Category Archives: Codecs

Hiding inside the audio streams

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Stephen Dawson

Well, here is where a blog post was supposed to go. But it got totally out of control, and turned itself into a 1,200 word article. A very interesting one I like to think. So interesting that I ought to … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Blu-ray, Codecs, Giveaway | 2 Comments

Digital TV video bitrates – May 2011

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Stephen Dawson

More advertising has recently hit our regional TV stations in the form of a channel called ‘GOLD’ using part of the WIN TV spectrum (it’s on Channel 84). Which, of course, prompts me to update the table of video bitrates. … Continue reading →

Posted in Codecs, DTV, HDTV | 2 Comments

Can you even hear SACD/DVD Audio improvements?

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Incidentally, while researching my piece on SACD, I came across a recent study in which double blind tests were conducted to determine whether people could pick between SACDs and DVD Audio discs on the one hand, and the same discs … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Codecs, Music, Mysticism | 2 Comments

I Hate Direct Stream Digital

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Direct Stream Digital (DSD) is the digital format used by Sony in the Super Audio CD (SACD). But SACD is only one form in which it is used. I seem to remember that back in the day, Sony was promoting … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Codecs, Music | 8 Comments

Digital TV video bitrates – September 2011

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

The other day Prime TV started broadcasting a new channel in its 6/60 bundle here in Canberra, and presumably elsewhere. This is called ‘Television 4’ and is numbered channel 64. It carries primarily advertorial stuff (exercise programs, Foreman grills and … Continue reading →

Posted in Codecs, DTV, HDTV | 1 Comment

Digital TV video bitrates – January 2011

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Time to update the video and audio bitrates for digital TV again in the light of the introduction of the new channel ‘Eleven’. (The last update was in October last year.) To gather this data, on 18 through 20 January … Continue reading →

Posted in Codecs, DTV, HDTV | 4 Comments

Do Video Bitrates Matter?

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Stephen Dawson

Well after my little rant yesterday, how about something rather more positive? The answer to my question in the title is: ‘Of course they do.’ The more important question is: how much? My view is that once you get up … Continue reading →

Posted in Blu-ray, Codecs, Compression, Video | Leave a comment

Speaking of 2.0

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

As Anthony points out in comments, Two Hands only scores 2.0 audio. Which is probably due to the movie producers keeping the budget down. The title presumably wasn’t big enough for Icon to spend a lot of money redoing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Blu-ray, Codecs | 2 Comments

Video bitrates for digital TV stations – October 2010

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

Back in March this year I set out a list of the video and audio bitrates for digital TV. Since then new channels have been added and some of the stations have reallocated the balance of their available bandwidth. To … Continue reading →

Posted in Codecs, DTV, HDTV | 5 Comments

Perhaps I’m just fooling myself

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Stephen Dawson

I’m reviewing a bunch of home theatre receivers for Sound and Image and as I go I fill in a ‘feature table’. This is a continually evolving thing in which new features make it onto the table and old ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, Codecs, Testing | Leave a comment