can MPEG4/VC-1 be used for STANDARD definition?

[93xfan]

i know it's an odd question, but if so, then both formats could fit 6/7 DVD disc TV shows on a single disc? if not, then only Blu-ray could do it.

this is mainly a curiosity on my part, rather than a "oh, my format can do this" type of thread (i'm sure VERY few care about this). anyway, i personally would love to see old shows like the X-Files come out on one disc. no more swapping discs to try and find my favorite episodes.

[Razz-Mataz]

i know it's an odd question, but if so, then both formats could fit 6/7 DVD disc TV shows on a single disc? if not, then only Blu-ray could do it.

this is mainly a curiosity on my part, rather than a "oh, my format can do this" type of thread (i'm sure VERY few care about this). anyway, i personally would love to see old shows like the X-Files come out on one disc. no more swapping discs to try and find my favorite episodes.

Since both HD-DVD players and BD players can play back Mpeg-2 based SD-DVDs, I would think that an wasy way to fit a whole season on one 30 or 50 GB discs would be to just put the dvd transfer on the BD or HDDVD disc. I'm assuming this would work (though, while I would love to see single disc seasons, I doubt that we will (not enough incentive, really just saves you swapping discs, and studios make a mint off of expensive multi disc dvd sets.)) If anyone know why this wouldn't be possible please explain.

[Flex Mentallo]

i know it's an odd question, but if so, then both formats could fit 6/7 DVD disc TV shows on a single disc? if not, then only Blu-ray could do it.

Check out Hot Fuzz on HD DVD.

"Wow. This HD DVD boasts a mind-boggling eighteen hours of special features -- that's more supplemental content than I've ever had the pleasure of reviewing on any disc release, and it's the second-most packed HD DVD to yet see release (behind Warner's 'Ultimate Matrix,' which was priced at three times the cost). This edition of 'Hot Fuzz' includes all of the supplemental features found on the standard DVD, plus an overwhelming amount of HD DVD-exclusive extras."

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/880/h....html#Section5


Also, Weeds Season One on Blu Ray has 238 minutes of HD content on one disc.

[Squozen]

Yes, you can encode AVC and VC-1 in any size you like - they were designed for that very purpose. Why would I buy standard definition nowadays though? If I can't get it in high-def I'll just download it, it'll look bad on my projector regardless.

[Citizen Erased]

Yes, as can VC-1.

[Merlins]

Yes, no problem to use AVC or VC-1 for standard definition material and it has already been done. As said it might be cheaper to just transfer the MPEG-2 files directly to a Blu-ray disc and only use the extra storage but if you re-encode them to AVC or VC-1 even more material would fit on a disc.

A whole The Simpsons season on one Blu-ray disc would be fine and I do not think we will have to wait long for it.

Most, if not all, TV series that have been put on HighDef so far is in HighDef and therefore on multiple discs for one whole season. The Tudors for example is on three discs and I think Weeds also have three discs each.

[Llamadeus]

Merlins, Weeds Season 1 is only one disc with 10 Episodes on there and some special features. Weeds Season 2 is two discs with 8 Episodes on the first disc and 4 on the second disc, as well as some special features.

Season 1 uses MPEG-2 and Season 2 uses AVC, but has a 7.1 PCM track.

[Jason One]

The Nine Inch Nails Blu-ray has standard definition extras encoded in VC-1.

[Thulium]

Of course you can use MPEG4 for standard definition! Ever hear of DivX or Xvid? They are freeware implementations of MPEG4 and anyone can use them to make a DVD fit onto a CD. VC-1 is basically WMV-HD which can be used to squeeze a HD movie onto a DVD as seen here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...deo/t2dvd.aspx

If you want an easy way to try it for yourself, you can use this DivX Converter (free 15 day trial, or purchase for $19.99) and then stream it from your computer from Windows Media Player 11, or burn it to a CD or DVD and play it on your PS3.

[Stormkeep]

I have two 1 TB hard drives on which I've archived all of my DVD's in Mpeg4 (so I don't have to hassle with discs to watch any of them), so it's certainly possible.