SVMS 10.0

Kimberly wrote on 7/24/2010, 10:43 AM

Hello All:

I currently run SVMS 9.0 Platinum Pro. I recently downloaded a trial of SVMS 10.0 and DVDA 5.0. Tests are going well and I am planning to upgrade at the end of the trial unless I identify some major issues.

I've been following the posts on how to create HD content disks on standard DVDs. I'll follow that guidance when I create my HD disks. My question concerns the playback of these disks.

I intend for my disks to be viewed on a TV, either HD or regular old TV. Of course people could play them on a computer, but I must give people the option to use a TV with a DVD-type player.

So about that DVD-type player . . . I still have an older Toshiba DVD player and a (gulp) 30" Panasonic tube TV in my home, so I'm not too hip yet on all the new technology. Would a Blu-Ray player be able to play the above mentioned HD-content disks? How about one of those Costco players that touts "upscaling" features? How about my old DVD player? I wouldn't expect the output to be HD except with a Blu-Ray and HDTV, but would they simply play in SD?

I realize these are very generic questions and the Forum cannot give precise answers. Mainly I am hoping to hear of your experiences with these disks and the kinds of equipment used to successfully play them. Thay way I can prepare a disk that will play in a variety of set-ups for my end users.

Also, if these question is not appropriate for our Forum, I'd appreciate any advice on where to read up on this topic.

As always, a huge thank-you to the Gurus who so patiently read and respond to our questions!

Kim

Comments

TOG62 wrote on 7/24/2010, 11:35 AM

So about that DVD-type player . . . I still have an older Toshiba DVD player and a (gulp) 30" Panasonic tube TV in my home, so I'm not too hip yet on all the new technology. Would a Blu-Ray player be able to play the above mentioned HD-content disks? How about one of those Costco players that touts "upscaling" features? How about my old DVD player? I wouldn't expect the output to be HD except with a Blu-Ray and HDTV, but would they simply play in SD?

If a disc is burnt with HD content then only a Blu-ray player (apart from the obsolete HD-DVD type) will play it. As reported in other threads, not all Blu-rays players will play these discs, and very few players of other makes. Compatibility is much better with other software such as Cyberlink PowerDirector or (free) multAVCHD.

Birk Binnard wrote on 7/24/2010, 11:39 AM

YOur question is a good one and there seems to be no crisp answer. Let's get some terminology straight: there are 3 kinds of "HD" output

1. DVD quality (720x480 pixels)
2. AVCHD quality (1920x1080)
3. Blue-Ray quality (same as AVCHD)

Furthermore, each of the above three qualities has its own disk layout format. And finally, there are 2 kinds of disk media: DVD and Blue-Ray.

What people want to do is put 1920x1080 quality video onto DVD disks and play them back on an HDTV. The ability to do this depends on the firmware inside the Blu-Ray player. Some Blu-Ray players will play AVCHD output on DVD disk media and some will not. There's apparently no way to tell before actually trying it.

My Blu-Ray player is in a PS3 game console. If I put 1920x1080 output on a DVD my player sees it as a data disk, not a video disk. I can play the individual data (video) files OK because the PS3 is smart enough to do that. But the player firmware will not play the menus etc. that are part of a full function video disk.

Other people have posted (1) their Blu-Ray player will play the AVCHD output fine, or (2) their player won't play it at all. I saw a posting last week from a guy who said he was in category (1) until he did a firmware update on his player, after which he was in category (2). Needless to say he was not too happy.

"Upscaling" is different - it is simply a software trick that takes 720x480 and duplicates pixels to get to 1920X1080. You don't get higher definition - you just get more pixels.

Vegas 10 (which I have) creates 1920x1080 output just fine. DVD Architect 5 will only create Blu-Ray or DVD output. It will not create AVCHD output (which you could burn to a DVD disk.) You can find other "DVD" authoring programs that will do all 3 formats (I think Power Producer is one, and I think Nero makes another one.)

I opted to just buy a Blu-Ray writer ($130) and some blank disks. After learning DVDA5 I just didn't want to bother learning another authoring tool (and paying for it as well.)

TOG62 wrote on 7/24/2010, 1:34 PM

1. DVD quality (720x480 pixels)
I would not describe this as any kind of HD.

"Upscaling" is different - it is simply a software trick that takes 720x480 and duplicates pixels to get to 1920X1080. You don't get higher definition - you just get more pixels.
Not quite true as upscaling creates new pixels by interpolation, i.e. calculating the probable value of pixels between 'real' pixels in the source material.

Kimberly wrote on 7/25/2010, 7:06 AM

Birk:

Thank you so much for an awesome response.

Somewhere in an unrelated post I saw where someone said he was going to print the post and put it in his SVMS primer so he could quickly refer back to it. That's just what I'll do with this.

Kim

Loren wrote on 7/26/2010, 12:49 AM

Hi Folks

I've just tried out the above and immediately liked it despite its unfriendly tools that need getting useed to.

Anyway, I was looking for updates but don't seem to have any.
The SVMS 10.0 comes with Sound Forge Audio, and Architect 5 ready to burn.

I downloaded a two hour divx/avi film and it's a breeze burning it to DVD. I played the completed DVD on my $99 Sony dvd player connected to my old TV and it played perfectly.

I tried a photo slide show rendered output AVI and WMV. The dvd, mpg, mp2, mp4 are excellent quality. I have uploqded a small wmv video on my site at http://www.gihtrust.co.nz/, you can check it out. It's not bad for a wmv, but it's better with mp4 at YTube for online videos. It can also load into your ipod or phone.

I have an ATI PLAYTECH computer, Intel i5/750 series with 4GB Ram, and ATI HD5830 1GB graphic card, suitable for HDMI, DVI, BLU RAY etc.
And that should reflect a perfect picture on a Full HD monitor, of which I have an ASUS VH242H, 23.6'

Who wants to watch TV with a clear HD picture on your computer?

Anyway, I'm still looking for updates when they are available.

Cheers
Loren