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High-Def Digest’s Holiday Gift Guide 2009: HD Gear
Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 06:15 PM ETTags: Holiday Guides 2009, Best of 2009, High-Def Retailing, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
The first of High-Def Digest’s annual holiday gift guides has arrived. This installment focuses on HD Gear, and a few choice titles for testing out your new favorite things.
by Michael S. Palmer
‘Tis the season, my friends. A favorite, festive time. For charity. Goodwill. And, bless us all, a chance to toss a new toy under our tree into our family rooms.
Hard to believe it’s upon us already, but next week is Thanksgiving, which fires off the holiday shopping season’s official opening salvo: Black Friday. A day of deals to be followed by a month-long shop-a-thon, where by the most experienced may survive only through sheer will and a steady Cinnabun diet.
But thing’s are tough, I know. The economy did a cannonball into an empty swimming pool, and now we’re all doing our best to recover while indulging out HD addictions. But the worst is over. It’s time to pull together, learn from the past, and jumpstart our future. Which is why, on this historic day, we are starting a brand new campaign:
SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!
This is patriotism, people. Pure and simple. Purchase a high definition home theater system to watch a Blu-ray Disc or play a video game, and you employ the millions who designed, built, shipped, sold, and installed your gear. Not to mention the thousands of names on the credits of that epic film or game franchise based on your favorite best selling novel. And don’t forget the fnancial obligations of handsome high-def writers and reviewers.
With our civil duties properly outlined, it’s time to prepare. First: Budget, budget, budget. Remember, we’re in the “want” category of life (as opposed to “need”) so save your pennies first, then spend only what you have.
Second: Research is key. In the crowded, frenzied malls of the season, you don’t have the time to park the car, let alone properly demo gear. So head to the stores in advance, ask friends, read reviews (or helpful holiday shopping guides written by handsome high-def writers), and above all, loving shopper, listen to your husband/wife/kids to see what they really want this year.
TO BLACK FRIDAY OR NOT TO BLACK FRIDAY?
The Bard’s most famous question (or close approximation there of) for those who now have their list of wants. Black Friday Info is your go-to source for all sales on the day. But is it really worth it to spend a night on an icy sidewalk outside sears? The truth is, Black Friday is just a marketing gimmick. And like all things that worked well to bring out droves of potential consumers, it’s no longer limited to one day a year.
Amazon starts “Black Friday” this Monday, November 23 with a week of deals (as always, Amazon is the place to be for free shipping and no sales tax (unless you live in Washington state)). Beyond that, most stores are going to be riddled with sales for the rest of the year. The key is to look out for the products you already want, and cross check the major retailers to find the best price (many have price-matching policies, which create easy one-stop shopping).
With our list in hand, it’s time to get shopping, and save money while doing it. Here’s a list of fantastic gear I’d ask Santa for this year as well as recommend to my friends and family. I know everyone’s budget is different, so I've tried to find entry, mid, and high-end options to help start or improve your home theater set up (as usual, faithful readers, add your own suggestions to the forums!):
HDTVS
Remember the golden rule: below 40 inches, don’t worry about 1080p because you’ll probably be sitting too far away to tell the difference. I always tell my friends to get the biggest TV they can afford/fit because with HD, you’ll always want more.
Sony Bravia KDL-40V5100. At around $879, this 40-inch, entry-level LCD has a solid picture, and 120hz.
JVC LT-46P300. Find this 46-inch LCD for just over $1,000. Another entry-level model, this one is pretty big, has a good picture, and an easy-to-use built-in iPod/iPhone dock which can be hooked to your home theater receiver via the TV’s Dolby Digital out on the back.
Panasonic TC-P54V10. This massive 54-inch plasma sells for $2,399, is Internet ready, and according to CNET delivered “the overall best picture quality of any flat-panel HDTV we’ve tested so far this year.” Plasmas excel at deep, rich black levels, and it won’t have the same motion flicker that bothers some LCD owners.
Mitsubishi 737 Series. The last of the rear projection DLP. If you don’t need to hang something on a wall, and want “bigger for cheaper,” look for this series at 60 inches for as little as $1,200. The whopping 82-incher sells for $4,500 (forklift not included).
Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR10. At 52-inches and $3,999, the super thin XBR10 featuring 240Hz anti-blur technology is Sony’s flagship LED-LCD. Not only does this HDTV have every adjustment imaginable, but it has built-in web capabilities, and wireless high-def hookup. Simply mount this flat panel on the wall (and over the power outlet). Then, hook up the separate “Media Box” to your receivers, Blu-ray Disc players, and cable boxes. Simple. No need to run or hide cables.
BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS
LG BD370. A well priced, fully functional Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Disc player, the BD370 retails for $150, and can be hardwired with a broadband Internet connection for access to streaming content such as Netflix, YouTube, and CinemaNow.
LG BD390. At $270, the BD390 is the older brother. Same great picture and sound, but the BD 390 has a built-in Wi-Fi abilities, and includes access to Vudu’s On Demand streaming service. Vudu’s “HDX” encoded movies look and sound almost as good as the Blu-rays you’re watching.
Sony PlayStation 3. At $299 for the newer slim, the PS3 is an amazing, versatile machine. Still, in my opinion, the best console around. Not only is it a wireless Internet ready Blu-ray disc player, it has its own web browser, a huge hard drive to act as a media server, and, oh yeah, it plays video games.
RECEIVERS
Finding a great, multi-feature receiver is pretty easy, and quite affordable. In addition to the brands and models listed below, check out Harmon/Kardon, Pioneer, Yamaha, and Integra for great, modern AVRs (or audio/video receivers capable of HDMI video/audio content used in Blu-ray and even cable or satellite boxes).
Denon AVR 1610. At $379, this is a great entry-level machine. It has 3 HDMI inputs, and can decode all the newer HD audio codecs into stunning 5.1 surround sound, 75 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD (total harmonic distortion).
Denon AVR 2310. For $849, one gets 5 HDMI inputs, 7.1 surround sound capabilities, 105 watts per channel @ 0.08% THD and bells n’ whistles like Audyssey MutlEQ and Dolby’s new ProLogic IIz. Personally speaking, I have last year’s model, the 2309, and I can’t turn it up loud enough.
Onkyo TX-NR5007. For $2,295, one gets this monster of an AVR: THX Ultra2 Plus certified, 8 HDMI inputs, new technologies like Dolby Volume and ProLogic IIz, and a staggering 9.2 channels of surround sound with 145 watts per channel @.05% THD.
SPEAKERS
There are literally so many choices out there, it should always be noted that speakers are best tested out by each individual buyer. If you don’t like these, check out Infinity, Definitive Technology, Martin Logan, and Klipsch. There’s something for everyone, and the main lesson here is simple:
Never use your TV’s own speakers. They’re cheap, and can never compare to a 5.1 surround sound experience.
Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 Speaker System. Your choice of black or white finishes, this is the perfect little system for someone just starting out in surround sound, or who needs to save on space. Take it home for $499.99.
HSU Research HB-1 MK2 5.1 package. Home Theater Sound’s 2008 product of the year, this set for mid-sized rooms provides outstanding performance at a bargain. Priced online direct from HSU, pick these up for as little as $1149 (for the satin black finish), which includes 1 HC-1 MK2 center, 4 HB-1 MK2s bookshelf speakers, and 1 VTF-1 Sub.
Kef iQ Series 7.1 Speaker System. Britain’s own Kef Speakers are fantastic. Deep lows, clean mids, and mountainous highs. Checking around online (using 2 iQ90 fronts, 1 iQ60C center, 4 iQ30 surrounds, and the PSW2500BL Sub), bring home Kef in 7.1 channels for $2320. There are cheaper options as well (smaller fronts, or less surrounds), but these are world class speakers for a fair price.
In the speaker world, there is no budget limitations (Revel’s Ultima2 Salon2 front Towers are ONLY $21,998 per pair!). Above are some, albeit pricey, “entry-level” surround sound systems featuring quality satellite, bookshelf, and floor standing speakers. But I implore you to only buy when you hear what you love and can’t live with out. Happy hunting.
HD ACCESSORIES
No surround sound system is complete without a few finishing details:
Monoprice is a great place to save on all sorts of accessories, including speaker wire, HDMI cables and flat panel wall mounts. Accessories are like printing money for local retailers. They’re hugely overpriced, and you’ll save when you remember to NEVER BUY MONSTER CABLE. Do they work well? Of course, but why buy name brands when the Monoprice version works just as well, yet sells for a 10th of the price? It’s okay, I’ll wait for your answer.
Don’t forget a universal, computer programmable remote to easily run the whole system (the technical term is making it “wife proof” because who really wants to figure out what each of the 7 remotes on the coffee table actually do?). The Logitech Harmony series is excellent. I have owned the 550 and 880. The Harmony One, at under $200, is easy to program, illuminates in the dark and includes a rechargeable battery, but remember: if you want to run your PlayStation 3 using a Harmony remote, you will need the $60 “PS3 Adaptor” to go along with it.
