Blu-Ray - Matrox Compress HD - BDR-203

Hey Chuck

Dont have any need for BluRay personally, haven't ever used the FCP7's Share to BluRay function, don't have a CompressHD nor do I have a BDR-203 .. think I must be in the wrong thread.

FWIW, I do have a Matrox MXO2 MAX box though (which has the CompressHD hardware embedded in the form of onboard Matrox MAX encoding chips). As noted, I don't do BluRay (have zero need for it meself) but I can tell you broadly how it works in that you use the the normal Share menu (or Send To > Compressor and Export > Using Quicktime Conversion methods) to target your encoding, that being a Matrox MAX / Compress HD H.264 for BluRay preset ... then after the box/card has blazed through the encoding you can use a third party app such as Adobe Encore CS4 or Roxio Toast 10 to author and burn your disc without re-encoding

Plenty of info on their website and in many product reviews across the web

Best
Andy

I've used CompressHD extensively for blu ray authoring.

Astounding piece of hardware and close to RT.

Company seems dedicated to improving it.

Also create AVCHD discs as well just with Compressor 3.5 without issues.

I use a Panasonic set top

Chuck

I bought the Pioneer BDR 203 burner last week that you are interested in receiving feedback. Upgraded to FCS and have used the burner when sending to Compressor from FCP. Results in the blu ray format are spectacular.

The only issue was installing the burner in my Quad core intel (bought last Feb.). Had to get it professionally installed as you have take out the fan and a bunch of other 'goodies' to get the connectors installed. But it was less than an hour's work so for $25 I kept my warranty valid rather than "numb fingers" here screwing things up!

Craig

Forgot to add on the newest Quad cores, this apparently isn't an issue as you only have to remove the burner assembly.

Craig

The only thing to double check is that the streams encoded by this device will pass verification if you're preparing disks to be replicated. I remember reading somewhere that one of these devices made streams that didn't pass verification, but for the life of me I can't remember which one. I'm not say that the CompressHD streams don't pass - just saying make sure you check with someone if that's important for your work.

Ah ha.... I knew I had read it somewhere. This wasn't about verifiability though, it was about the supported long GOP structures.

http://forum.matrox.com/compresshd/viewtopic.php?t=71&postdays=0&postorder=asc&s tart=15&sid=c989332b19a6fc5dcd1d16fe4b81567e

and as of August 20th, it's streams won't verify

http://www.netblender.com/main/resources/wikipapers/blu-ray-encoding/ (under non-compliant encoders)

Message was edited by: wallybarthman

Thats correct Wally, buyer beware ... the CompressHD / Matrox MAX hardware allows for creation of *fully compliant* H264 files for simple BluRay authoring standard but those same files are not compliant with the more complex BluRay replication standard.

At the same time, would be buyers who might be turned off by this potential shortcoming might want to at least bear in mind the extraordinarily high cost of joining the BluRay organization, not to mention the costs of copies and distribution fees, which goes hand in hand with BluRay replication ... is that really something you're likely to be doing? Just a thought.

Best
Andy

The non-profit organization IDMA, the International Digital Media Alliance, previously the DVD Association, has led a campaign to lower the costs for independent authors, and there was a significant reduction in the fees a couple of months ago.

http://www.idmadvda.org/content/view/3044/1/

It now costs $500 per year + $500 per Title + 4 cents per disc for the AACS fees. Also check out their program to help authors publish.

http://www.easybludisc.com/

Great info Larry! Thanks for posting the links.
Best
Andy