CAM :
Usually, it is the 1st release we anticipate from the scene just few days after the movie’s official show on theaters .It is done with a digital video camera so you may expect ( Shakes, filmed from an angle, bad crop, .. itc ) .Audio is taken from the onboard microphone of the camera, and especially in comedies, laughter can often be heard during the film.Screens &/or Samples are always necessary to determine the quality of these releases .Sometimes there are awesome CAM releases but often do not expect so much .Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
TELESYNC (TS) :
A telesync is the same spec as a CAM except it uses an external audio source (most likely an audio jack in the chair for hard of hearing people). A direct audio source does not ensure a good quality audio source, as a lot of background noise can interfere. A lot of the times a telesync is filmed in an empty cinema or from the projection booth with a professional camera, giving a better picture quality. Quality ranges drastically, check the sample before downloading the full release. A high percentage of Telesyncs are CAMs that have been mislabeled.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
TELECINE (TC) :
Quality are always very good in theses releases as the movie is taken through A telecine machine that copies the film digitally from the reels .Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
SCREENER (SCR) :
A pre VHS tape, sent to rental stores, and various other places for promotional use. A screener is supplied on a VHS tape, and is usually in a 4:3 (full screen) a/r, although letterboxed screeners are sometimes found. The main draw back is a “ticker” (a message that scrolls past at the bottom of the screen, with the copyright and anti-copy telephone number). Also, if the tape contains any serial numbers, or any other markings that could lead to the source of the tape, these will have to be blocked, usually with a black mark over the section. This is sometimes only for a few seconds, but unfortunately on some copies this will last for the entire film, and some can be quite big. Depending on the equipment used, screener quality can range from excellent if done from a MASTER copy, to very poor if done on an old VHS recorder thru poor capture equipment on a copied tape. Most screeners are transferred to VCD, but a few attempts at SVCD have occurred, some looking better than others.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
DVD-SCREENER (DVDscr) :
Same premise as a screener, but transferred off a DVD. Usually letterbox , but without the extras that a DVD retail would contain. The ticker is not usually in the black bars, and will disrupt the viewing. If the ripper has any skill, a DVDscr should be very good. Usually transferred to SVCD or DivX/XviD .Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
WORKPRINT (WP) :
A workprint is a copy of the film that has not been finished. It can be missing scenes, music, and quality can range from excellent to very poor. Some WPs are very different from the final print (Men In Black is missing all the aliens, and has actors in their places) and others can contain extra scenes (Jay and Silent Bob) . WPs can be nice additions to the collection once a good quality final has been obtained.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
R5 :
This is fairly new movie format. Basically the same as DVD Screener – this kind of release is legal DVD released in Russia to decrease the level of pirated movies in this country. Retail is rushed out by the studio, so there is little to no cleanup of the film after the telecine process. As a result, you can see some scratches, hairs or other mess on the picture, but you will hardly notice it while watching. External English audio is often used, as these are supplied with Russian sound by default.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
DVDRip :
A copy of the final released DVD. If possible this is released PRE retail (for example, Star Wars episode 2) again, should be excellent quality. DVDrips are released in SVCD and DivX/XviD.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
HDRip :
Usually released after DVDRip and is better in many aspects .HDrip is rip from HDTV sources .Always it has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and have new HD resolutions like ; 1080i, 720p and 720i .it also can be resized down to dvd res .Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
HDTV-Rip :
HDTV-Rip is a method of copying video that involves recording television shows or movies broadcast from a high definition source (e.g. a DVB-S transmission), often with 5.1 surround sound. The recording can either be done directly through a PC video capture device, or via a networked digital video recorder box. Either during or after recording, the video may be compressed using a variety of codecs, such as MPEG-4. An HDTV-Rip, however, does not need to be HD in its final format. It just needs to be captured from an HD source.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
BD/BR Rip :
Is considered to be the highest quality .But always remember that it does not only depend on the Source but also the rip method and the ripper professionalizm -You can see many dvdrips better than BR/BD rips – .It have many resolutions aspecs 480p, 720p, 1080p and 720p is now the most popular .Usually, XviD & X264 are the container codecs .
VHSRip :
Transferred off a retail VHS, mainly skating/sports videos and XXX releases.Usually, XviD is the container codec .
HDTV :
Always for TV Show releases and are carried on XviD or X264 as codecs .
Asian Silvers / PDVD :
These are films put out by eastern bootleggers, and these are usually bought by some groups to put out as their own. Silvers are very cheap and easily available in a lot of countries, and its easy to put out a release, which is why there are so many in the scene at the moment, mainly from smaller groups who don’t last more than a few releases. PDVDs are the same thing pressed onto a DVD. They have removable subtitles, and the quality is usually better than the silvers. These are ripped like a normal DVD, but usually released as VCD.Usually, XviD is the container “codec ” .
