No DTS in MONSTERS Inc.? How come? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Roy Batty · 09-12-2002, 03:34 PM

How come the USA R1 edition of MONSTERS Inc. does not include a DTS track, when the UK R2 does?

At first I thought maybe the sound effects only track was discarded in the UK edition, and thus it could be a "not enough room" issue, but now that the UK disc is out I think there are no contents missing.

So if both editions are identical contents wise, how come the lack of DTS in the R1?

jonathan_little · 09-12-2002, 03:40 PM

...because we've gotta save space for a 4:3 version!

We wouldn't want to be without that!

Cap42086 · 09-12-2002, 11:16 PM

Unfortunately, Mr. Little is right. Don't forget, studios are trying to make DVD's for the average Joe now more than ever. Frankly, I think it's a bunch of shit.

But here's the only thing I find wrong with the theory about the pan & scan space-saving thing. It is probably a true thing, but the only thing I have wrong with it is that the Extended Edition of Fellowship of the Ring will be fitting over two hours on the first disc and will include a DTS-ES soundtrack, a Dolby Digital EX soundtrack, and four commentaries. Monster's Inc. isn't nearly over two hours, and if they're fitting all of that crap on the FOTR first disc, then it's very far fetched that they're not able to fit a DTS track on a disc for an hour and a half movie in addition to a Dolby track.

Oh, I just thought of something else that they might be trying to do. If there was a lot of stuff on the disc, the DTS track would take up too much room and the transfer would suffer. That might have been a concern, but it's highly unlikely. Or maybe it's not. I don't know. Use your best judgement.

DancinDave · 09-12-2002, 11:30 PM

Monster's Inc. will be 4:3, but NOT pan & scan... I think it's quite acceptible if Pixar wants to re-format their own movie for a 4:3 screen.

They are one of the good guys -- no need to bash.

MrTony · 09-13-2002, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DancinDave
Monster's Inc. will be 4:3, but NOT pan & scan...

That's true. Pixar did the same thing with A Bug's Life - all of the shots were recomposed for 4:3.

As far as DTS goes, I love it too, but if the DD sounds good then I'll be happy with that.

Drexl · 09-13-2002, 06:10 AM

I wish they would have just made two separate releases like other studios have done with many movies. Then, there would have been plenty of room for DTS. Surely I would have preferred a DTS track to the isolated sound effects track (even though the DTS would have taken up twice as much space as that track). With two releases, there would have been enough space for DTS, the effects track, and an isolated score.

The thing I don't get, though, is that Peter stated in his review that he did not see any compression artifacts, but then he went on to say that the transfer wasn't quite as detailed as TS and ABL, and seemed to think it was because of a lower bit rate. Could it be that the film just has a softer look to it? I guess I just don't understand MPEG-2.

As for the 4:3 recomposition issue, I don't think it's the right way to watch it. It's definitely better than pan and scan, but it's just not the same movie. If the people at Pixar want to do it, fine. I hope we don't have people thinking the same thing could be done with live-action features, like that FlikFX thing!

Ruined · 09-13-2002, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Drexl
[b]The thing I don't get, though, is that Peter stated in his review that he did not see any compression artifacts, but then he went on to say that the transfer wasn't quite as detailed as TS and ABL, and seemed to think it was because of a lower bit rate. Could it be that the film just has a softer look to it? I guess I just don't understand MPEG-2.

Well, with MPEG-2, it is easier to compress an image with less detail in it than an image with more detail in it. So, in order to avoid compression artifacts and still use a low bitrate, an MPEG2 compressionist can use a low pass filter to reduce the detail of the picture, and therefore prevent artifacting. It's a trade-off - losing detail for less artifacts and lower bitrate. However, I would personally would prefer that studios follow the Superbit Deluxe model that Columbia/Tristar uses with some releases - High bitrate video (allowing for more detail without artifacting) along with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 on the 1st disc, then extras on a seperate disc.

TechnoTim · 09-16-2002, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roy Batty
How come the USA R1 edition of MONSTERS Inc. does not include a DTS track, when the UK R2 does?

Having checked the packaging on both UK Region 2 editions of Monsters Inc, there is no mention of a DTS track...

Here in the UK there are 2 versions of the film. There is a single disc release with the full-frame version of the film, and not much else, and a 2 disc collector's edition, which has the widescreen version of the film and most of the extras that are on the US/Canadian releases...No mention of a DTS track though...

Of course as I bought the Canadian release I have no way of proving that a DTS track isn't offered as one of the audio options.

Has anyone bought the UK release and can comment?

j70chlngr · 09-16-2002, 10:44 PM

correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that no Pixar DVDs were released in dts. Any conformation on that?

BubbleGumUK · 09-17-2002, 02:44 AM

I just reviewed this for DVDToons, and the DD SEX track on Monsters Inc is as good as a DTS track. Turn up your woofer a little and you'll get the same effect.

