Why aren't high def downloads on ps3 in 5.1 surround sound???

[yoda313]

Hey there,

Now that I finally have cable internet and fast speeds I can realistically download high def videos.

So since I have a ps3 I decided to download and rent the 007 movie Casino Royale. It was a 720p avc video on demand for a 24 hour period for 4.50. I figured I'd give it a go. It ended up being almost a nine gig file and I think it still took four hours or so to download overnight.

The quality looked great and in its original oar (at least I assume it was - or at least negligibly cropped to 2.35:1 if it was higher than that originally) However it wasn't IN SURROUND SOUND!!?!??!?!?!??!?!? WHAT THE HELL?????

How can you rent out a high def video from a recent release and NOT INCLUDE SURROUND SOUND??? It was aac 2 ch stereo....

Are there any high def downloads on the playstation store that are in 5.1????? I mean what a gip....

I do have a 360 but they've switched to netflix and sony's blocking a bunch of studios from them. I don't want to subscribe if I dont' have to. I just want to download a couple here and there. Also I know the last time I looked at xbox's marketplace video's before the netflix merger they were available in 5.1. How about the new netflix service? Are those high def wmv with 5.1???????

What gives on sony being cheap on the 5.1 and going stereo only?????

Or was that the default audio track and you had to MANUALLY switch to 5.1?? I have already deleted the movie after I finished watching it so I can't test it without rebuying it...

Anyone?????

EDIT - Surely Xylob must know the answer to this right???

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I mean what a gip....

The correct spelling of this slur is gyp (as in "dirty Gypsy"). :P :P

I haven't downloaded any videos from PSN except trailers and you know they're not gonna waste space/bandwidth with multi-channel audio on that kinda crap...
Sorry.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Besides, with the output capabilities of the PS3 I'd expect at least 6.1 to be available in HD downloads!!

[yoda313]

Sorry about the spelling

Well the reason I mentioned 5.1 is I don't have an amp that can do more than 5.1 so anything higher is lost on me for the time being

Well if you do download one and it has surround sound let me know....

[Noahtuck]

However it wasn't IN SURROUND SOUND!!?!??!?!?!??!?!? WHAT THE HELL?????

Watch out people!!!

You know yoda's pissed when you see him spell a swear word!!!!!



Might have to give yourself a card for that one!!

:P

[yoda313]

Damn it noah don't get me started!!!!

[yoda313]

Ok its more than a month later so I can return to this topic.

I don't believe it - ITUNES offers at least some movies in HD with 5.1 surround sound!!! This is sick. I just found out itunes purchased songs can play in my zune without converting and now Itunes seems to be the only online store to offer digital surround sound with high def movie downloads....

I hate to give apple any credit but here it goes - Apple did a good job here.......

My world is spinning out of control - losing conciousness.... going dark......

Edit - here is Casino Royale in high def with 5.1:

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I don't suppose you can access that site via the browser in the PS3?
Have you considered installing Linux on your PS3? Of course, I'm assuming itunes works in Linux... and you have a decent sized HD in your PS3.

[yoda313]

@xylob - you can access apple.com on the ps3. However you have to the ITUNES software installed on the ps3. I'm sure Sony wouldn't let you do that.

Have you considered installing Linux on your PS3

Yes but i decided against it. I didn't want to chance anything going wrong.

[quote-"xylob"]Of course, I'm assuming itunes works in Linux... and you have a decent sized HD in your PS3.
[/quote]

I seriously doubt Itunes works in Linux. However I could be wrong.

And fyi I have the standard 40bg ps3 model. Unmodified or upgraded.

-----------------

And by the way - it isn't a concern to me now. I have since moved my htpc back to my hdtv room with the surround amp. I have it currently hooked up via a hdmi-dvi cable with a coaxial spdif out cable to my soundblaster xfi fatality card.

I did have it connected via pure hdmi but I have since reinstalled my wdtv media player through the hdmi cable so I reconnected my hdmi-dvi cable to the pc.

-------------

What interests me is this download for Casino Royale is about 4.5 gb with 5.1 audio. The avc copy I downloaded for rent on the ps3 was nearly 9gigs and it was only Stereo! I would be really curious how quicktime (I'm assuming Itunes is all Quicktime not avc) high def stacks up against the avc download from the ps3. The ps3 download was visually awesome - I was just pissed it was stereo not 5.1.

I may still rent this again or at least rent one movie on itunes to see (and hear) how the difference is. Downside is I don't have a perfect remote for the pc - that is a distinct advantage for the ps3 in this endeavor.

[yoda313]

My hopes are dashed yet again. Last night I updated my Itunes to the latest version on my htpc. I paid the 5.00 to rent the hd version of 007 Quantum of Solace (not a bad movie - I hadn't seen it yet). It said it had a 5.1 track just like Casino Royale.

It was just under 4 gigs. Its the standard 24 hours rental viewing period once started.

The quality was excellent. At less than half the size of the nearly 9 gig file of Casino Royale from the Playstation Store for the PS3 - I think the ps3 price was 5.00 also so not bad (ok 4.99).

However - NO 5.1!!!!!!!!!

