Simple question for you tech guys

Gusto Brunt · 06-07-2011, 13:30

Believe it or not but only now am I finally getting round to buying an HD TV.

My questions are:

1) Can I play an HD avi file on a standard DVD player and will it play on an HD TV?

2) What's the difference between Bluray and HD quality?

3) What's the best HD TV screen to get?

Thank you.

spiney2 · 06-07-2011, 13:41

avi is specifically a computer file format associaled with WIndows Mediaplayer (there by default on Windows computers, and free to download anyway).

However, lots of easily avaliable free software will easily convert avi files to just about any other video format there is!

DVD players only play the standard DVD format, not computer files. However, as above. it's quite easy to convert almost all computer video files into a format which can be burned onto a recordable DVD, and that will then play in standard DVD players.

DVD is Standard definition format - same as Freeview - roughly equivlaent to the now defunct analogue PAL tv system.

HD video, generally, has twice vertical/horizontal resolutiion of SD, therefore 4X as much picture detail. Better compresssion methods usually mean the files are only twice as long.

Computers will play HD video files - what you actually see depends on screen quality - but disc players are either Blu Ray or (a few) DivX.

Some TVs - and more "home media players" can play a variety of different computer file formats directly, from memory sticks, via a HDCP link to a flat panel tv.

Best screen type is "full HD", ie, at least 1080 pixels on the actual screen.

Gusto Brunt · 06-07-2011, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiney2

avi is specifically a computer file format associaled with WIndows Mediaplayer (there by default on Windows computers, and free to download anyway).

However, lots of easily avaliable free software will easily convert avi files to just about any other video format there is!

DVD players only play the standard DVD format, not computer files. However, as above. it's quite easy to convert almost all computer video files into a format which can be burned onto a recordable DVD, and that will then play in standard DVD players.

DVD is Standard definition format - same as Freeview - roughly equivlaent to the now defunct analogue PAL tv system.

HD video, generally, has twice vertical/horizontal resolutiion of SD, therefore 4X as much picture detail. Better compresssion methods usually mean the files are only twice as long.

Computers will play HD video files - what you actually see depends on screen quality - but disc players are either Blu Ray or (a few) DivX.

Some TVs - and more "home media players" can play a variety of different computer file formats directly, from memory sticks, via a HDCP link to a flat panel tv.

Best screen type is "full HD", ie, at least 1080 pixels on the actual screen.

Thanks. I'll have to read that a few times to fully digest it. Thanks again.

spiney2 · 06-07-2011, 14:05

Other people will suggest particular products, but generally, there isn;t "one gadget that does absolutely everything"!

HD screens need an HDMI input - for the various HD video formats - and the player device needs an HDMI output, of course.

Least messy is either an HD PVR - eg Sky+ - or a Blu Ray player + disks (it also plays standard dvd)

Gusto Brunt · 06-07-2011, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiney2

Other people will suggest particular products, but generally, there isn;t "one gadget that does absolutely everything"!

HD screens need an HDMI input - for the various HD video formats - and the player device needs an HDMI output, of course.

Least messy is either an HD PVR - eg Sky+ - or a Blu Ray player + disks (it also plays standard dvd)

Yes, I was thinking of that. Linking my HD laptop to my HD TV. Does a BluRay recorder record in HD?

Sorry to be stoopid.

captainkremmen · 06-07-2011, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gusto Brunt

Yes, I was thinking of that. Linking my HD laptop to my HD TV. Does a BluRay recorder record in HD?

Sorry to be stoopid.

Yes, although you cannot record direct to a BluRay disc using the Panasonic Freeview/Freesat +HD PVR BluRay recorders. You record to the HDD first and then dub to BluRay. The Panasonic recorders can also record to DVD if you prefer.

To put my 2p in with your earlier questions.

As said, a standard DVD player will only play DVDs and they wont be in HD. However, a few can also play DIVX/XVID files either from a disc or from a USB Stick/external HDD. They still wont be in HD though.

There are some excellent programmes for most operating systems (but especially Windows) that can convert DIVX and other files to DVD and most of them will burn the disc for you as well. DVD Flick is freeware and does a good job, but probably the best is ConvertxToDVD which can convert pretty much everything, in great quality, fast and does decent menus too. However it isn't free.

But, depending on your TV, you may find it has DLNA and can play media files from your PC across your network. Many can even play HD files this way.

If you want to record HD channels then you need a PVR, either a Freeview +HD PVR, a Freesat +HD PVR or Sky+HD/Virgin HD PVR. Sky has by far the largest range of HD channels, but of course, with both Sky and Virgin a subscription is required. The basic SKY HD channels from the main terrestrial broadcasters can be received with a SKY HD box free of charge, but if you don't subscribe to one of their packages you need to pay Sky £10 a month just for the privilege of recording.

Panasonic have BluRay/HDD PVRs for both Freesat and Freeview, but they are not cheap. However, they are your only choice if you want to record Freeview or Freesat HD to BluRay for archiving.

grahamlthompson · 06-07-2011, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainkremmen

Panasonic have BluRay/HDD PVRs for both Freesat and Freeview, but they are not cheap. However, they are your only choice if you want to record Freeview or Freesat HD to BluRay for archiving.

Not 100% true, generic fta HD satellite pvrs (including the Foxsat-hdr in non freesat mode), the HDR FOX T2 freeview box with the aid of a small software add on can all create H264 transport stream files that can be copied to a PC.

The footage can be burnt to standard DVD's using AVCHD format (Dual layer will do about 2hrs using AVCHD) or blu-ray bla\nks if you have a blu-ray burner. Standard blu-ray players will play either format.

Gusto Brunt · 06-07-2011, 15:59

Thanks, chums.

It's a lot of information to take in. So I'll copy and paste this info' into Wordpad for reference.

spiney2 · 06-07-2011, 17:32

recent major movies wd be mainly blu ray discs and sky/virgin HD ....... be aware such stuff is copy protected, and "not really transferrable" directly to a PC!

For a PC to directly replay onto an HD tv screen, it needs an HDMI video socket, as suggested above.

pocatello · 06-07-2011, 23:37

Bluray = 25-50GB=room for high bitrate video
HD video means nothing, it just means it is 1080p/720p.1080i. If you starve the bitrate you get web streaming video and no detail/artifacts. Broadcast tends to be lower bitrate than bluray by quite a bit, so you get what you get. Also it depends on how the broadcaster has treated their feed, how many times its been recompressed or messed with.

Google avsforum xylon for bluray screenshots.
Even old films like the sound of music look amazing.
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...c/f78b44b0.png
http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...c/c6e4ea9b.png

Avi is just a container favored by pirates, any "hd" video on that will look like cr@p because that would'nt be what anyone would use to make anything better. Dvd players are SD end of story.

06-07-2011, 13:30	#1
Gusto Brunt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 11,525	Simple question for you tech guys Believe it or not but only now am I finally getting round to buying an HD TV. My questions are: 1) Can I play an HD avi file on a standard DVD player and will it play on an HD TV? 2) What's the difference between Bluray and HD quality? 3) What's the best HD TV screen to get? Thank you.

06-07-2011, 13:41	#2
spiney2 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24,123	avi is specifically a computer file format associaled with WIndows Mediaplayer (there by default on Windows computers, and free to download anyway). However, lots of easily avaliable free software will easily convert avi files to just about any other video format there is! DVD players only play the standard DVD format, not computer files. However, as above. it's quite easy to convert almost all computer video files into a format which can be burned onto a recordable DVD, and that will then play in standard DVD players. DVD is Standard definition format - same as Freeview - roughly equivlaent to the now defunct analogue PAL tv system. HD video, generally, has twice vertical/horizontal resolutiion of SD, therefore 4X as much picture detail. Better compresssion methods usually mean the files are only twice as long. Computers will play HD video files - what you actually see depends on screen quality - but disc players are either Blu Ray or (a few) DivX. Some TVs - and more "home media players" can play a variety of different computer file formats directly, from memory sticks, via a HDCP link to a flat panel tv. Best screen type is "full HD", ie, at least 1080 pixels on the actual screen.

06-07-2011, 13:50	#3
Gusto Brunt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 11,525	Quote: Originally Posted by spiney2 avi is specifically a computer file format associaled with WIndows Mediaplayer (there by default on Windows computers, and free to download anyway). However, lots of easily avaliable free software will easily convert avi files to just about any other video format there is! DVD players only play the standard DVD format, not computer files. However, as above. it's quite easy to convert almost all computer video files into a format which can be burned onto a recordable DVD, and that will then play in standard DVD players. DVD is Standard definition format - same as Freeview - roughly equivlaent to the now defunct analogue PAL tv system. HD video, generally, has twice vertical/horizontal resolutiion of SD, therefore 4X as much picture detail. Better compresssion methods usually mean the files are only twice as long. Computers will play HD video files - what you actually see depends on screen quality - but disc players are either Blu Ray or (a few) DivX. Some TVs - and more "home media players" can play a variety of different computer file formats directly, from memory sticks, via a HDCP link to a flat panel tv. Best screen type is "full HD", ie, at least 1080 pixels on the actual screen. Thanks. I'll have to read that a few times to fully digest it. Thanks again.

