Not necessarily, and usually "no". "Superbit" is just a Columbia/Tristar trademark for a higher bitrate DVD. "Special Edition" can mean whatever they want it to:
- Extra footage
- Funky aspect ratio
- Fancy new cover art
- Super new and really important commentary by the movie set janitor
... whatever they feel like will sell more DVDs. If what you want to know is related to bitrate only, then use the DVD players bitrate display and compare.
There are a ton of other factors that effect DVD video quality, as you've seen, and some are advertised, some aren't.
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Bob...Idunno...I've tested quite a number of my dvds using that scale on my player and all the dvds seem to hover between 6.0 and 8.0...some actually hit the 10.0 mark...here is a desciption of superbit...I have a feeling that it is a special process that only superbit dvds have?...check it out...
Description
The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.
^ If what they're saying is true that meter should be buried on 10.0 and stay there...
This message has been edited by chuckenn on Apr 15, 2004 9:01 PM
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Bob...ok, I get to try it tomorrow...I told my wife that I wanted "Anaconda" and "Lawrence Of Arabia" (both superbit) for my Birthday which is tomorrow...So I [kinda helped] her order me both those from this site...
I payed for next day delivery...so I'll see them tomorrow...I will post the results for some of the other members who may be interested how this unfolds...
This message has been edited by chuckenn on Apr 15, 2004 10:17 PM
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Incidentally, I noticed that over at that superbit site some of those superbit dvds are mastered in HD and some are not...(v-e-l-y...i-n-t-e-l-e-s-t-i-n-g-!)...
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Richard F. Fisher
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Well I just watched my first superbit movie and I have to say I am more impressed with the DTS sound than I am the picture quality...DTS is definitely superior...(oops!...I forgot I can't say that)...I'll rephrase...To me, DTS seems superior...(don't want to ruffle any feathers, there may be someone on here who prefers DD). At any rate, if anything, I see an improvement in background artifacts...which is good...but I guess I expected a bigger improvement. I will continue to buy superbit just for the audio improvement. My next movie "Panic Room" is mastered in HD so we'll see if that makes a difference.
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Okay...This movie "Panic Room" clearly shows the improvement that superbit makes on a disc. Because this movie is shot almost entirely in dark scenes/rooms I clearly see the superior quality...normally, (even off satellite) these dark scenes produce major artifacts but in this movie, (even in the darkest scenes) the snowlike artifacts are barely noticable...I'm impressed!
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Richard...If you were referring to Panic Room, I don't think there is a standard version of this particular movie...at least I've never seen one...the copy I have is superbit, but I bought it at Walmart in the cheapee bin...$9.44...this whole superbit thing is confusing me cause I don't see a difference in most movies, plus the bit rates are the same and even sometimes higher on most of my non-superbit dvds...
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Richard...yes I did...and thanks. it's too bad that the way things stand right now, buying a dvd is a crap shoot. I imagine that once HD DVD finally gets here this will all be moot. Hopefully, it will be standardized enough where the average joe can just put in a disk and instantly see HD performance.
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HD is a signal format and has no relationship to the quality of the source, mastering or the art used in composing the images. HD-DVD will not "fix" that.
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Richard...I know that...Did you even read my post?...I meant that hopefully in the "future" when one has a HD dvd player and puts in a HD movie, he will be able to see true HD quality without alot of hassle. Because the way things are now quality is a crap shoot. (hopefully you got that).
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Chuckken - what Richard is saying is that we'll have the same problem in the future that we do now regarding the quality of the production and source material. That's true whether it's 240p, 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i or 1080p. HD-DVD will not fix that problem. Look at the movie channel on VOOM (Cinema10?) Reports are the PQ is terrible because of the way they converted the movies.
HD gives the ability for high resolution but it does not guarantee a great picture. There is also the compression issue to consider.
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Allen...I hear what you are both saying, that's why I said, "hopefully" we won't have this problem in the future...I mean none of us can really see into the future...right? I'm trying to be positive here.
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If you really understood it you would also understand there is NOTHING to fix.
Most of what you are seeing is what it would look like with film projected on a screen.
HDTV and DVD allows you to see the art of the camera crew. The world of imaging is NOT the stuff you see on HDnet. It is based on film and the techniques use to create a specific type of image for a specific purpose or feeling from the viewer.
Our old system did not have this level capability and therefore your expectations are misleading you.
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This is another variation of the question "What sells?" DVD producers found that consumers did not like to have movies interrupted by switching sides or changing to a second disk. They also found adding extras like interviews made people think they were getting a useful "freebie" like a Cracker Jack toy. They also found adding extra minutes (or an hour!!!) to the film made people think they were getting more for the buck. On the other hand they could leave out these extras and increase the bit rate and the amount of data devoted to picture and sound quality, but WHO would perceive this as "more"? The apparent "freebies" have won out in most DVD productions. They restricted the data rate on the movie and sound ( increased compression with lower quality) to make room for the extras in the "Special Edition" DVD. Thus "more" can mean "less"! In a lot of cases however they put the extras on a second disk and both camps can be happy.
However with the advent of HDTV and increased consumer awareness of quality issues there is a small and VERY WELCOME trend to make products for this growing market. Superbit, D-VHS movies and the coming HD DVDs are part of this trend. Like the famous line from Jaws- "We're going to need a bigger boat!", we need a system with very low (zero?) compression with a bigger boatload of databits to really recreate all the picture quality in the original films. We are slowly getting closer.
DTS sound is also a perfect example. When Steven Spielberg was planning the movie "Jurassic Park" someone said they couldn't do the elaborate sound effects they wanted and squeeze that sound into the Dolby Digital space between the film sprocket holes. Answer- invent a new system to put the sound track on an external CD and sync it to the film. Then pay to equip every theater with the CD players hooked up to the projectors in order to show Jurassic Park. DTS was born and it was a sensation!. It was superbit for sound. Dolby Digital was first in time and became a required part of the DVD standard, so DTS became an optional extra for those who want it.
I buy DTS editions whenever possible. And I will do it for Super bit too. But I respect the rights of those who want the extras even if it means somewhat lower picture and sound quality.
So three cheers for Superbit!- Cheer, Cheer, Cheer!!!!!.
And thanks Richard for alerting me about the release of the Superbit edition of "Lawrence of Arabia"- it should get here this week.
This message has been edited by donshan on Apr 19, 2004 2:07 PM
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I for one almost NEVER even look at the DVD extra's....
and would gladly give it all up for superbit style DVD's.
I'm all about picture and sound quality.....not singalongs (except the Wiggles)
And MAN...I had DTS capable stuff for like a YEAR before I bothered with it....
not to mention lack of DVD's with the DTS track on it....
but I am NOW a sworn DTS convert.....
deeper, richer, with better separation (in my opinion, on my stuff)
First thing I look for on DVD's is OAR and or widescreen ........
and then DTS......
the world is good when I find both!
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Current Topic - Is Superbit The Same As Special Edition???
