[leedspokerguru]

Just concentrating on the technical side can you guys help me better understand the following.

PCM vs True HD
What are the pros and pitfalls for each and which is better for the consumer quality wise.

VC1 vs Mpeg2
Which is generally the better codec out of the 2 quality wise.

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by leedspokerguru

Just concentrating on the technical side can you guys help me better understand the following.

PCM vs True HD
What are the pros and pitfalls for each and which is better for the consumer quality wise.

VC1 vs Mpeg2
Which is generally the better codec out of the 2 quality wise.

PCM and TrueHD are both lossless audio. Think of True HD as PCM zipped. Like taking a Word file and zipping it so it takes up less space. The result is TrueHD takes up less space on the disk and so the space can be used for higher quality video, or you could put on more extras, or use a single layer disk. Downside is TrueHD wasn't mandatory for blu-ray so another audio file is needed on the disk for those with a player that can't handle it. Also Dolby needs some money for its use.

PCM however is free to use and works on all blu-ray players. In theory TrueHD and PCM should sound exactly the same, however it may be the case that one sounds slightly louder than the other. In that case if you flicked between the two the ear can be convinced the louder of the two is somehow better.

MPEG 2 and VC1 are both video compression systems. All video has to be compressed. It would simply take up way to much room otherwise.

MPEG 2 was used on DVD also on cable etc. On HD Disks there's more room so it can be used better but is gettting on a bit now. In the same way that MP3 is an old audio compression format.

VC1 is more up to date so is smarter and usually gives better results. Microsoft came up with it so they get some money if it's used.

This site has mousever comparisons.
http://hd-discs.mbmg.de/

Generally blu-ray may have used MPEG2 and PCM and HD DVD VC1 and TrueHD. Though studios are free to use whatever they choose. AVC also known as MPEG4 is another video compression format not to far away from VC1. AVC/VC1 costs more to use than MPEG2.