MOVIE & GAME DEMOS
.Now that you have your first system, or maybe you’ve just brought home a new Blu-ray Disc Player, video game console, or surround sound system, it’s time for the best part: DEMO!!! Time to show yourself and your family that there will be no buyers’ remorse for this money well spent because if there’s one way to win over high-def converts, it’s to simply let the technology speak for itself. Here’s a handful of must buys for cinema and gaming enthusiasts:
‘Star Trek’ is out now, and this action/special features packed reboot soars in high definition.
‘The Godfather Collection’has never looked this good, classic cinema lovers.
‘Up ’ might be the newest Pixar release, but this year alone they’ve released (or re-released) ‘Monsters, Inc.’, ‘Cars’, and ‘A Bug’s Life’ on Blu-ray disc. Not only do these movies represent the finest digital picture and sound, but Pixar continues to make the best movies of any year. There’s no better way to gather as a family, than over heartwarming adventures that connect to every generation with equal appeal.
‘Taken’ is a visceral ride for adult-oriented action junkies, and along those lines, watch the opening studio logos for ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’. Viewing the movie itself may cause brain damage, but kudos to the sound engineers for engaging the viewer on every flying star as they whoosh across the screen and settle around the word “Paramount.” It’s stunning.
TV fans won’t find better television, or better high definition than this year’s releases of ‘LOST: The Complete First Season’ and ‘Band of Brothers’.
As for gaming, look no further for stunning graphics than these bestsellers and new releases: ‘Madden 10’, ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’, ‘Gran Turismo 5: Prologue’ (the most realistic driving graphics I’ve ever seen, courtesy of the PS3), ‘HALO 3: ODST’, ‘Assassin’s Creed 2’, and ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’.
Happy hunting. Happy saving. And Happy Holidays, dearest readers, from all of us at High-Def Digest. And remember, always:
SAVE AMERICA. BUY HIGH-DEF!
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3D Blu-ray Coming Next Year
Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 06:00 PM ETTags: 3D, Industry Trends, Michael S. Palmer, Blu-con (all tags)
Our recap of Blu-con 2.0 continues with a look at the emerging world of Blu-ray 3D!
By Michael S. PalmerExtra! Extra! Read all about it!
3D is the hottest thing in movies right now. It’s a box office buoying premium experience that has captured audience attention around the globe (internationally, ‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ is the third highest grossing movie of all time, behind only ‘Titanic’ and ‘Return of the King’). And next year, it could be in your friggin' living room!
The Blu-ray Disc Association, a 170-company conglomerate responsible for establishing Blu-ray standards, is currently finishing up specs (a.k.a. requirements) that will usher Blu-ray into the 3D era. They plan to announce these new specs next month (before the end of this year), with the hope that manufacturers can produce equipment by Christmas 2010, perhaps even sooner. Panasonic was in house to say that they consider 3D a “revolution, not just a small feature.” They’re planning to get to “mass market pricing” as soon as possible. 3D won’t simply be for “the exotic few” who can afford luxury.
What do we know?
Though the standards are not finalized, we know we’ll be getting full 1080p video projected to both the right and left eyes. And they’re building in backwards compatibility on hardware AND software. Meaning, not only will 3D Blu-ray players be able to play CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and 3D Blu-rays, but 3D Blu-rays will also play in 2D Blu-ray players (but ONLY in 2D).
Wait, so none of my current equipment will play 3D?
Correct. The BDA wants you to know that your current devices aren’t going to be obsolete (which is why they built in the backwards compatibility onto the discs themselves), this is just an added layer for those who want it. Meaning, 3D at home requires the purchase of a 3D Blu-ray player as well as a 3D Blu-ray compatible TV and 3D glasses (which will be handled by the TV manufacturers).
So how does it look (a.k.a. is it worth it to wear silly glasses)?
As a fan of all things high def and a rampant early adopter. Ohhhhh yeah! Panasonic had a slick demo at Blu-Con 2.0 displaying 1080p to each eye, 120 frames-per-second. They’re planning to have their 3D devices available as a bundle (player, plasma TV, and glasses) when the technology hits the big box stores next year. We screened the trailer for Disney’s ‘A Christmas Carol’, footage from the 2008 summer Olympics / a preview for the 2010 winter games, and the teaser trailer of James Cameron’s ‘Avatar.’ Having recently seen both trailers in 3D cinemas (‘A Christmas Carol’ was on the ‘Toy Story 1 & 2’ double feature), they looked exactly as they did in the theatre. Both the good and bad aspects. The 3D effects were great, but sometimes the focus was hard to find and the image could be occasionally dim (thanks to wearing glasses; Roger Ebert wrote about this in his review of ‘Up’). But the 3D HD video footage of the sporting events was breathtaking. I’ve never seen anything like it (except for IMAX, which stands seven stories tall). It literally felt like there was a portal in the wall of this demo truck, and that I could have leapt through it into the stadiums of Beijing, or onto the snowy ski trails outside of Vancouver. It was so bright, clear, and crisp (sign me up for the first 3D Super Bowl).
One of the themes of the Blu-Con is that Blu-ray needs that wow factor to break into the mass market beyond the ten or so percent it has currently reached (interesting note, no video format has ever hit 10% of a market share and NOT gone on to mass adoption). That Blu-ray and its BD-Live technology need to be so exciting, people forcibly drag friends and families over to see it, and say, “you gotta get Blu-ray, look at what it does.” It’s been a huge obstacle to get people away from, “yeah, well my DVDs look good, so why do I need Blu-ray?”
3D Blu-ray is the game changer. Anyone and everyone will see the difference, whether or not they understand data rates, bandwidth, or other tech terms. This is the leap forward DVD brought to the home entertainment world over VHS in 1997. Look out cinemas. We may soon have a reason to never leave the house again.
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Review: Netflix Streaming on Sony’s PlayStation 3
Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05:20 PM ETTags: Netflix, PS3, PlayStation 3, Sony, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
Michael Palmer got his hands on a Netflix Streaming Disc for the PS3 and gave it a whirl. Here's what he thought of it...
By Michael S. Palmer
Following Sony’s new marketing campaign (“It Only Does Everything”), Netflix Streaming has finally arrived on the PS3. When announcements were made last month that we’d finally be joining the ranks of the Xbox 360 as well as various LG, Samsung, and Insignia networked Blu-ray Disc players, I immediately signed up for my free Netflix “Instant Streaming Disc.” I wasn’t exactly sure why they were sending me a disc, thinking that it would be some type of firmware update. But it turns out (or, if I had read the announcement further than “go here to sign up for your free disc”) the Instant Streaming Disc is actually a Blu-ray, which uses BD-Live to stream movies and television episodes from the Netflix server. Meaning, every time you want to stream content, the Instant Streaming Disc must first be inserted into the PS3.
Setting It Up.
Netflix Streaming on the PS3 rquires: a Netflix membership subscription plan with unlimited viewing included (1-at-a-time DVDs with unlimited streaming is $8.99/month, and $10.99/month for a 1-at-a-time with Blu-ray Disc access), the free Netflix Instant Streaming disc, and a broadband internet connection (hard wired or wireless).
For installation and title selection, you’ll at first need both a computer and your PS3 (in the future, one could use the PS3’s internal internet browser). First, insert the Instant Streaming Disc into the PS3. An unlocking code will show up on your TV’s screen. From there hop over to your Netflix account, in the “Watch Instantly” tab, where it will ask you for that code. Once entered, the PS3 will sync up your Instant Queue. Selected titles can be arranged as you see fit, just like your DVD Queue. It’s handy to pick carefully here, because if you have a lot of titles, scrolling over to the last one can be a bit time consuming.
Daily Use.
Running the disc brings you to your Instant Queue. Clicking to the right (using either a remote, or a PS3 game controller – I personally am using a Harmony 880 via the Nyko PS2 USB adapter. Logitech now makes a PS3 adapter for their remotes) scrolls you through your Queue. Click UP and then to the right to access other categories, such as Recently Watched, New Arrivals: Movies, New Arrivals: TV, Comedy, Drama, Action, and a myriad of other genres.
Click (or press down) on any title to “play,” give the title a star rating, or “remove from Instant Queue.” Once a movie is started, options will change to “resume playing” or “play from the beginning.” TV shows are organized by season, so play options include “Play Episode 1” or “Choose Episode.” “Play,” “pause,” “fast forward” and “rewind” buttons work as they should (though fast forward and rewinding require 10 or so seconds to buffer). But pressing stop will exit you out streaming all together (taking you back to the PS3’s menu); to go back to your Instant Queue, simply press “menu” and then click “up.”
