Author Archives: Stephen Dawson

VHS vs DVD vs Blu-ray

Posted on April 19, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

The current issue of Sound and Image magazine carries an article by me called ‘Gettin’ Better all the time’, and it’s primarily concerned with a comparison between the VHS, DVD and Blu-ray versions of movies. It covers Independence Day, Chicago … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, DVD, Video, Video tape | 1 Comment

More Pixar language streams

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

As I’ve previously noted, Pixar uses one technique or another to offer the same visual written content in different languages to match the selected audio language. More precisely, it matches the language you select on disc startup, not whatever language … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, Disc details | Leave a comment

Killing the Sound

Posted on April 18, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

I’m not to sure about the name, but I was a a wedding last night at the Lake George Winery (nice venue) at which the music was performed by a group of young men, called ‘Killing the Sound‘. As the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

‘The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ’ moves

Posted on April 17, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

If you want to know all sorts of detailed tech stuff about Blu-ray, a very good place to start is the ‘The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ’. This has moved from its former location and is now here. It isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray | Leave a comment

24 vs 23.976 frames per second

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

On the AV Science Forum on the ‘NEW Unofficial Blu-ray Audio and Video Specifications Thread’ a question was raised as to why so many Australian Blu-ray discs are precisely 24fps, rather than 23.976fps. I responded as follows: Originally Posted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, Video | Leave a comment

Blu-ray giveaway – The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

Seems to be one for the girls with a 7.2/10 for female voters on IMDB and 6.5/10 for blokes.. The disc does not have a proper Blu-ray box, nor a slick, but it works just like a bought one. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, Disc details, Giveaway | 9 Comments

Saturday morning equipment abuse

Posted on April 11, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

TNT carriers seem to be a bit short staffed at the moment. Half an order for some review products failed to arrive with the other half, and another full order simply hadn’t arrived as this last week drew to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, Rant, Testing | 6 Comments

Consistent video

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve been having a look at the forthcoming Sherlock Holmes movie on Blu-ray, due for release on 6 May this year. Love it! Especially the sound. But this Roadshow Entertainment release does illustrate one common irritation. Actually, it seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, BonusView, Rant | Leave a comment

Pixar – when will it end?

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

Disney sent me Up and Monsters, Inc. today on Blu-ray. I haven’t seen the former yet, while the latter I know to be a classic. This prompted me to say to my daughter: ‘when is it going to end?’ What … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, Cinema | 2 Comments

Ratatouille angles

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

I’m expecting to receive both Monsters Inc and Up on Blu-ray from Disney shortly. Meantime, I just wanted to revisit another earlier Pixar classic: Ratatouille. In particular, the way that Pixar caters for foreign languages. I raised that in an earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, Disc details | Leave a comment