Divx HD question & contrast/backlight question-confused??!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hello to all you kind folk. Thanks for all the advice so far-don't know where I'd be without the help on here!

Ok....now that I've got my Toshiba SL738B 42 inch full HD working properly I'd like 2 bits of advice if you could spare the time!

Firstly-DIVX HD movies downloaded from the web. Please could you help me with the following points.

1)-Am I correct in assuming that this is full HD (1080) BUT in a much compressed format?

2)-To play it on my TV it has to be via a USB with a memory stick inserted into a blu-ray player?

3)-If downloaded-can DIVX be converted & burnt to NORMAL dvd disk yet still give full HD due to the compression ( I have a programme-DIVX to dvd).

4)-If played by USB stick in a blu-ray player (that obviously I've pre-checked to make sure its compatible with the blu-ray player) is it REALLY as 'full-hd' and clear as an actual blu-ray disk?

Onto my TOSH TV...

1)-Contrast. Best to leave at setting that was automatically on when 1sr installed (think it's about 95%).

2)-Backlighting. Currently on default setting of I think 72-75%. Noticed on quick moving dark scenes (last Sats Dr Who) a noticeable 'picture going dark/light' -only for a split second. Doesn't really bother me but GF is bothered...best to turn backlight percentage DOWN /off or leave as it is?

3)-Best 'mode' for DVD playback. Cinema (24 frames a second) or standard? There is also a 'dynamic'-not sure what this one does?

Posted this on Digital TV forum too-hope ok.

Thanks again for any help given.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Bump bump-how fast is this thread??!!

InsideInsurance

1) HD can be 1080 or 720 and can be progressive or interlaced and yes the DIVX is compressed

2) Depends on your hardware setup - some TVs you can stream to, likewise some BluRays allow streaming

3) I believe you could burn HD to a DVD disc in BluRay format (so it plays in HD) but you'll not get much on it

4) No, the picture and sound will be below BluRay - the divx compression losses data. A high quality BluRay can be up to 48MBit/s where as DivX is often below 2MBit/s, being 5% the amount of data something has to give!



1 & 2) These are personal tastes. There are forums where "professionals" have tuned sets and post what the "correct" settings should be for the particular set they had. Obviously there will be variances between individual sets but they can be a good starter for 10. Of cause these is a lot of personal taste (as you and your G/F already disagree) and some dont like what is considered the "correct" settings

3) Cinema would be best for blu rays that are in 24 fps format. For other formats it will depend on what framerate etc they are and what you personally prefer. Dynamic mode tends to boost contrast and brightness to make the images "pop" more

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks again iniside insurance! Think I might just turn the backlight down a touch to say 605-see how i go from there.

So DIVX HD is not the golden goose they advertise it as???! Probably better with a good quality BLU RAY player upscaling a standard DVD-guess this will be better than DIVX HD.

Thanks for your help!:j

InsideInsurance

DivX is a flexible and can produce pictures/ sound that punch well above their file size but ultimately to get something down to 5% of the original filesize you are going to have loss, if it weren't then we'd have had HD on DVD years ago.

As to what is better? That depends on far too many factors from the quality of the original film records through the encoding process and hardware used for it to what you're using to display it. Ultimately you have the GIGO principle and that your whole system is only as good as its weakest component.