Crystal
clear graphics
The
most perfect example of the DVD format’s capabilities
are in the DVD-Video discs that people buy or rent from the
video store. The incredible storage capacities of these discs
allow MPEG-2 encoded videos to surpass the quality of VHS
tapes and Video CDs. These videos are presented at a screen
resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with the option of choosing
between standard television ratio of 4:3, or cinema/letterbox
ratio of 16:9. The extra storage space also allows the video
to be encoded at a quality that is crystal clear even if
displayed on huge 40+ inch plasma television. Needless to
say the DVD has become the cornerstone for today’s
home theatre setup.
Apart
from the unrivalled video quality, the DVD also provides
the viewer a completely immersive audio experience with the
use of a surround sound system. The extra data space on a
DVD allows for audio to be encoded to 6 different channels
of digital sound (front, front left and right, rear left
and right, plus bass subwoofer) as compared to the standard
2 channel stereo system used on audio CDs. Movie companies
even provide the option of choosing what surround sound format
to get, from Dolby Digital, DTS, and THX. This factor has
made the DVD the cornerstone of today’s home theatre
system. In fact, some home theatres can easily rival the
best commercial cinemas in terms of immersing the viewer
in the movie from an audio standpoint.
A
welcome addition to the movies that come in DVD is the level
of interactivity that was only previously available on CD-ROMs
meant for computer use. With the use of a typical DVD player
and a remote control, the user is given some of the following
options: choosing what ‘chapter’ in the movie
to begin in; frame-by-frame pause without the ‘stutter’ common
on VHS tapes; the option to display and choose from as many
as 32 different languages for subtitles; the option to choose
from as many as 8 different languages for dialogue and soundtracks
for the same video; and the ability to watch commentaries
from the movie makers, view unedited cuts, and sometimes
even play a game.
DVD
vs. CD