Movies and TV episodes are available in “HD” (AVC encodes oscillating between 1.5 and 5 Mbps) and SD (running just under 600 kbps), with all audio in two-channel, stereo Dolby Digital. There are over 17,000 movie and TV titles. TV shows are a mix of old and new; movies are generally older, given contracts movie studios have in place with pay cable outlets which streaming would violate. “Starz Play” titles are newer releases (anything that’s currently playing on the Starz network), but they don’t appear to be in “HD.”
Impressions.
For anyone savvy enough to have a Netflix account and a PS3 already, this is a no brainer. It’s free (well, included in your subscription), and easy for those of us who have no trouble surfing the web. For folks less technically savy, this service is more difficult than using cable or satellite On Demand services because you can’t manage your account from one location.
Quality-wise, Netflix Streaming certainly isn’t a Blu-ray killer, let alone even competitor, but I suppose that’s not really the point. This is an added feature to allow subscribers more content and added value. Quote-unquote HD content is “serviceable.” Not as good as HD cable/satellite, but a bit more resolution than DVD. I checked out ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (a fantastic Blu-ray, btw) and the opening sequence of ‘Scorpion King 2’. These two features weren’t as clear as the Vudu HDX titles I’ve seen, nor as good as Quicktime HD movie trailers. They suffered from banding, blocking, and digital artifacts. Once my expectations were in the proper place, I was generally pleased. This would be a good way to see a title when you didn’t want to wait for Netflix to send out your next disc. The one thing to mention here is that my Internet connection did drop out once, and so ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ paused, and started replaying in SD, which was no comparison. To get it back up to “HD”, I hit “menu”, and “resumed playing” which re-buffered the feed, and brought it back in “HD.”
On my 52” Sony LCD, the SD streaming content was subpar (but truthfully, most SD content doesn’t look great). It’s like watching a non-anamorphic widescreen DVD, and “zooming in” your TV to make it fill more of the screen. Images and text are hazy, fuzzy, and colors are muddy. Here I checked out ‘Armageddon’ (which was in anamorphic widescreen), ‘Dead Space: Downfall’ (non-anamorphic widescreen) and ‘Big Bry’s Western Style BBQ’ (1.33:1). Each title had its own disappointment. ‘Armageddon’ was blocky, and less engaging without its 5.1 mix; ‘Dead Space’ looked clear, but it had letterboxing and pillar boxing happening at the same time; and ‘Big Bry’s’ audio was out of sync for the entire presentation (though, this might not be the fault of the service).
Despite its ease of use, and the fact that it’s free (Xbox 360 owners have to pay over $50/year for Xbox Live Gold service), my biggest complaint is the necessary Instant Streaming Disc. Sure it’s a nifty use of BD-Live, and no doubt there’s a specific, genius-computer-programmer reason as to why it had to be designed this way, but frankly, it’s cumbersome. Is it really THAT hard to get up off the couch and insert a disc, like when playing any Blu-ray or DVD? Of course not, but like the PlayStation Store or Network, streaming content seems better served for when you can exit out of a movie or game, and then click over to something else. Now streaming is forced to be a conscious choice, and given the quality of the service, it might be a better value to pop in another Blu-ray or in some cases, a DVD. At least with many DVDs, you’re getting a discreet surround sound mix.
Bottom Line.
Though Netflix Streaming may have its uses (digging back in to childhood classics like ‘Voltron’!), and it’s great to bring another feature to the PS3, video/audiophiles need not apply. The current lack of quality will be bothersome. Hopefully, with time, the streaming / video encoding quality will grow along with the selection of “HD” content. For now, enjoy what you can.
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Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Disc Players Heart Streaming Content
Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 06:00 PM ETTags: Blu-con, Michael S. Palmer, Industry Trends (all tags)
Our recap of Blu-con 2.0 continues with news on the growing number of Blu-ray players capable of streaming video content.
By Michael S. PalmerThere we were. Blu-Con 2.0. Up on the stage, sitting mere inches apart: mortal enemies and rental competitors Netflix and Blockbuster. Nothing overtly dramatic happened, sadly, but there was an awkward tension in the air. Netflix the young upstart; Blockbuster the foundering giant. Then came the numbers: Netflix plans to ship discs through 2030; they currently have 11 million subscribers, with 1 million of those paying a premium for Blu-ray access. Blockbuster, not to be outdone, claims 50 million people per day enter its stores (Seem a little high to anyone?), in addition to forming new alliances with TiVo and Samsung for “Blockbuster Online.”
Despite jabs over who offers older streaming content (Netflix*) vs. newer releases (Blockbuster, CinemaNow), it was clear to these companies (and their researchers) that physical media is here to stay. Many of you may be downloading and streaming, but most consumers still identify a “purchase” or “ownership” with a tangible object (obviously this excludes music). As evidence, consider the fact that people were still buying VHS/DVD combo units as recently as last year. Because they own physical copies of movies.
This is fantastic news for Blu-ray as big box retailers like Best Buy and Walmart join forces with hardware manufactures and Hollywood studios to push Blu-ray into the 90% of homes who do not yet have it. The final sales quarter is immensely important for Blu-ray and for the first time, Blu-ray disc is a top 10 most-wanted holiday gift for adults. This could be the year where customers finally understand why their HDTVs need quality high-def source material. Where Blu-ray becomes mainstream.
But Blu-ray isn’t a standalone feature anymore. Slow, oversized, single-minded, clunky machines have given way to sleek, broadband-capable home media centers. Blu-ray Disc’s always had great picture and sound. And now the Profile 2.0 players have arrived in a big way, offering extra choices / content for customers.
In fact, “available choices” is what it means to be a modern consumer (“I want it all. I want it all. And I want it now!”). This is why Blu-ray needs streaming / download services as much as streaming / download services need Blu-ray. It’s a symbiotic relationship of mutual benefit, which all ties into what Blu-ray players do, and where they're located in the home.
Alone, Blu-ray has spectacular picture and unbeatable sound. Its abilities all stem from digital bandwidth, which is three to six times higher than most broadband internet connections, meaning its quality easily trumps streaming options (though Vudu HDX sure comes close). But, watching a Blu-ray is an “occasion”: a once or twice per week “event.” And, Blu-ray either means a trip to a physical location such as Best Buy and Blockbuster, or a multi-day wait from Netflix or online retailers like Amazon.
Streaming / digital downloads can be instant, and portable. There’s no trip to any store. Available titles aren’t out of stock, or listed as a “long wait”, though selection is (at present) limited, and downloading an entire movie can sometimes take just as long as a trip to the local Best Buy.
The real obstacle facing Internet based services? Families really don’t want to sit around a computer. Sure it’s nice when traveling, or in a dorm room, but the majority of Americans now have giant HDTVs and plush, inviting seating (we worked hard to pay for those comforts, and by God, we aim to use them!). Streaming has largely not been the domain of the living room. Sure Apple, Vudu and Netflix all offered separate boxes that you could hook up to the TV, but too many individual set top boxes is confusing for most. And, truthfully, none of these boxes flew off the shelf.
Now we have networked Blu-ray Disc players. Queen of the living room (where the HDTV is King), they multi-task for just about any type of media you could want. Still have a library of CDs and DVDs? Check. Want to watch your favorite new movies in stunning high def on Blu-ray? Check. Don’t want to bother going out, so the reduced quality of streaming is okay? Check. Feel the need to fire up YouTube to see dancing kittens, local news anchors swearing on camera, and red necks setting fireworks off in their pants? Check. Check. And Check. Using your Blu-ray player is no longer an “event” – it’s a convenient content portal, and it might as well be on and in use almost as much as the TV or computer.
In the modern era of media consumption, formats are no longer about winning or losing the entire market. Blu-ray is amazing, but unnecessary without the large TV and surround sound. Digital content is quick and portable, but lacks quality. But why separate them? The new future is one where we buy or rent CONTENT, not a format (see Best Buy’s announcement of building CinemaNow into most of its products). For example, with the just released ‘UP’ Blu-ray, the 4-disc set includes a Blu-ray for the home theatre, a DVD for the car or kids’ room, and a digital copy for an iPod or laptop on the go. Sure we can’t be tethered to the living room, but when not out and about, Profile 2.0 Blu-ray players just make sense. And they make things simple. No one wants 800 components under their TV. Few as possible please, with a variety of services.
We’re in the infant stages of these cross-media platforms, but here’s a rundown on where to find these integrated streaming / download services that were featured at Blu-Con 2.0, as well as a recent Dolby event I attended:
Netflix streaming is subscription based, and included with rental plans over $8.99/month. It works with Roku, TiVo DVRs, Xbox 360, LG / Samsung / Insignia Blu-ray players, LG TVs, LG & Samsung Blu-ray Home Theater Systems, and now the Playstation 3.
