read data from specially coated disc layers. The discs can store up to 30 Gb of data using a twosided disc with six layers on each side, according to D Data. The standard single-sided disc, however, will be 15 Gb, four layers, offering 130 minutes playing time. The maximum resolution, however, will not be true HD - actually only 1920x1080i (interlaced, not progressive scan). The company has opened an office in New York and is pitching its technology to hardware makers and content owners. It says that DMD players could be built using existing manufacturing capacity and would retail for around $300. It is planning to build a disc manufacturing plant in Germany with government backing - reportedly. The plant could produce DMD discs that would cost content owners only slightly more than conventional DVDs. To date there has been talk of some limited content support, purportedly from Time Warner’s Turner Pictures. According to D Data, it aims to have DMD hardware and software on the market by the first quarter of 2005 although possibly not in US. This appears a major oversight given the company’s desire to target the HD broadcast home recording market. A number of Taiwanese hardware manufacturers are looking at the standard with the prospect of developing players for the format.
Fluorescent Multi-layer Disc - (FMD) is a new data storage format currently being developed by a company called Constellation 3D (C3D). FMD is an optical format, similar in size and appearance to regular CD-ROMs and DVDs. However, the real advantage that FMD technology promises over it's rivals is that although a CDR may hold 700 MB of data, and a DVD-ROM 4.7 GB, initial reports from C3D claim that it may be possible to produce FMD discs with up to 140 GB of data, greatly eclipsing it's nearest rival. C3D claim that existing CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disc production methods can easily be modified to incorporate fluorescent multi-layer technology. Furthermore, the cost of producing FMD discs will still remain relatively cheap, meaning data storage on unparalleled levels may become increasingly accessible to the consuming public.