VCD :
VCD is an mpeg1 based format, with a constant bitrate of 1150kbit at a resolution of 352×240 (NTCS). VCDs are generally used for lower quality transfers (CAM/TS/TC/Screener(VHS)/TVrip(analogue) in order to make smaller file sizes, and fit as much on a single disc as possible. Both VCDs and SVCDs are timed in minutes, rather than MB, so when looking at an mpeg, it may appear larger than the disc capacity, and in reality u can fit 74min on a CDR74.
SVCD :
SVCD is an mpeg2 based (same as DVD) which allows variable bit-rates of up to 2500kbits at a resolution of 480×480 (NTSC) which is then decompressed into a 4:3 aspect ratio when played back. Due to the variable bit-rate, the length you can fit on a single CDR is not fixed, but generally between 35-60 Mins are the most common. To get a better SVCD encode using variable bit-rates, it is important to use multiple “passes”. this takes a lot longer, but the results are far
XVCD/XSVCD :
These are basically VCD/SVCD that don’t obey the “rules”. They are both capable of much higher resolutions and bit-rates, but it all depends on the player to whether the disc can be played. X(S)VCD are total non-standards, and are usually for home-ripping by people who don’t intend to release them.
DivX / XviD :
DivX is a format designed for multimedia platforms. It uses two codecs, one low motion, one high motion. most older films were encoded in low motion only, and they have problems with high motion too. A method known as SBC (Smart Bit-rate Control) was developed which switches codecs at the encoding stage, making a much better print. The format is Ana orphic and the bit-rate/resolution are interchangeable. Due to the higher processing power required, and the different codecs for playback, its unlikely we’ll see a DVD player capable of play DivX for quite a while, if at all. There have been players in development which are supposedly capable, but nothing has ever arisen. The majority of PROPER DivX rips (not Re-Encs) are taken from DVDs, and generally up to 2hours in good quality is possible per disc. Various codecs exist, most popular being the original Divx3.11a and the new XviD codecs.
CVD :
CVD is a combination of VCD and SVCD formats, and is generally supported by a majority of DVD players. It supports MPEG2 bit-rates of SVCD, but uses a resolution of 352×480(ntsc) as the horizontal resolution is generally less important. Currently no groups release in CVD.
X264 :
A new opensource codec with alot of features and advantages .It became the codec of choice for alot of video formats .The most out-Standing thing is its ability to re-encode videos with sizes less than half the original size without a noticeable change it the video quality .Now you can see that it is used in Blue-Ray, HDTV, HDTV-Rip and many other formats .
RM ” RealMedia ” :
Recently, we have noticed a lot of small sized RMVB Videos that always range from 250-400 MB despite its original size was 700 MB .This is done through the realmedia codec with the help of encoding tools like Easy Realmedia Producer .
MPEG-4 :
This codec is most used in MP4 media
Audio Codecs :
We usually do not take care of this .There are many audio codecs Like ;
- MP3, or Lame MP3 is the most popular audio codec used by most of scene groups .
- Nero Digital Audio, more used in re-encoding due to its ability to reduce the audio size without making a noticeable changes in quality .
- AC3, The most advanced and usually used with high quality releases DVDRip, HDRip, BRRip, ….. itc .
- MP4, usually used with re-encoded X64 MP4 videos and it is the most suitable for PDA Devices like MP4 Player, Ipod, Iphone, PSP, Playstation, …. itc .
- RM ” Realmedia “ , have poor quality but it also have the smallest size and is always used in RMVB formats .
It is the container name or extension .I will only mention the popular ones below .
AVI : ” Audio Video Interleave “
The most popular and is used almost for all Rip releases .
MKV : ” Matroska Video “
A new video container that is widely used as the video container of Blue-Ray Discs and also used with the X264 re-encoded video .
MP4 :
A new video container especially for mobiles and PDA devices, but also it can be run on PCs .
ISO :
Is rare to find todays – after the X264 distribution – and are used to be put on CDs, DVDs .
DVD-R
Is the recordable DVD solution that seems to be the most popular (out of DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD+R). it holds 4.7gb of data per side, and double sided discs are available, so discs can hold nearly 10gb in some circumstances. SVCD mpeg2 images must be converted before they can be burnt to DVD-R and played successfully. DVD>DVDR copies are possible, but sometimes extras/languages have to be removed to stick within the available 4.7gb.
WMV : ” Windows Media Video “
is a compressed video file format for several proprietary codecs developed by Microsoft. But it is very rare todays .
RMVB : ” Real Media Variable Bitrate “
I have never seen it from the scene but it is widely used by some warez site to provide their members with small size videos and movies. You can make even a 200 MB video from a standard 700 MB movie, but the more you reduce the size the more you affect the quality .