Vudu is like on demand. Individual rentals and purchases. Check out on LG TVs (LH50 & PS80), Mitsubishi TVs (the Unisen Dimaond 249 series) and the LG BD390 Blu-ray Disc player.
Blockbuster Online services can be individual rentals or purchase, but I believe the service can be part of their subscription package. This is brand new, and available on TiVO DVRs and Samsung Blu-ray Disc players (BD-P1600, BD-P3600, BD-P4600), Samsung Home Theater Systems (HT-BD1250, HT-BD3252, HT-BD7200, HD-BD8200), and Samsung internet ready LED / LCD / Plasma TVs.
Roxio’s CinemaNow works with TiVo DVRs and LG Blu-ray Disc players (BD370 & BD390).
* Due to its subscription nature, Netflix is unable to stream newer movies due to distribution deals made with pay cable outlets, such as HBO. TV shows like ‘Heroes’ appear the day after broadcast, and Netflix does have an output deal with Starz, but Starz movies stream much later than the Blu-ray/DVD release of the movie. Blockbuster, Vudu, and CinemaNow each download, or stream new releases because one pays per rental.
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BD-Live Hopes to Connect Viewers to Movies AND People
Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 04:00 PM ETTags: BD-Live, Industry Trends, Blu-con, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
By Michael S. Palmer
Reps from Walt Disney, Sony, Universal, and Fox gathered for a panel at this year’s Blu-Con 2.0 to discuss the present and future of BD-Live.
Currently, 4 million Blu-rays connect to BD-Live every month. 50% of users return to the various portals (1984-esque tangent: Sony remembers your player’s I.P. address, and thus knows if you repeatedly access digital content. Big Brother knows where you are at all times!).
I’ve always wondered why BD-Live features have been so lackluster. Apparently, the challenge here is education. Studios and retailers are already educating the consumer on alien terms like HDTV, HDMI, 1080p, 7.1 and Blu-ray. Creating a brand new social experience for BD-Live and having to educate the consumer even further is an uphill battle on top of an uphill battle. Which is why the current strategy for studios is to build upon technology and habits that already exist (via iPhone apps, and partnerships with popular websites like Facebook and IMDB.com). To them, BD-Live should be not only an extension / augmentation of the movie, but also of the consumer’s life.
Here’s a run down of strategies / features by studio:
How can they make it easy, dynamic, and interactive?
Their first BD-Live title was ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ and since then they’ve had the ‘Hannah Montanna’ movie tied to Radio Disney, and the recent ‘Snow White’ features include “living menus” that change appearance according to the time and local weather, as well as the ability to receive a phone call from a Disney princess.
‘Lost - Season 5’ will feature “Lost University” (http://www.lostuniversity.org/). LU, with its Polar Bear mascot, is a Blu-ray/BD-Live exclusive, and gives Lost’s rabid fan base a chance to not only learn about the show, but also to study the themes and mythology built into the Lost universe. Disney hopes that ‘Lost’ fans who have yet to go Blu will buy Blu-ray players in order to participate.
SONY: Every release since April of 2008 has featured BD-Live (and of course, it should, given that their parent company invented Blu-ray). Initially, the BD-Live link was to a portal for additional content downloads and a chance to fill out surveys to let Sony know how they’re doing. Snore.
Recently, however, Sony’s focus has been two-fold. 1) The chance to edit clips from the movies (as seen on ‘Step Brothers,’ ‘Year One,’ and the upcoming ‘Snatch’) and post them on Facebook. And 2) “MovieIQ,” which is a live interactive database about the movie’s cast, crew, and production. A nifty feature bound for ‘Julie & Julia’ (Dec. 8th) is the ability to choose and email yourself recipes from the movie as it plays.
UNIVERSAL: Admittedly arriving late to the Blu-ray world last year, Universal sees the BD-Live experience as something that should be “simple and sharable.” On their discs, look for “community screenings” (everyone around the country, or world, watches the film at the same time, chatting about it via BD-Live), and integrated Facebook / iPhone applications. Recently, for ‘Fast & Furious’ Universal released a car customizing iPhone app (build a car, and share with your friends online) that has proved popular.
FOX: Sharing similar buzz words as simple and social, Fox introduced “Live Lookup” with ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ a few months ago. Integrated with IMDB.com, it’s similar to Sony’s “MovieIQ”, but for my money, much more fluid and visual. Frankly, it’s a shame that we have to have two different versions of the same feature, but I guess simplifying would involve too many lawyers.
Fox is also looking to get into community screenings, citing the desire to “elevate catalogue titles to event status.” Seems like in addition to dressing up, throwing props, and singing along to the ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’, the first rule of the ‘Fight Club’ Blu-ray will be to not talk about the fact that everyone’s supposed to show up to watch the flick at the same time.
WARNER was not in this panel, but they are very excited to host global community screenings for ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (Dec. 7th).
It’s clear, despite all efforts, that BD-Live has a way to go. Studios are researching their little hearts out to give us features like “Live Lookup,” and attempting to integrate their products into the arenas we already occupy. “Lost University” seems like a good start, but is admittedly only for die-hard fans. In the not-too-distant future, we could see e-commerce (the ability to buy products literally used in, or as seen in, the movie), editing movies in real time and inserting them into the film, putting your voice / likeness into the movies, or features akin to Google maps (posting/tagging user generated clips online that tie into filming locations).
Perhaps in addition to developing and selling their movies, bold new filmmakers will also create exciting opportunities for interactivity in watching their movies, which is usually very passive (except for popcorn consumption). Or maybe it’ll be you, dear readers, with the next kick ass idea. What do you want from BD-Live? What’s a “gotta have it” toy you’d love at your fingertips as your favorite flick unfurls in glorious high def?
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Blu-ray Brings a Smile to Martin Scorsese's Face!
Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:00 PM ETTags: Blu-con, Michael S. Palmer, Industry Trends (all tags)
By Michael S. Palmer
For this year’s Blu-Con 2.0, the keynote speaker was heralded master filmmaker and movie fan extraordinaire Martin Scorsese.
As an avid cinephile, restorer, and collector, he remembers the days when the only way to “own a movie” was through the poster. One could go to revival houses, of course, but after years of use and abuse, prints were scratched, faded, and even missing scenes.
Then came the videotape. The first chance to build a film collection for the home, but VHS was a very limited technology. DVDs were one step better. A boon to the cause of restoration. Yet even DVDs were troubling, with the squabble over aspect ratios (full screen vs. wide screen).
And now, Blu-ray disc. To Mr. Scorsese, despite the fact that the cinema going experience can never be fully recreated, Blu-ray is the closest home theatre has ever gotten. It marks the very best quality picture and sound. Visual clarity is so strong; it’s all encompassing, almost 3D. As for the audio, he recently remarked while mixing ‘Shine a Light’ that he was excited to know that what he and his team mixed, would transfer exactly to the home.
When asked what he thought about the ability to alter classic titles for Blu-ray release, (such as removing production wires from special effects, or remixing mono soundtracks into 5.1 stereo surround) Mr. Scorsese said that one must preserve the vision of the filmmaker, through elements such as correct aspect ratio, color, and sound.
In his own experience, when Mr. Scorsese originally released ‘Taxi Driver’ (which isn’t out on Blu-ray yet), the technology at the time limited him to a mono track, but Bernard Herman had recorded his haunting score in stereo (just like Warner Home Video did with the 'Wizard of Oz' in 2005). Returning to those elements isn’t a desecration of the original exhibition, but a chance for the filmmaker to use technology that was unavailable to them when they were making their movies. He wanted us to remember that there were actually early versions of stereo 60+ year ago (Walt Disney’s ‘Fantasia’ was the first, exhibited in 1940 in “Fantasound”), used for such classics as ‘A Star is Born’ and ‘Shane.’
Regarding special effects, moderator Grover Crisp (SVP, Asset Management, Film Restoration & Digital Mastering, Sony Pictures Entertainment) spoke with Scorsese about the recent 4K restoration of ‘Dr. Strangelove.’ There were strings in some shots of the planes. Sony left the strings in for the studio’s master so they would always have them, but for the Blu-ray release removed the them, as the medium is so clear, on today’s larger television, the strings would have been distracting. Something Stanley Kubrick never wanted his audiences to see. As a fascinating anecdote, Mr. Scorsese said in the early 1990s Kubrick was self-preserving ‘Dr. Strangelove’ using a 35mm still camera, photographing it frame-by-frame. Scorsese chuckled, and then admitted that he wasn’t sure if Kubrick ever concluded this project.
Peter Bogdanovich said there are, “no old movies, just ones you haven’t seen.” And it’s through Blu-ray that Scorsese finds this especially true. Blu-ray has the ability to extend the life of film, in that it presents and preserves all the elements that make this visual medium feel like film (grain, texture, color etc). He said with previous home entertainment formats, audiences might not have been able to tell you exactly why a movie wasn’t as good as it was in the theater. Yet subconsciously they could feel it when clarity, color, and quality were lost.
When asked about his favorite Blu-ray movie, Mr. Scorsese didn’t want to pick just one, but admitted that every time he fires up John Ford’s ‘The Searchers,’ even just to check it out, he can’t turn it off. It still holds up, it’s very moving, and there’s beauty in the landscape and the nature of the faces.
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High-Def Digest Attends Virtual Roundtable with ‘Up’ Filmmakers
Fri Oct 30, 2009 at 05:16 PM ETTags: Michael S. Palmer, Disney (all tags)
The folks at Pixar set aside some time from their busy schedules to answer a few questions for the press and we have the scoop!
By: Michael S. Palmer
Got an exciting invite to join a virtual roundtable (read: chat room) with the filmmakers behind this year’s funniest, most exciting, and most emotional movie, ‘Up’. On hand were Pete Docter (director / writer for ‘Up,’ as well as the director of ‘Monsters, Inc.’ and story collaborator on ‘Toy Story 1 & 2’, ‘Monsters, Inc.’, and ‘Wall-E’) and Bob Peterson (co-director/ writer / the voice of Dug for ‘Up’ and one of the screenwriters on ‘Finding Nemo’). Even over instant message, these two guys were charming, personable, and their enthusiasm was infectious.
I’d like to thank all the loyal readers for sending in such excellent questions to the forum over the last week. Sadly, with so many people involved with this chat from around the globe, most of the technical, HD-related questions were unanswered. Next time, I hope!
Here’s a full transcript of the chat session so you can read what the filmmakers have to say in their own words. Enjoy.
Q: What do you think it is the most important adventure in life?
Bob Peterson: The great thing about this film and any film we work on is that it contains truths taken from our lives. Pixar lets the directors create an "autobiography." in other words, things that are important to us make it into the film. I do believe that the greatest adventures happen between me and my kids, my wife, and in small moments. A morning around the kitchen table eating breakfast is an adventure in my house!!!!
HDD’s one answered Question: Was there a draft of the script before you took this research trip (as featured in the Blu-ray special feature “The Adventure is Out There”), or was it more of a treatment/outline, which was shaped by the locations?
Bob Peterson: We had a few drafts under our belt before we headed South. We workshop all of our stories until right before the film comes out, so we had some key elements of the story that were still in flux - mainly Charles Muntz. We hadn't figured out why he would go to South America and stay there for so long - the idea of Kevin the bird therefore was still being developed. We wondered about making Kevin more magical - the bird who lays golden eggs, or contained the secret to eternal life. In the end, we went with a more "conventional" primitive bird who's bones cause Muntz' Geographic society to doubt his credibility.
Q: In the ‘Up’ Blu-Ray, you talk about being inspired by a drawing of a grumpy old man holding balloons. At what point did you realize you had a movie, and not just a premise?
Bob Peterson: I think the first pitch to John Lasseter when we made him cry (with no visuals!) did we think we had the emotional underpinnings of the story!! Storywise we had finally cracked Carl's motivation for escaping life - that he had lived an amazing relationship with his life that ended in something not quite completed. It's a good feeling when you find that nugget of truth in your story. Humor and characters will come in and out of a story, but that nugget will remain.
Q: In conversations with Ronnie del Carmen and Peter Sohn, they both talked about the advantages of collaboration: animators adding stuff you wouldn't have thought of. Are there any scenes in particular where somebody gave you an idea that was better than you originally intended?
Pete Docter: ALL of the scenes got better in animation! But there were certain parts that really came to life once we started in animation -- like where Russell climbs up Carl in an attempt to scramble up to the house. All the business of him stepping on Carl's nose and stomach was stuff we added in animation. The Bird was another one that was fun to animate. Tony Rosenast was the storyboard artist, and he came up with really funny stuff for that scene where they meet Kevin, but pantomime characters like Kevin just come to life once you get them moving.
Q: What was your favorite sequence in the film, and why?
Pete Docter: I personally like the part we call "Married Life" -- the wordless section showing Carl and Ellie's life together. I think it plays to the strengths of film and animation in general, letting the visuals tell the story. And it seems to hit home for people. The bookend to this sequence is also one of my favorites -- where Carl looks through Ellie's adventure book (towards the end of the film).
Q: One of the most amazing things in “Up” is the treatment of Carl and Ellie’s love story. How was this crucial storyline developed?
Bob Peterson: Great question. This love story was the spine of whole movie. When we develop these films we look for themes that guide us in how we tell the story. As the process of writing progressed, we realized that our main theme was "How does a person define adventure?" Is adventure out there in great deeds, or can it also be between people in the small moments that make up a life. Carl and Ellie's love story helped us tell that theme - that small moments lead to a life's adventure.
Q: Is there anything about the movie that you're still not satisfied with?
Pete Docter: We've trained ourselves to look for ways to improve our films at every turn. As John Lasseter says, we never actually finish our films, we just release them. So yes, every time I watch UP I see things I would change... cut out two frames here for better timing, add another gag there... but overall I am happy with it. (I'd better be after 5 years of work).
Q: What's the most rewarding thing you've learned or taken from making this movie?
Pete Docter: Hmm, tough question. Overall I'd have to say that the best thing was the experience of making it -- the research, the work, and most of all the amazing people we got to work with. Bob is a swell chap and an amazingly talented fellow.
Q: Which character from UP do you find that you most relate to?
Pete Docter: I relate most to Carl. I find myself griping about how they changed this or that, or how music these days is a bunch of noise. I'm going to make an excellent old man.
Q: I've read a lot about the character of Carl as inspired by actor Spencer Tracy, but not so much about the source of Charles Muntz. Could you confirm if, in some way, it is inspired by actors as Errol Flynn or Clark Gable, funny adventurers?
Pete Docter: Yeah, we looked at Spencer Tracy, Walter Matthau, James Whitmore... as well as our own grandparents. For Muntz we modeled him on strong, 30's era adventurous types -- Errol Flynn and Walt Disney were two inspirations, as well as real life adventurers like Roald Amundsen and Percy Faucett.
Q: Of all the exotic locales in the world, why did you choose South America as the place of Carl and Russell's big adventure?
Bob Peterson: We wanted our locale to reflect and resonate with Carl's emotional state in the film. The Tepuis, or table-top mountains, of South America are old, isolated, rugged, dangerous but with a soulful beauty - a pretty good description of Carl! Going there gave us a good sense of what it would be like for Carl and his friends to be up there. In the film, we used a great many plants and rock shapes that we saw from the Tepui.
Q: It isn't the first time Pixar has used an old man as its main character (‘Geri’s Game’). Could you talk us about the challenge of the conception of a character like Carl, a lonely old man, in this film?
Pete Docter: Yeah, Geri's Game was great -- I got to animate a shot on it and was surprised by the challenge of animating an older guy. One of the biggest problems was to break habits we have as animators; we generally try to loosen up movement with things like overlapping action and nice fluid movements. Watching real old men, we noticed there is a stiffness that comes with age -- your bones fuse and you tend to be less flexible. So we came up with some rules for ourselves: Carl can't turn his head beyond 15-20 degrees without turning his upper torso, for example. He can't raise his arms too high. Then we also wanted to have him grow more flexible at the end, so he transforms into an action hero and rejoins life.
Q: Where did the character of Dug come from? What inspired that character?
Bob Peterson: The reason for Dug being in the film is that we wanted to give Carl a new family after his wife passes on. We essentially gave him a family dog, a grandson...and a 12 foot flightless bird. You know, a family! It is up to Carl to accept this new family in the body of the film, thus doing what his wife would have wanted - to move on and forge new relationships. Originally Dug and Kevin were with Carl alone (before Russell was created). Carl had no one to talk with so we invented the talking dog collars!
Q: Bob, did you model Dug’s character after any real dogs you own?
Bob Peterson: Of course! I've owned a lot of dogs in my life - Marcela, Rusty, Petey Pup, Precious, Rosy and Ava. Each were in love with life's simple pleasures, but being people in dog suits, as they seem to be, they each had a defined personality! Rosy, my present dog is very interested in squirrels!!!
Q: Bob, Dug is definitely an interesting character. Do you have fun voicing him? His characterizations are very engaging and likable. Do you ever see a feature film around Dug?
Bob Peterson: Thanks!! It was a thrill for me to voice him, mainly because I have been a dog owner/lover for my entire life. This dog collar idea let us animate Dug with true dog behaviors. I crafted Dug's voice around how I talk to my dogs. "Hiii you dawgs," I'll say with that Dug like voice. I also love how my dogs are interested in the simple things in life - balls, treats, SQUIRRELS!! Dogs to me have a soul - they're very emotional and I'm happy to pay homage to dogs with this character!
