Thursday, July 23, 2009

MACROSS ZERO Blu-ray Disc Review

 

So I got Macross Zero Blu-ray Discs. (The review back then was based on using tsmuxer to remux the m2ts file from the actual Blu-ray Disc ISO, then streaming to PS3 via TVersity. In this process, the video keeps intact, exactly the same file as the original disc@ 40Mbps bitrate, but the audio has been downconverted to AC3 640K (original is a Dolby TrueHD track@ 1600K, I have to extract the core since PS3 doesn’t support Dolby TrueHD in XMB mode, even if it does support, I don’t have HDMI receiver…; I’ll not listen to LPCM 2.0 track since this title is meant to be listened in surround mode) The reason I’m using PS3 not a PC is because I don’t have a powerful PC yet to play Blu-ray ISO, so PS3 is kind of a compromising way.)

07/23/2009, now my HTPC is ready in service, so the pictures are added:

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First is the HONNEAMISE logo, which I’ve always wanted to capture.
show/hide

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Next you’ll be greeted with a Dolby TrueHD demo, this demo is the 5.1 channel version, I think on the Dolby sound of High Definition disc, they have a 7.1 channel version.

Disc1 menu stuff: 

The menu is done quite well, especially the animated buttons are used which I’ve never seen anyone else has been utilizing this feature to the fullest. These buttons here really demonstrates the possibility of animated buttons. 

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A title menu is also provided:

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BDInfo scan on first disc:

Disc Title:     MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_01
Disc Size:      30,412,255,224 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:           00001.mpls
Size:           30,241,155,072 bytes
Length:         1:32:32 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate:  43.57 Mbps
Description:   

SUMMARY:

Disc Title:     MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_01
Disc Size:      30,412,255,224 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No
Playlist Count: 3
Total Length:   1:33:23
Total Size:     30,392,266,752
Total Bitrate:  43.39
Video:          AVC / 36.57Mbps / 1080p / 23.976fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1
Audio:          Japanese / Dolby TrueHD 5.1 / 2235Kbps / 48kHz / 16-bit

 

 

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The disc size is 28.3 GB, Video is 1080p 24fps, and audio is 1600K Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and 1536K LPCM 2.0. The three episodes on disc 1 don't look too good... Some scenes are very soft and fuzzy, colors aren't very vivid. Overall they don't look like 1080p HD or even 1280 High Vision that much, it might be somewhere 960*540 since there's a scene in the first episode where they examine the body part of the human bird, they show a screen with this resolution... (960*540 is 1/4 of the size of true 1080p resolution).

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Two interesting findings while watching this show again is that Sheryl's earring appearing in a scene where Mao had a conversation with Sara.

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Another one is in episode 3 when the island people were watching TV, they showed Kawamori's earlier work - Earth Girl Arjuna, although it's only a split of second...

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Second disc: 

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BDInfo scan for second disc:

Disc Title:     MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_02
Disc Size:      27,580,221,172 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:           00002.mpls
Size:           22,059,085,824 bytes
Length:         1:05:50 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate:  44.67 Mbps

SUMMARY:
Disc Title:     MACROSS_ZERO_BOX_02
Disc Size:      27,580,221,172 bytes
Protection:     AACS
BD-Java:        No
Playlist Count: 7
Total Length:   1:58:11
Total Size:     49,589,047,296
Total Bitrate:  55.94
Video:          AVC / 36.01Mbps / 1080p / 23.976fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

PLAYLIST REPORT:

Name:           00004.mpls
Size:           4,116,940,800 bytes
Length:         0:12:54 (h:m:s)
Total Bitrate:  42.51 Mbps
Description:   

FILES:

Name            Size            Length          Time In         Time Out       
----            ----            ------          -------         --------       
00008.M2TS      4,116,940,800   0:12:54.774     0:00:00.000     0:12:54.774    

VIDEO:

Codec               Bitrate         Description    
-----               -------         -----------    
MPEG-4 AVC Video    38897 kbps      1080i / 29.970fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1

AUDIO:

Codec                           Language        Bitrate         Description    
-----                           --------        -------         -----------    
LPCM Audio                      Japanese        1536 kbps       2.0 / 48kHz / 16-bit / 1536kbps

CHAPTERS:

Number          Time            Length          Avg Video Rate  Max 1-Sec Rate  Max 1-Sec Time  Max 5-Sec Rate  Max 5-Sec Time  Max 10Sec Rate  Max 10Sec Time  Avg Frame Size  Max Frame Size  Max Frame Time 
------          ----            ------          --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  --------------  -------------- 
1               0:00:00.000     0:12:53.773     38,935 kbps     44,162 kbps     00:12:52.505    40,064 kbps     00:12:48.501    39,472 kbps     00:12:43.496    162,391 bytes   344,807 bytes   00:12:53.172   
2               0:12:53.773     0:00:01.001     7,821 kbps      0 kbps          00:00:00.000    0 kbps          00:00:00.000    0 kbps          00:00:00.000    32,618 bytes    32,618 bytes    00:12:53.840   

STREAM DIAGNOSTICS:

File            PID             Type            Codec           Lang. Code      Lang. Name      Seconds         Bytes           Packets         Bitrate        
----            ---             ----            -----           ----------      ----------      -------         -----           -------         -------        
00008.M2TS      4113 (0x1011)   0x1B            AVC                                             774.77          3,767,072,462   20,486,697      38,897         
00008.M2TS      4352 (0x1100)   0x80            LPCM            jpn             Japanese        774.77          148,756,800     929,730         1,536 

The second disc size is 25.6 GB, Video is 1080p 24fps, and audio is 1600K Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and 1536K LPCM 2.0. Last episode also has a commentary track but I haven't listened to it yet. The two episodes here look better than the first disc, colors are better, object and backgrounds are better defined... There is a 13 min seiyuu interview. The video is 1080i with a high bitrate transfer, but it looks rather soft, almost like from some home video.

So to conclude this review:

1. The content: A-/B

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A- for the first four episodes, and B for the last episode. The show starts quite promising, but the last episode pretty much ruins the energy it builds up for the previous four episodes. As for the three important elements in all Macross works, the show includes triangle relationship, song, and VF fighter. The song isn't heavily emphasized this time though, which makes it quite unique. As a Macross fan, I'm a little disappointed with this aspect.

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2. The Video: B/B+

 

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B for the first three episodes, and B+ for the last two episodes. Video quality wise, these aren't demo material, but there’s no obvious flaws such as aliasing and banding. Animation wise, I think the production value is really high, there are quite a few dogfight scenes enough to get your adrenaline pumping. The three mode fighter, gerwalk, battleroid are heavily used, and the fights are quite unique. The only downside is that the fighter movements are a bit awkward, they act almost like no gravity and rather video game like...

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3. The Audio: A-

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The audio is in Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1, but I can only get Dolby Digital 5.1 due to limitations on my equipment. This is the only work that has a surround mix in all Macross series. (Well, count ADV’s Macross English dub as one if you really want to.) And the surround effects are pretty good. This mix isn't very aggressive, the dynamic range is rather narrow, bass is a bit low. The mix provides enough directionality, and all the dialogues are clear. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this soundtrack, although it's not some demo material, either.

 

4. The Extras: B

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The extras are Macross Zero Zero which is a special video for apple Genki kun; Seiyuu comment video after last episode; and audio commentary (Shoji Kawamori with Shin and Sara’s seiyuu) for last episode. The longest running feature the seiyuu commentary video which runs for 12min. It's a talk between the four characters (Shin, Mao, Sara, and Aries). The interview doesn't really provide inside view of the work, but rather how they feel towards it. It's not really worth watching.

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Shoji Kawamori showed up briefly, but no interview was given.

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There’s a pop-up menu which you can return to the previous menu.


Macross Zero Zero is a feature about preview of making of the adventure of Apple Genki kun.

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Information has the usual Macross Frontier, Code Geass, Code Geass R2, and keitai sousakan 7 trailer:

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Lastly, scans:

 

And screencaps: