Sure, there are a
couple of software
suites out there that offer up Blu-ray authoring, but it's still far from being a common feature. Additionally, we'd have to say that
Nero is one of the more popular burning applications, and the firm's latest update to Nero 8 adds in BDMV authoring and playback, improved file encoding speed and support for mini HD DVD-Video discs. If you're unfamiliar with the latter, it's essentially the process of squeezing down content more suitable for an HD DVD onto a vanilla DVD for playback in an HD DVD player (phew) -- something we've certainly
touched on before. For existing Nero 8 owners, you can snag the new plug-in for $24.99, while current owners of the plug-in will reportedly be able to upgrade gratis.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eddie @ Dec 20th 2007 11:17AM
Mini HDDDVD. So Awesome. Now if I could only figure out a way to use it...
DeadPlasmaCell @ Dec 20th 2007 11:56AM
I reckon you can always use the Xbox 360's HD-DVD add-on as a source.. rip it from that, then burn it to reg. dvd.. very interesting.
tranzparentl @ Dec 20th 2007 11:32AM
Can you burn mini-HD DVD with a regular DVD burner or do you need an HD DVD burner? I would assume you need an HD DVD burner.
MJD @ Dec 20th 2007 11:52AM
Reading the description from the link, you only need a DVD-R burner. If it can do dual-layer, the better.
But most sounded like they were using it for something from a camcorder or a TV show. My interest are backing up my HD DVD movies like we can a standard DVD movie. Is there a program that cracks a HD DVD movie, then allows us to use this process to fit it on the Dual-Layer DVD-r?
Andrew @ Dec 20th 2007 11:48AM
Will we be able to use VC1 or AVC? Current authoring programs will only make discs using MPEG2.
Chris Barker @ Dec 20th 2007 12:38PM
I think the mini HD-DVD may be limited to Mpeg2. I have just become aware of the new HD-DVD spec (approved in September 2007) called "HD Rec". This allows the writing of AVCHD (e.g. Mpeg4) to standard red laser DVD media and playing back on an HD-DVD player. Theoretically, this allows up to 2 hours of HiDef content on a standard 4.7gb DVD. It is unclear to me at this point if current Toshiba HD-DVD players with the latest firmware support this yet but it does hold hope for the future. I have emailed Nero support about this but I'm not sure I'll get a useful answer from them on this topic.
h0mi @ Dec 20th 2007 12:52PM
"mini HD DVD-Video discs."
This is confusing. From the dvd forum web site:
To summarize the family of HD DVD discs:
HD DVD-ROM is a 12cm disc, 1.2mm thick, replicated as either single or dual layer, with a storage capacity of 15GB for a single layer and 30GB for a dual layer disc. Double sided versions increase capacity to 30GB and 60GB respectively.
3X DVD-ROM Brings the higher data rate of HD DVD to the conventional format, enabling 135 minutes of HD content to be placed on a DVD-ROM, using AVC or VC-1 codecs.
8 cm mini HD DVD offers 4.7GB in single layer form and 9.4GB as dual layer. A double-sided disc is part of the standard.
HD DVD-R write once discs can hold 15 GB per side, 30GB total.
HD DVD-RW re-writable discs store 20GB on each side, 40GB total.
Jim @ Dec 20th 2007 2:50PM
I have been burning HD-DVD discs on regular DVD media for a while now. It's a little tricky, but it can be done using DVD Movie Factory 5/6 and Nero (instructions on how to do this are easily searched). HD-DVD seems to be media-independent, laser independent. More of a recording/encoding/structure standard. 4.7GB, 8.5GB, 15GB, 30GB agnostic. So long as the content fits, it will play fine. I make HD-DVD discs from recorded OTA HD, and from my HD camcorder.
So far everything I have done is mpeg2. Seems the tools to use other codecs like VC-1 and mpeg4/h.264 to encode in HD-DVD format are currently high-end solutions only. In time they should make it down to the consumer level, but I bet affordable HD-DVD burners and blank 15/30GB media will be out long before that happens. I have lots of 10GB+ recordings setting on a hard drive awaiting some 15GB HDDVD-R media, hopefully that happens in 2008. I split them across 2 DVD's in the mean time.