The 4x3 version thing is partly true - the disc has to fit a 93 minute movie on there twice (over 3hrs) and add the Dolby track, another 5.1 effects track and the commentary. With a limited number of trailers (only four, plus Finding Nemo), that's filling up quite a bit of the disc there without wanting to start compromising on the compression.

BTW, you're right - none of the Pixar films have DTS tracks on DVD.

Roy Batty · 09-19-2002, 01:48 AM

From the review at The R2 Project :

Quote:

There are two sound options for the film, DD 5.1 and a DTS. Both are clean and clear with plenty of atmospheric effects, listen especially to the door room chase sequence. The DTS mix does have the edge though with slightly more presence and clarity. Bottom line this is a reference disk for showing off your system.

Please, bear in mind that I'm not moaning about DTS lack here (judging from reviews of the DD 5.1 track, I'm sure I won't be missing it), but I find it odd.

I live in Spain, and the local edition also includes a 5.1 DTS spanish track, although I never bother to check (the mix for the dubbed audio is invariably poor and quite worse).

Could them both be a "false" DTS track, recompressed from the original DD? That would explain the forthcoming re-release of BUG'S LIFE in the UK with a DTS track too.

Drexl · 09-19-2002, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roy Batty
Could them both be a "false" DTS track, recompressed from the original DD?

No, I would think they are compressed from an uncompressed audio mix, probably 24-bit with a higher sampling rate than DD or DTS.

09-12-2002, 03:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Roy Batty Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Madrid, Spain	No DTS in MONSTERS Inc.? How come? How come the USA R1 edition of MONSTERS Inc. does not include a DTS track, when the UK R2 does? At first I thought maybe the sound effects only track was discarded in the UK edition, and thus it could be a "not enough room" issue, but now that the UK disc is out I think there are no contents missing. So if both editions are identical contents wise, how come the lack of DTS in the R1?

09-12-2002, 11:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
DancinDave Actor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada	Monster's Inc. will be 4:3, but NOT pan & scan... I think it's quite acceptible if Pixar wants to re-format their own movie for a 4:3 screen. They are one of the good guys -- no need to bash. __________________ ...and my OCD DVD collection is here.

09-17-2002, 02:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
BubbleGumUK Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: England	I just reviewed this for DVDToons, and the DD SEX track on Monsters Inc is as good as a DTS track. Turn up your woofer a little and you'll get the same effect. The 4x3 version thing is partly true - the disc has to fit a 93 minute movie on there twice (over 3hrs) and add the Dolby track, another 5.1 effects track and the commentary. With a limited number of trailers (only four, plus Finding Nemo), that's filling up quite a bit of the disc there without wanting to start compromising on the compression. BTW, you're right - none of the Pixar films have DTS tracks on DVD. __________________ Check out DVD Toons for the latest in animated discs! And catch breaking Animated-News stories here!

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09-12-2002, 03:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
jonathan_little Actor Join Date: Jan 2002	...because we've gotta save space for a 4:3 version! We wouldn't want to be without that!

09-12-2002, 11:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cap42086 Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Rhode Island	Unfortunately, Mr. Little is right. Don't forget, studios are trying to make DVD's for the average Joe now more than ever. Frankly, I think it's a bunch of shit. But here's the only thing I find wrong with the theory about the pan & scan space-saving thing. It is probably a true thing, but the only thing I have wrong with it is that the Extended Edition of Fellowship of the Ring will be fitting over two hours on the first disc and will include a DTS-ES soundtrack, a Dolby Digital EX soundtrack, and four commentaries. Monster's Inc. isn't nearly over two hours, and if they're fitting all of that crap on the FOTR first disc, then it's very far fetched that they're not able to fit a DTS track on a disc for an hour and a half movie in addition to a Dolby track. Oh, I just thought of something else that they might be trying to do. If there was a lot of stuff on the disc, the DTS track would take up too much room and the transfer would suffer. That might have been a concern, but it's highly unlikely. Or maybe it's not. I don't know. Use your best judgement.

09-13-2002, 06:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
Drexl Actor Join Date: Jun 2000	I wish they would have just made two separate releases like other studios have done with many movies. Then, there would have been plenty of room for DTS. Surely I would have preferred a DTS track to the isolated sound effects track (even though the DTS would have taken up twice as much space as that track). With two releases, there would have been enough space for DTS, the effects track, and an isolated score. The thing I don't get, though, is that Peter stated in his review that he did not see any compression artifacts, but then he went on to say that the transfer wasn't quite as detailed as TS and ABL, and seemed to think it was because of a lower bit rate. Could it be that the film just has a softer look to it? I guess I just don't understand MPEG-2. As for the 4:3 recomposition issue, I don't think it's the right way to watch it. It's definitely better than pan and scan, but it's just not the same movie. If the people at Pixar want to do it, fine. I hope we don't have people thinking the same thing could be done with live-action features, like that FlikFX thing!

09-16-2002, 10:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
j70chlngr Supporting Actor Join Date: Apr 2002	correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that no Pixar DVDs were released in dts. Any conformation on that?