06-07-2011, 14:05	#4
spiney2 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24,123	Other people will suggest particular products, but generally, there isn;t "one gadget that does absolutely everything"! HD screens need an HDMI input - for the various HD video formats - and the player device needs an HDMI output, of course. Least messy is either an HD PVR - eg Sky+ - or a Blu Ray player + disks (it also plays standard dvd)

06-07-2011, 14:10	#5
Gusto Brunt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 11,525	Quote: Originally Posted by spiney2 Other people will suggest particular products, but generally, there isn;t "one gadget that does absolutely everything"! HD screens need an HDMI input - for the various HD video formats - and the player device needs an HDMI output, of course. Least messy is either an HD PVR - eg Sky+ - or a Blu Ray player + disks (it also plays standard dvd) Yes, I was thinking of that. Linking my HD laptop to my HD TV. Does a BluRay recorder record in HD? Sorry to be stoopid.

06-07-2011, 14:41	#6
captainkremmen Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: DAVEVILLE, Daveshire DA1 1VE Posts: 33,621	Quote: Originally Posted by Gusto Brunt Yes, I was thinking of that. Linking my HD laptop to my HD TV. Does a BluRay recorder record in HD? Sorry to be stoopid. Yes, although you cannot record direct to a BluRay disc using the Panasonic Freeview/Freesat +HD PVR BluRay recorders. You record to the HDD first and then dub to BluRay. The Panasonic recorders can also record to DVD if you prefer. To put my 2p in with your earlier questions. As said, a standard DVD player will only play DVDs and they wont be in HD. However, a few can also play DIVX/XVID files either from a disc or from a USB Stick/external HDD. They still wont be in HD though. There are some excellent programmes for most operating systems (but especially Windows) that can convert DIVX and other files to DVD and most of them will burn the disc for you as well. DVD Flick is freeware and does a good job, but probably the best is ConvertxToDVD which can convert pretty much everything, in great quality, fast and does decent menus too. However it isn't free. But, depending on your TV, you may find it has DLNA and can play media files from your PC across your network. Many can even play HD files this way. If you want to record HD channels then you need a PVR, either a Freeview +HD PVR, a Freesat +HD PVR or Sky+HD/Virgin HD PVR. Sky has by far the largest range of HD channels, but of course, with both Sky and Virgin a subscription is required. The basic SKY HD channels from the main terrestrial broadcasters can be received with a SKY HD box free of charge, but if you don't subscribe to one of their packages you need to pay Sky £10 a month just for the privilege of recording. Panasonic have BluRay/HDD PVRs for both Freesat and Freeview, but they are not cheap. However, they are your only choice if you want to record Freeview or Freesat HD to BluRay for archiving.

06-07-2011, 15:10	#7
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by captainkremmen Panasonic have BluRay/HDD PVRs for both Freesat and Freeview, but they are not cheap. However, they are your only choice if you want to record Freeview or Freesat HD to BluRay for archiving. Not 100% true, generic fta HD satellite pvrs (including the Foxsat-hdr in non freesat mode), the HDR FOX T2 freeview box with the aid of a small software add on can all create H264 transport stream files that can be copied to a PC. The footage can be burnt to standard DVD's using AVCHD format (Dual layer will do about 2hrs using AVCHD) or blu-ray bla\nks if you have a blu-ray burner. Standard blu-ray players will play either format.

06-07-2011, 15:59	#8
Gusto Brunt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 11,525	Thanks, chums. It's a lot of information to take in. So I'll copy and paste this info' into Wordpad for reference.

06-07-2011, 17:32	#9
spiney2 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 24,123	recent major movies wd be mainly blu ray discs and sky/virgin HD ....... be aware such stuff is copy protected, and "not really transferrable" directly to a PC! For a PC to directly replay onto an HD tv screen, it needs an HDMI video socket, as suggested above.

06-07-2011, 23:37	#10
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	Bluray = 25-50GB=room for high bitrate video HD video means nothing, it just means it is 1080p/720p.1080i. If you starve the bitrate you get web streaming video and no detail/artifacts. Broadcast tends to be lower bitrate than bluray by quite a bit, so you get what you get. Also it depends on how the broadcaster has treated their feed, how many times its been recompressed or messed with. Google avsforum xylon for bluray screenshots. Even old films like the sound of music look amazing. http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...c/f78b44b0.png http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u...c/c6e4ea9b.png Avi is just a container favored by pirates, any "hd" video on that will look like cr@p because that would'nt be what anyone would use to make anything better. Dvd players are SD end of story.

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Simple question for you tech guys