In the audio tab there was a section for stereo audio and surround sound. However everytime I did the surround the sound cut off completely. There was no option for using spdif like other software high def players (or even standard def for 5.1 from dvds).

I thought it might be just a windows thing and they would restrict it to macs. However there was a whole thread on it on apple.com that itunes on the pc and mac won't pass the 5.1 on in any situation.

It seems the deal is you have to use the APPLE TV hardware to get full 5.1 on rentals and purchased video.

THat sucks.

I thought I finally found an alternative but my hopes were dashed again.

It seems my only option for now for home rentals is my Comcast cable dvr. It does do 5.1 and I think it did do 5.1 on one of the free hd movies I tested awhile back.

I was looking to avoid doing the comcast thing. THose are 5.99 for new releases. However there are a lot of cheaper movies at 3.99 and 2.99 or so.

Well the great experiment seems to be over. If netflix doesn't start to offer 5.1 in their downloads then my xbox 360 won't be an option either.

I was looking forward to using my higher bandwidth cable internet more frequently. This doesn't seem to be the case.

THough I did do hulu and it works very nice and smooth......

[Xylob the Destroyer]

It seems my only option for now for home rentals is my Comcast cable dvr. It does do 5.1 and I think it did do 5.1 on one of the free hd movies I tested awhile back.

Yes, we DVR'ed some stuff a few weeks ago during their Showtime free weekend and the 5.1 worked great.

THough I did do hulu and it works very nice and smooth......

Won't work on my PS3 or my PSP...

[yoda313]

Won't work on my PS3 or my PSP..

Sorry about that. For hulu you're just gonna have to try to set up a pc for that. Don't you have a htpc? Or is that in another room or 'under repair'?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

It's in the home theater room, under repair...
Needs a fresh OS install as I decided to be nice and save some files from a friends HD after their PC crashed. Got a nasty virus. Got rid of it but the damage is done and can't be undone...

You'd think something like hulu would be targeted for mobile users... When I try to go to that site on my PSP it totally locks it up!

[yoda313]

You'd think something like hulu would be targeted for mobile users.

I'm sure its in the works. I wouldn't be suprised if that is being targeted for some EXCLUSIVE deal with some company.

Couldn't you just see the IPHONE just going nuts over something like that? Or some other portable or maybe BLACKBERRY will do it......

[Xylob the Destroyer]

meh, my phone is just a phone... no web, no camera.

[rhegedus]

Isn't iTunes HD 720p NOT 1080p?

I was going to get apple TV or use a mac mini hooked up to the TV but was put off by the lack of 1080p.

[yoda313]

probably. Also it doesn't have hdmi on the appletv if I remember correctly - component only.

[rhegedus]

I'd be more pissed at the lack of 1080p than the lack of 5.1

[yoda313]

Not a problem to me - no 1080p set just yet......

[stiltman]

Dolby surround sound coming to Netflix streaming

Those who are disappointed by the sound quality of Netflix's streaming service will finally get their wish for better audio.
Netflix has tapped Dolby Digital Plus to feature 5.1-channel surround sound in its streaming service, the companies announced today.
The new 5.1-channel surround sound feature will be made available on the PlayStation 3 first, the companies said. It will be offered in tandem with the native Netflix app launch on Monday. According to Netflix, it plans to offer 5.1-channel surround sound to other devices "over time," but it wouldn't say when it would roll out the feature or to which devices.
In an e-mailed statement, a Netflix representative reiterated the announcement in the press release, declining to identify the "other devices" or provide a timeline.


Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20019600-17.html?tag=cnetRiver#ixzz12M9SydtJ

I know it's been a year, but Yado needs to know

[yoda313]

Thanks stiltman.

I had actually read it was coming earlier this year but there wasn't a final date when the news first came.

I've actually dropped netflix for now (you know to keep costs down ).

Anyway I wonder if this will push sony to publish their catalog in 5.1 for the movies you can buy for download off of the psn or not. The xbox zune marketplace has 5.1 for their movie downloads - but only for the hd versions - ashame since they are so much larger than the sd versions - there is no reason they can't include 5.1 for the sd but they don't - make you pay more of course.

Unfortunately I have a small 20gb harddrive on my xbox so it makes it impractical to say the least to do the movie download on the xbox (storage space that is).

That will be nice whenever I do resign with netflix. The streaming hd looks great but lacks punch without surround sound.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

NICE! I'll have to play with this. Netflix just sent me an email saying that I no longer need to put their silly disc into the PS3 or the Wii to stream theri stuff.

now if I could just figure out how to get my PS3 to output the multichannel sound from my PS2 games that have it...

[yoda313]

now if I could just figure out how to get my PS3 to output the multichannel sound from my PS2 games that have it...

Sorry. I do remember mentioning the multi-audio output option to you but you had said that didn't work. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that an automatic method will not come up.

I am not surprised though. Isn't the original 60gb fat the only ps3 that can play ps2 games? Or did the 80gb fat also do ps2? Once they dropped that I'm sure they lost all interest and incentive to make playing ps2 games easier. I think you can still buy a new ps2 in a store. So they probably want you to do that instead of making your "outdated" ps3 perfect.

