logo Sign In

Info Wanted: Superbit? — Page 2

Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: zion
I must've had the repressed DTS version then because it sounded amazing. Someone stole the disc out of my disc wallet though.

I wonder if it's an increased dynamic range that makes the LD sound so good?


LD soundtracks are pretty much direct conversions of the theatrical mix. DVD mixes are often re-equalized so as not to stress feeble home theater setups.

Check out Mission: Impossible on laserdisc for a great example of an extremely aggressive DD mix.
Forum Administrator

MTFBWY…A

Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: bad_karma24
Originally posted by: Boomstick
Originally posted by: gltaylor74


Just to note, the Jurassic Park superbit sets on ebay are bootlegs. AS noted earlier, you will pay dearly for the geniune Jurassic park alone, let alone all three films.


The Jurassic Park Superbits that I looked at certainly weren't bootlegs, hence the price I mentioned.


Yeah, the Jurassic Park Superbits probably aren't bootlegs.



BUT...bootlegs of all 3 show up on Ebay all the time.

However, they are direct rips of the OOP Japanese discs. They're a great alternative for those interested
Author
Time
Post link
they are a very bad alternative. I thought the same as you. I tried them on two different dvd players and they were of poor quality and were continually skipping and stuttering, etc. Do not expect a quality product.
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: gltaylor74
they are a very bad alternative. I thought the same as you. I tried them on two different dvd players and they were of poor quality and were continually skipping and stuttering, etc. Do not expect a quality product.


Agreed. And if you get a region free player (not that hard to come by, nor expensive) you can play the official ones without a hitch, as you don't have to deal with PAL.

Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here, this is the war room!

Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: gltaylor74
they are a very bad alternative. I thought the same as you. I tried them on two different dvd players and they were of poor quality and were continually skipping and stuttering, etc. Do not expect a quality product.


Actually...mine work perfectly. I've had them for quite some time. Considering you can't get the official ones for less than $300-400 if you're lucky, it's a no-brainer.
Author
Time
Post link
The Star Wars 2004 PAL dvds are *almost* superbit At least the video bitrate is. Only the DTS track is missing...
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: Arnie.d
The Star Wars 2004 PAL dvds are *almost* superbit At least the video bitrate is. Only the DTS track is missing...


Close, but not quite close enough. I really wish that they would release the trilogy with DTS sound. Too bad Lucas is too hung up on Dolby Digital. But DTS tracks are out there, just not accessible to anyone.

Author
Time
Post link
The official DVDs are only around 5mbit, as far as I could tell. Considering the maximum video bitrate is about 9mbit, that's not really as "super" as it could have been, although it is nicely encoded.

DE
Author
Time
Post link
"I wonder if it's an increased dynamic range that makes the LD sound so good?"

I think it was the effort that went into LD, considering what people were paying for the LD discs - $50-$80.

Think about the early DVDs that came out, and what was included on them. Hell, even today, things such as "interactive menus" and "subtitles" are still listed as "extras". Many DVDs simply had LD transfers put on them, or had the player default to the PCM soundtrack rather than AC3. Whereas LD was a cornucopia of film material, DVDs were catering to the "lowest common denominator".

I still recall how many people complained about "The Matrix" and "Phantom Menace" being in widescreen only.

"Laserdiscs aren't compressed AT ALL. That's what makes them sound great."

But the PCM might be remixed for the DVD, hence not of good quality.

That being said, when I watch my "Young Guns" DVD, the PCM soundtrack is much fuller and has better surround placement than the AC3 soundtrack.

"DVD mixes are often re-equalized so as not to stress feeble home theater setups."

And I don't know if this is done anymore (I don't have DTS), but many DTS/DD discs did not allow you to switch between the two audio tracks during the film, for fear of "spiking your speakers". Again, lowest common denominator.

"All we need is a copy of the DTS audio discs from the 97 film releases and we're in business."

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: Darth Editous
The official DVDs are only around 5mbit, as far as I could tell. Considering the maximum video bitrate is about 9mbit, that's not really as "super" as it could have been, although it is nicely encoded.


Are you talking about the NTSC or PAL dvds?

Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
Author
Time
Post link
A little note for those interested in the Jurassic Parks...
In April, they're doing a limited rerelease of all of the movies for about $10 each (Linky). I don't really know the nature of them (stumbled upon them by accident, really), but in the details it shows that at least JP3 has 6.1 DTS. CDJapan tends to have bad details until the release, although as far as a merchant goes, they're very reliable.
Author
Time
Post link
Are you talking about the NTSC or PAL dvds?


The PAL ones - and I think the NTSC ones were about the same from the clips I've been sent.

DE
Author
Time
Post link
Does a dvd with a video bitrate of 0 - 8200 kbps (7000 average) and LPCM audio (1536 kbps) qualify as superbit? Or does it have to be DTS?
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
Author
Time
Post link
Originally posted by: Arnie.d
Does a dvd with a video bitrate of 0 - 8200 kbps (7000 average) and LPCM audio (1536 kbps) qualify as superbit? Or does it have to be DTS?


Depends on your point of view. Superbit is basically a trademark of Sony. They say it has the higher bitrates and DTS audio. But, no non-Sony distributed film could be a superbit, even if it met or exceeded their criteria, because only Sony DVDs can qualify.

But if things might be different if you only take Superbit as a set of Technical specs. So it could be, or could not, from a certain point of view.
Author
Time
Post link
Superbit is just the name of a line of DVDs that Sony put out with no extras in order to maximize space for Video/Picture quality. There is nothing "special" about them that differentiates them from other high quality DVDs, except for the fact that they have the name label. I've seen Superbit DVDs that have been less than impressive as well.

For example, Criterion constantly comes out with reference quality stuff, that can at times be even better than Superbit quality.

Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here, this is the war room!

Author
Time
Post link
Not to mention they don't always pick the best films, either (Panic Room?)

Even though I love Fifth Element, I haven't bought the SuperBit because I don't have DTS. I would love to get Labyrinth and Dark Crystal as well (and the more expensive special editions also - I love those films! )

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>