Q: Did you consider using other animals than dogs as companions for Muntz?
Bob Peterson: Not really. We felt that dogs could play a wide variety of roles in the film just as dogs do in our lives - from loveable companion to enforcers. Ultimately a dog's unquestioning love fit well with what Carl needed in the film - to accept new relationships in his life. And simply...DOGS ARE THE BEST!!!
Q: In an earlier interview, Pete Docter said he modeled Russell after Pixar's Pete Sohn and a boy in his son's Boy Scout troop. Has the "real" Russell seen the movie, and if so, what does he think of it?
Pete Docter: Russell's namesake, my son's friend, was happy with the film but told me we should add dinosaurs and a spy subplot to the story. (This is why I didn't show it to him until we were finished.) Jordan seemed to like it as well, though said he didn't really recognize his own voice.
Q: Watching one of the special features titled “Adventure Is Out There”, I was surprised to find out that six of the crew were left behind until a helicopter could return after weather conditions cleared up. Curious, were you guys scared out of your wits having to stay huddled inside the “Lou” during the storm, or did you all embrace the weather conditions and think "how are we going to incorporate this into our film”?
Pete Docter: Bob and I were lucky enough to be in the first two helicopter trips, so we were already down when the storm closed in. I was in the last copter shuttle, and when we flew out we saw huge storm clouds closing in. The pilot said, "That's going to be the last trip up here for today." Uh oh... Once down, someone got us food, but we felt too guilty to eat, knowing our pals were still up there. I had stood in the Lou during an earlier downpour and it was pretty cramped quarters. I can't imagine anyone would have slept at all had they been stuck there -- neither the group on the mountain nor the group back on the ground! All part of the adventure I guess.
Q: How do your children feel about your job?
Pete Docter: My kids don't seem to think it's unusual or unique. They probably think EVERYBODY works at a company where they ride scooters and eat candy. They're going to have a rude awakening when they graduate…
Bob Peterson: I have 3 kids who each feel differently about my job. My 14 year old has now grown up with 10 Pixar films. She loves what I do but doesn't want to brag to her friends - she wants to keep it "cool." At the same time she is taken by the glamour of Cannes, and the Oscars and wants to go with me to these events! My 7 year old is a good story sounding board for what is funny to kids. He loves to analyze the humor in our films. My 4 year old is confused when she hears my voice coming out of dogs and monster slugs!!!
Q: What was your experience like taking the film to Cannes?
Bob Peterson: It was like Alice going through the looking glass! Or another metaphor, it was like Pixar is a space administration and they sent us as astronauts to another planet. We kept pinching ourselves that it was real. Cannes after all welcomes amazing live action films with unique content. To be the first animated film to open the festival was an honor! The standing ovation after the film ended will be a memory I will always cherish.
Pete Docter: Cannes was amazing. It was overwhelming, like something out of a fever dream. Here we are, a bunch of geeks who draw cartoons, being mobbed by reporters and fans, at one of the most prestigious international film festivals in the world... I kept thinking, "You've got the wrong guys!" But we think of what we do as filmmaking -- not anything more or less. We don't think we should get any special "free pass," or be seated at the little kids' table, just because we use animation to tell our stories. And being selected to open the Cannes Film Festival showed us that the film community feels the same way. It was very gratifying.
Q: Can you give some advice to young people who would like to work in animation?
Bob Peterson: Several things. First of all, just start animating! Don't wait for someone to say it's ok. When I was younger I drew a comic strip that appeared everyday in my college newspaper - I got to draw a lot and get a ton of feedback from readers. This was invaluable to me as a storyteller today. Always carry a notebook to do sketches. Watch and analyze animation. Go to conferences and get to know people - it is who you know sometimes that does get you the job. The best advice is to make sure to get good life experiences - we draw from our experiences every day in story and animation!
Q: With “Up” being so adventurous and exciting, if there was a ride or attraction for “Up” at Disneyland or Disneyworld, what would you both like to see?
Bob Peterson: Pete Docter is so tall, that I think we could build a ride around him! Just string a gondola or ski lift up over his head, and you've got a great ride!! So far no plans for an UP ride, but of all of our films, with its adventurous flying and travel, UP seems like it would be a natural. As the voice of Dug, I'd love to have Dug appear in the theme parks somehow!
~~~~
Pete Docter: Well folks, it looks like it's time for me to get back to work. I'm back over in the development department, working on another original film. It's due out in 2014 and I'm already behind schedule. (Just kidding.) Nice talking to you all -- see you soon!
Bob Peterson: Thanks everyone! Great questions! Talk to you soon.
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- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Up (Blu-ray)
Dolby Brings the Surround Sound Experience to…EVERYTHING!
Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 04:15 PM ETTags: Industry Trends, Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
High-Def Digest's man in the field attends a Dolby Laboratories shindig in Los Angeles and leaves mighty impressed!
By Michael S. Palmer
Dolby Laboratories came to Los Angeles last week to demo, discuss, and display their current and emerging technologies. Keep in mind this wasn’t a specially designed lab. It was a few rooms in a hotel suite. Lots of glass. Wooden floors. Odd angles. About as far from sound-perfect as you can get. Just like my apartment, or your house. Yet Dolby sound soared.
As a company that’s existed since 1965, it’s too easy to think of Dolby as that logo, quietly stamped onto computers, audio receivers, music / video playback devices, and Blu-ray / DVD discs. Too easy to forget that Dolby and its employees, through a need to innovate and enhance consumer content, are continuously raising the bar of audio reproduction.
But what’s the difference between all their different brand names? How are they going to enrich my home entertainment experience?
That’s really the question, isn’t it? Content providers must give us access to their entertainment on every conceivable platform because the modern world is somehow both insanely connected, yet desperately segmented: Cine and audiophiles strive for home theatre perfection. Gamers compete and interact with others in a global environment. Tweens, Teens, and Twenty-somethings absorb digital content exclusively on phones and PCs. And our parents… well, they still don’t even know how to program the VCR (P.S. - What’s a “V-C-R?”).
Enter Dolby stage right. With a convenient set of products (based on Mensa-level mathematic algorithms) to help everyone get the fullest audio experience possible. Any where. Any time. On any platform.
[Author’s note: Now I know full well, some of you are already screaming, “what about DTS???” Feel free to continue the endless “which one is better” debate all you want. Our purpose here is simply to let you know what Dolby has to offer now (and in the near future). Cheers.]
For Traditional Home Theatre Enthusiasts
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The king of Dolby’s formats remains TrueHD. Nothing new on this. But for those not in the know, TrueHD is lossless audio that gives you a bit-for-bit reproduction of the original studio matter, in 8 channels (7.1 if you will). A.K.A., exactly how the filmmaker, or music producer heard it, and intended it to sound.
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Next up is Dolby Digital Plus, which was designed for times where there isn’t enough bandwidth for lossless audio. Dolby Digital Plus is capable of 7.1 surround sound, versus the 5.1 of standard Dolby Digital. It also has a wider bit rate, up to 1.5 Mbps.
You might be wondering, if we have Blu-ray, why would we ever want anything less than TrueHD? Well, Dolby Digital Plus was used for some HD-DVDs because of the limited room available on those discs, but currently Dolby has teamed with services like Vudu to stream surround sound online.
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Vudu has movie rentals available in SD (480p, requiring an internet connection speed of 1 Mbps – check with your Internet service provider if you don’t know what you have), HD (720p, requiring 2.25 Mbps), and HDX (1080p, requiring 4.5 Mbps). Using a networked Blu-ray player (in our case the LG BD390), we checked out HDX scenes from ’X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ and ’Fast & Furious’ featuring 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus audio. Truthfully, Blu-ray may want to watch out, because on a 52-inch Toshiba LCD (model # 52XV645U), this HDX streaming was excellent, and easy to use. Pause, fast-forward, and rewind to any clip, and after a short buffer, the movie would play. High Def is absolutely the future regardless of format, and here’s a potentially legitimate successor – given enough bandwidth to match / include lossless audio – to Blu-ray’s resolution kingdom. Is there more compression / a lower bit rate on video streaming compared to what we have now in Blu? Of course. But much like the size of hard drives, Internet connection speeds are only going to increase and get less expensive over time. And to my picky-eye, the video looked sharp, clear, and unlike most streaming, which can be filled with blocks and banding. Anyone else out there using Vudu? Hit up the comments section to give your review; this was my first experience.
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In order to keep up with the success of 5.1 Dolby Digital, Dolby developed Pro Logic II. To create 5.1 channels of audio out of any stereo source. Pro Logic’s newest incarnations are IIx and IIz. IIx has been around for a while, and its purpose is not only to up-convert stereo, but also full 5.1 mixes into 6.1 or 7.1 surround sound (if you have enough speakers). IIz takes surround one-step further, and allows up to 9.1 channels of audio. As shone above, in addition to 5.1 speakers at ear level (or 7.1 if you already have that), Pro Logic IIz adds two speakers above the front left and right speakers. This vertical component finds “nondirectional” ambience in movies and music, such as rain, to increase spaciousness and add dimension. This wasn’t on hand to demo, but it seems like a fantastic idea that fully supports my home theatre addictions check out Sound & Vision’s first look here. I can’t wait to try it out for myself (cough-sneeze-hint-HINT, Dolby). And the coolest thing about Pro Logic IIx or IIz? It’s compatible with any source. For example, my Playstation 3 decodes all audio, from Dolby Digital to DTS-MA, and sends it over to my receiver as PCM. I can then, using IIx tell my receiver to add the extra two channels (or four, using IIz).
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What the helpful Dolby reps were able to point out is that music, movies, and television are mixed for what’s called “reference level.” The perfect volume at which to hear everything in their soundscapes. However, reference level is quite loud. And in normal situations, when one turns down the volume of their receivers, bass drops out and surround channels are less perceivable. To make up for the inability to always listen to content at deafening “reference levels”, Dolby created Dolby Volume (with much thanks from neighbors around the world). Volume allows you to listen to audio quietly, but still experience your content as it was meant to be heard. Crisp surround, and accurate bass depth at any level. Dolby Volume also stabilizes sound inputs. Hate it when the commercials come on (thanks to football season, even DVR connoisseurs are watching advertisements), and you have to grab the remote to lower the sound? Dolby Volume keeps your TV at one constant level, regardless of what’s thrown at it, whether it’s cable, Blu-ray, or even Internet streaming and downloads. One level. All sources.
For Laptop Owners (and Dorm Room Dwellers)
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Oddly enough, I left the home theatre section of the tour, and was introduced to a product called Dolby Home Theater, which is available on Sony, HP, and Toshiba laptops / desktop PCs. With heavily compressed content downloaded onto on PCs, Dolby Home Theater’s job is to upgrade your computer into capable source of quality audio (Have you ever actually listened to your laptop’s built-in speakers? Rubbish!). Dolby Home Theater adds in lost high and low frequencies (common to MP3s) and improves the experience of using headphones, or even connecting your PC to a full surround sound system. My demo was ’Top Gun,’ downloaded off iTunes in SD. In Dolby Home Theater, wearing only headphones, the geniuses at Dolby, using Pro Logic IIx technology, tricked my brain into thinking I was watching a movie in 5.1. It was stunning.
For Mobile Phones Addicts
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The surprise of the day, in regards to quality, was in the mobile department. Dolby reps informed me that stereo music is mixed with the idea that you hear both speakers in both ears at the same time. It’s that overlap, and distance from the speakers that gives it a three dimensional, stereophonic feel. But, when we listen to (highly compressed digital) music, and we separate the channels by putting one in each ear, we’re not hearing the music properly. Using suite of sound options built into the audio playback of a phone (in this case, the LG enV Touch), I listen to Radiohead both with Dolby Mobile on, and off. And the difference was startling. With no Dolby, the music felt like it was in the center of my brain, and though it was accurate, it was flat. With Dolby Mobile activated, it literally seamed as though I wasn’t wearing headphones at all, but rather sitting in a room, enjoying full sized speakers. Truly excellent. Also, I was able to demo a movie on a Nokia phone. Though ’House of Flying Daggers’ should never be seen on a 2” screen, I was again amazed as to how I could hear full surround out of stereo headphones.
For Gamers
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Three words: Best. For. Last. I’ll openly admit to loving video games, yet I’m a terrible player. If Dolby Mobile was the biggest “quality not expected” surprise of the day, Dolby Digital Live and Dolby Axon are revolutionary and spellbinding.
First, Dolby Digital Live is already in use on many games (this room was outfitted with a PS3 and a fresh copy of “Batman: Arkham Asylum”). The way it works is that your favorite games have thousands of mono or stereo sounds files ready to fire on cue. The game also knows where you are in its universe. Mapping your position (where you stand, which direction you’re looking, your environment, etc), Dolby Digital Live mixes a 5.1 surround sound experience instantly and on the fly to immerse you in the action.
Dolby’s next thought was, okay, so these games sound fantastic, but what about online gaming? What is the next step?
Both consoles and PCs allow gamers to chat with teammates and enemies alike. Dolby next wants to mix players’ voices into full surround sound. Think about it. You’re playing Halo, and you not only hear your enemy stalking you from behind (from your left rear speaker), but also that he’s talking to his team, which answers (from the right rear). Having surround sound not only becomes immersive and exciting, but it’s also an advantage (well, until everyone gets surround sound at which point it’ll just be one of many gaming obstacles).
The challenge is that this audio, taken from low quality / various volume microphones, doesn’t measure up to professionally recorded files already in the game. Dolby AXON steps in to take all the audio from every person playing, whether it’s a handful or few hundred, send it to the host server, equalize it, and instantly send back a surround sound mix.
But what if it’s not just about the sound exhibiting the gaming? What if sound is plot? What if sound is strategy? For instance, take a “proximity mine.” Step too close and it explodes. In an unreleased, in-house Dolby demo, your proximity mine also has a speaker on it. Drop your trap, hide in safety and talk into your microphone to draw out enemies, whose own surround sound systems have told them where you should be. Or what if, as another example, you could leave behind a “bug” to hear conversations far away from where you’re playing? And, that these bugs would retain the environment’s ambience (perhaps a muffled sound if you were listening through a door)?
The future of gaming, for Dolby, for you and I, isn’t just sound serving the game, but sound, and surround sound, becoming an inseparable part of playing the game. This is simply revolutionary, and makes gaming even more life-like.
Well, that’s all, folks. An hour with Dolby, and tons of products for each and every one of us, in almost all aspects of audio-based entertainment. Everyone knows Dolby does surround sound well, but they’re growing beyond expectations. Evolving. A fascinating, dynamic company, unwilling to rest on their laurels, and instead, charging boldly into the future.
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High-Def Digest chats with Harold Ramis about 'Ghostbusters 3' and the 'Year One' Blu-ray
Wed Sep 30, 2009 at 03:55 PM ETTags: Michael S. Palmer (all tags)
The legendary Harold Ramis gives High-Def Digest a call to discuss 'Ghostbusters,' nudity, and most importantly, the 'Year One' Blu-ray.
By Michael S. Palmer
The phone rang. I answered. And there he was on the other end of the line saying hello. None other than Dr. Egon Spengler.
Or in reality -- stepping out of my boy-hood fantasies -- acclaimed writer/producer/actor/director Harold Ramis. The man behind 'Animal House,' 'Meatballs,' 'Caddyshack,' 'Stripes,' 'Ghostbusters,' 'Back to School' (seriously, if it’s on cable, who can turn it off?), 'Groundhog Day,' and now, 'Year One.'
First, in the 'Ghostbusters' universe, Ramis said he was not directly involved with the Blu-ray release of the first movie. The studio informed everyone that it was happening, of course, and that they were planning to release it coinciding with Ghostbusters: The Video Game, on which Ramis had already been working. As you’ve probably heard, 'Ghostbusters 3' is definitely in development. 'Year One' and 'The Office' scribes, Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg, broke the story with Ramis, and are penning the first draft.
Stupnitsky & Eisenberg actually used to be interns and production assistants at Ramis’ company. After becoming his protégés and proving themselves in television, they collaborated with Ramis on the 'Year One' script. Ramis’ story for 'Year One' was inspired by Mel Brooks’ famous 2,000 Year Old Man character as well as religion in general. What aspects do we take for granted, such as Adam & Eve, or circumcision? And what was Sodom really like? Could it have been the Las Vegas of its time?
For the filmmakers/techies amongst us, 'Year One' was shot on film, but Ramis said he would consider HD on future projects. He says film is simply a recording medium now that one scans in order to finish movies digitally. Not a tech guy himself, Ramis said he started watching TV when it was just a 10-inch black & white screen filled with more static than image. He uses his computer only for email, writing, and a handful of games. And anytime the director sees Blu-ray (or High Def in general), he’s amazed. Yet for now, the force behind some of our favorite movies has yet to go Blu.
'Year One' comes to Blu-ray on October 6th in a feature-packed set. It's an Unrated edition (with a Digital copy for playback on PSP, iPod, Mac, or PC), which he says will amount to a few more sex jokes. Since the filmmakers were always aiming for a PG-13 release, Ramis didn’t shoot extra R-rated material such as nudity (but if you, dear reader, need your fix of unrated naughty bits, Ramis joked that when the studio went back for the re-release of Stripes, they added 18 minutes of new footage, 9 of which allegedly involve nudity). There’s also an audio commentary by Ramis with stars Jack Black and Michael Cera (recorded with all three in the room). Ramis can’t say enough kind words about Black and Cera. Two nice, hardworking, professionals who never added conflict to the set.
Exclusive to the Unrated Blu-ray disc, viewers and fans will find three BD-Live enabled features:
- “Year One Cutting Room”, which lets viewers create their own video using clips and music from the film and share it online.
- “movieIQ”, Sony’s answer to Fox’s “Livelookup,” which allows viewers to access real-time trivia about the cast, crew, music, and production.
- “cinechat” an in-movie instant message feature allowing viewers to chat with friends around the world as they watch the movie.
It’ll be interesting to see the reaction to “movieIQ”. Since this was a quick phone interview, rather than a Blu-ray showcase event, I haven’t seen any of these features in person, but I’m sure High-Def Digest’s impending review will discuss quality and functionality of these new special feature. It’s great to see studios trying to infuse their home entertainment releases with full capabilities of Blu-ray and BD-Live.
As for Ramis, what’s next? I was hoping for some type of musical reunion / collaboration with Kenny Loggins (aka, the soundtrack voice of the 1980s), but for now, Ramis is obsessed with building his own guitar, something he has neither the training nor the tools to accomplish. After that, Ramis may rewrite a script of his own, based on work he did in a psych ward during the late 1960s.
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Off To See The Wizards: HDD Gets An In Depth Look at the Restoration of 'The Wizard of Oz' (UPDATED - Before and After Pics!)
Fri Sep 11, 2009 at 02:45 PM ETTags: Michael S. Palmer, Warner Home Video, MGM (all tags)
by Michael S. Palmer
High-Def Digest gets an inside peek at the restoration of a truly classic film: 'The Wizard of Oz'
If you join us at High-Def Digest with any frequency, it's likely your passion for all things HD is surgically linked with a love for the cinema. In my case, that meant a childhood of watching the same films over and over (and over). Along with 'E.T.' and 'Back to the Future,' 'The Wizard of Oz' became not only entertainment, but part of a comforting routine. There was singing and dancing, it changed from black & white into color , and it somehow managed to be both laugh out loud funny, and absolutely terrifying. It’s the perfect nutrition pyramid for the imagination.
Now, (skipping past a few boring years) color me thrilled to have moved to Culver City, California, and found work on the Sony Studios lot, which for anyone not in the know, used to be the backlot for a little company called MGM. There, answering phones in an office that was a converted soundstage, I learned that in the fall of 1938, this very space had been used to film portions of 'The Wizard of Oz' itself. It was fascinating to work in such a historic building; at the very top of the stairwell, there were crew signatures and dates from the 1930s scribbled onto steal beams. Add to this, just down the street, a skinny brick structure called the Culver Hotel, where all 124 of the Oz Munchkins lived during production.
So with all that history, it didn’t take me even a second to RSVP for a Restoration Tour the kind folks over at Warner Home Video (Warner Home Video holds the home entertainment rights thanks to Ted Turner’s acquisition of the MGM film library in 1986) were hosting for the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, slated to hit Blu-ray and DVD on September 29. This release being the climax to a year long Oz celebration lead by the Wizard’s balloon traveling across the world, 5 of the original Munchkins performing in New York’s Central Park, and an auction of the Ruby Slipper Collection to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Here is the simple, honest truth of what I saw, which was a collection of HD clips not projected, but displayed on a large LCD television anyone of us could buy: if you have a Blu-ray player, this will be a reference disc. And if you already love 'The Wizard of Oz' RUN to the store when this Blu-ray comes out.
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I know what some of you may be thinking (Studio plant!). This is just another Anniversary Edition of a movie that’s been on home video again and again and again. Friends, of course the end goal is to monetize a product, but this 'Wizard of Oz' reissue is so much more than that. In 2005, for the last DVD release of the movie, WHV commissioned a restoration, from which a 1080p HD master was made. A master that was technically ‘good enough’ for Blu-ray. They could have been done, saved a great deal of time and money, and made a quick buck, but to this passionate crew of artisans, technicians, and businessmen, ‘good enough’ simply would not do.
Because they’re not only releasing and selling a movie, they’re protecting an American national treasure, perhaps the most widely seen film in history. Preserving a classic for this, and future generations to enjoy. Flat out, you have never seen Oz in such stunning clarity before: Makeup on the actors’ faces. Delineation in Toto’s hair. Individual bricks on the yellow brick road. 3D-like flowers in Munchkinland, a quality high def is known for mostly on recent titles like 'The Dark Knight'. And even tiny surprises in production design, such as the Wicked Witch’s crystal ball being held up by tiny, carved, winged-monkeys.
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So, how did the Wizards of Ours (as WHV liked to call their in-house team) manage to pull this off?
Well take a seat and bear with me for a little geektastic math. The restoration and re-mastering began by scanning the three original 1939 Technicolor negatives at an unbelievable “8K” resolution (keep in mind, many modern films such as Warners’ own Ocean’s 13 are finished in “2K”). To put that in perspective, when I take a photograph with my digital camera (at a 10.1 megapixel resolution), the file size is usually 3 to 4 megabytes. One still image at 8K is 40 megabytes, and for each frame of this film, WHV end up with 4 40-megabyte files (one for each of the three negative scans because of the “three strip” Technicolor process, and one final composite of all three negatives which was matched to the pixel). So for every frame, WHV has 160 megabytes, times 24 frames per second, times 60 seconds per minute, times a 101 minute running time. Meaning, to store the Oz materials, they needed over 22 terabytes, or 22,000 gigabytes. How much room do you have on your computer?
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Okay, math lesson’s over, and some of you may be utterly befuddled by all the K’s and bytes. Don’t fret. What WHV is attempting to do, in scanning their catalogue film in the highest available digital resolution is attempting to equal the image quality of film, which has millions of grains. And the crazy part is that they aren’t done. This film still has more information to glean from it.
But what can all this resolution mean for the home viewer? Don’t Blu-rays max out at a much lower resolution? Of course they do, but what you’re getting is unparalleled video quality. For all the complaints our High-Def Digest reviewers have had about edge enhancement and digital noise reduction, in 'The Wizard of Oz' you will find none. Because as the resolution of the digital scan increases, the film grain is actually sharper, so there was no need to enhance the image, or reduce noise, which also diminishes ‘artifacting’ in the compression process (the act of reducing a digital file size to fit a space, in our case, a Blu-ray disc).
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In fact, here’s what they did to bring out the best in Oz: They repaired three tears in a near-pristine 70-year-old film negative, removed three production wires, and did a color correction. That’s it.
The color correction, by Janet Wilson who has done the last three restorations of 'The Wizard of Oz,' is based on a 1939 answer print WHV borrowed from The Academy (of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences) to achieve the most authentic color palette. What Ms. Wilson found is that the newer DI technology allowed her to improve upon the work she did in 2005 (she spoke of the challenge of isolating color around the primitive visual effect of the Good Witch of the North, Glinda, in her bubble). And since the original Kansas sections of the film were projected in sepia, not black & white, they found a piece of film from the era to match for color, as they did not have an Oz sepia print.
As for the wires, purists may argue it sacrilege (think of what Lucas and Spielberg have done to their classics), but the goal at WHV was to preserve filmmaker-intent. After endless discussions and research, the team decided that these specific wires (others have been left in) disrupted the narrative, and were invisible (as intended) in all other releases (including film). Only at this increased definition was there a visible flaw.
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For the audiophiles among us, what you’ll be enjoying on this Blu-ray is the full dynamic range of lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD. Keep in mind that this is actually the same mix used for the 2005 DVD, but that was compressed in AC-3. Again, for the purists who prefer mono tracks of classics, be aware that the only reason Oz was ever mixed into a stereo was because they had ‘angles’ from the Orchestration recordings. This isn’t about cheap panning effects.
Personally, it was a great tour, the clips I witnessed were fantastically vibrant, and I can’t wait to see the whole film again (and again). For those who can’t wait for the 29th, check your local listings on September 23rd for special one-night-only digital screenings of 'The Wizard of Oz.' And this has only whet my appetite for future masterly restored catalogue titles, an area of Blu-ray that has been underserved. WHV hopes Oz will help jumpstart a trend. As for the catalogue future of WHV, here’s looking forward to Oz, as well as the impending fall releases of 'Gone With the Wind' (11/7) and my one of my favorites, 'North by Northwest' (11/3).
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MORE HIGH-DEF DISC NEWS TAGGED "MICHAEL S. PALMER":
- HDD EXCLUSIVE: Fox Introduces a New BD-Live Special Feature on 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' Sep 11, 2009
- HDD Production Focus: HD Makes Indies Like 'Greener Mountains' Possible Sep 04, 2009
- A Cost-Conscious Renters Guide For Building Your High-Def Home Theater Jun 30, 2009
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