Mind you I have a ps3 40gb fat model so mine is "outdated" also but only slightly less so - though lacking ps2 support of course

-------------------

FYI wulf109 just posted that netflix.com is down. You might not be able to access it on the ps3 for awhile.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

oh hell.... I don't remember which of their original line-up could play the PS2 discs, but mine was one of 'em. Originally a 60GB, I've swapped in a 7200RPM 250GB drive.
The Playstation forums are no help, the owner's manual is a joke, and I've gotten the same non-answer from their tech support 3 times: "switch the output from HDMI to digital coax".
That's how I already have it!

[Xylob the Destroyer]

OK, so multi-channel on PS3 netflix definitely has not been implemented yet.

But as Stiltman said, they haven't identified a timeline.

[yoda313]

@xylob - are you going through hdmi or fiber optic for netflix? Sorry couldn't resist.....

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I keel you!!!!!!
HDMI for the video (straight to the TV), fiber optic for the audio (straight to the receiver).

I notice when I'm on the PS3 that I constantly get notification that you're online/offlne/online/offline/online... what's up? No attention span?

[yoda313]

I notice when I'm on the PS3 that I constantly get notification that you're online/offlne/online/offline/online... what's up? No attention span?

Oh I was about to type something else do you mean me personally?

Well i've been making a lot of dvds and I use either my xbox or ps3 to test them. I only need them on for a few minutes to check that the video is ok and any menus work the way I want to. Then I shutdown.

Actually as far as my ps3 I haven't really played any games on it lately. Too much Halo Reach And also I'm down to three ps3 games - Star Wars legos, Resistance 1, and 3d dot game heroes. 3d dot is great and a terrific homage to Zelda. But I just haven't sat down with it much.

I had traded in all of the big games that I finished earlier this year - Assassins Creed 2 in late winter/early spring - Batman Arkham Asylum, and God of War 3 in the summer. I also had bought Uncharted 1 and finished that and traded it in as well. All for the ps3 fyi. The last game I finished was in fact Halo Reach on normal. I had finally finished Halo 3 odst before reach came out and tackled Halo 3 to finish that also.

Also xylob if you watching a movie or something and those popups are distracting you might try to see if you can disable notifications. I know the xbox lets you do that in the settings menu or through the guide button. Under preferences if I am not mistaken. However I don't know where it is on the ps3 if it has an equivalent.

[yoda313]

BUMP!

Dolby surround sound coming to Netflix streaming

Those who are disappointed by the sound quality of Netflix's streaming service will finally get their wish for better audio.
Netflix has tapped Dolby Digital Plus to feature 5.1-channel surround sound in its streaming service, the companies announced today.
The new 5.1-channel surround sound feature will be made available on the PlayStation 3 first, the companies said. It will be offered in tandem with the native Netflix app launch on Monday. According to Netflix, it plans to offer 5.1-channel surround sound to other devices "over time," but it wouldn't say when it would roll out the feature or to which devices.

Has anyone gotten 5.1 with netflix on the ps3? I guess netflix is still down with the playsation network shutdown but was it implemented yet?

I did see the info on the dolby website so I guess its been implemented but I don't know for sure.

I have rented a movie with vudu (the free credit they give you for signing up - per view service charge not subscription). They do have the dolby digital plus and the 5.1 did light up on my amp. It was an older Muppet movie so I don't think it had a "true" surround track on it but it sounded clear and crisp. I would imagine a more "robust" movie would sound more like a dvd soundtrack.

I would hope netflix has implemented 5.1 on the ps3 by now. I would assume the xbox 360 would be getting it soon if it hasn't already.

I'm not ready to resign with netflix yet. I have other priorities right now. But I am interested if they have finally brought 5.1 to netflix.

Also does this apply to tv shows like lost or stargate or star trek? Or is this just for movies?

edit - if anyones interested I did finally buy 007 Casino Royale on Bluray so I do have surround sound for it

[yoda313]

Bump again.

I finally reupped with netflix again.

I got my xbox 360 and ps3 reconnected. Right now I only have the unlimited streaming plan - no plans on adding disc rental just yet.

I thought every movie would now be in 5.1. Turns out its going to be a very slow roll out. I played the JJ Abrahams Star Trek movie and it was oar widescreen but no surround. Tried xfiles 1 no surround. Tried a lot of other big name sci fi movies. No surround.

So I searched online and bumped into a list on avs forum and found both Stargate direct to video movies were in hd and 5.1. And they WERE! It was nice to see my sony amp light up and show the digital surround indicator.

Unfortunately they don't seem to have a search feature to list only hd or only 5.1 movies on the ps3.

Personally I like the xbox 360 layout much better than the ps3. The ps3 gui just seems antiquated and clunky. The xbox 360 is much more vibrant and the title pictures of each movie or tv show are big and bold.

I'll probably keep my subscription for a few months. I don't really have any tv shows in mind to catch up on or start. Though FARSCAPE did catch my attention. Still haven't seen it.

Too bad though that the recent GREEN HORNET movie wasn't on netflix yet. I'll rent it on vudu probably this weekend. The nice thing is even the 4.00 sd rental option still has 5.1.