HD DVD questions

[kinglerch]

I apologize if this information is elsewhere on this board. I have several scattered conceptual questions about HD and Blueray DVDs. I've done tons of work with SD DVDs, but none yet with HD DVDs.

- Is the content on each of the DVD types (HD / BD) the same? Could I copy one to the other with no change in content?
- Is there something specific about the content on HD/BD DVDs that tells the DVD player it is HD, not SD? Does it use a different compression method (MP2, MP4, etc)
- Could I put HD content on a regular DVDR and play it on a HD/BD player? I realize the playing time will be limited.
- Do most programs (I use vdub, tmpgenc, tmpgenc author, nero, pinnacle studio) work with HD content in any of their versions, or do they all need updating to be compatible with HD content?
- Is switching between SD and HD content seamless, or do most programs have 'I am now using HD content' and 'I am now using SD content' options?

Thanks for the insight.

[jman98]

1. I think there are differences in the muxing each format does, so some sort of conversion would be necessary.
2. Video resolution, frame rates and codecs used would identify the content as high def, BUT it is possible to put standard def video in both formats.
3. Toshiba HD DVD players will play HD DVDs authored to DVD-5 and DVD-9 discs using Ulead DVD MovieFactory Plus 6 with the HD DVD add on. I have personally tested this. It works. Unfortunately, Ulead does not support anything close to the full range of audio and video codecs the format allows.
4. Some of those programs if not all of them should work with HD, but you'll probably need the most recent versions.
5. It's seamless.

[kinglerch]

I am clearer now on all the questions but #2. I realize the 720/1080 resolution would indicate HD and not SD. But what codecs and framerates would be HD-only, indicating to the player or software that the content must HD?

Thanx.

[videopoo]

1. Both support the same codec (MPEG2, VC-1, AVC) but the file structures are different so No, you cant swap assets from 1 to the other without some tweaking or new encodes.

2. An HD DVD contains a HVDVD_TS folder SD discs contains a VIDEO_TS Folder. However HD DVD can contain SD resolutions.

3. Yes, an HVDVD_TS folder can be read from red laser media just fine.

4. Seamless

This should answer many questions about your #2 questions;

https://www.videohelp.com/hd

Also check out these books:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-1294748-2947921?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks...hd+dvd&x=0&y=0

[edDV]

Baldrick has compiled the basics here.

What is Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD?
https://www.videohelp.com/hd

[TooLFooL]

hell yeah it's the first link on the homepage!..

[kinglerch]

So all (progressive) HD is encoded on these discs as 24 fps? Must everything then be converted by the DVD player to 30fps for NTSC, assuming of course the display is not capable of 24 fps or 120 fps? If the source is 30fps, then interlace at 60fps is preferred?

[edDV]

So all (progressive) HD is encoded on these discs as 24 fps? Must everything then be converted by the DVD player to 30fps for NTSC, assuming of course the display is not capable of 24 fps or 120 fps? If the source is 30fps, then interlace at 60fps is preferred?

Yes the DVD player converts 23.976p to 29.97i by telecine same as a standard DVD player.

You can always fake 29.97p by encoding 29.97i with both fields referencing the same progressive frame again the same as is done with current DVD.

There is no current support for 59.94p because of bandwidth issues.