Ultra HD Blu-ray

Ultra HD Blu-ray
Reverse side of a 100 GB Ultra HD Blu-ray disc
Media typeHigh-density optical disc
EncodingH.265/MPEG-H Part 2 (HEVC)
Capacity50 GB (dual-layer,[1] 92 Mb/s)
66 GB (dual-layer,[1] 123, 144 Mb/s)
100 GB (triple-layer,[1] 123, 144 Mb/s)
Block size2 KB sector, 64 KB block size[1]
Read mechanism405 nm laser
Developed byBlu-ray Disc Association
Dimensions120 mm (4.7 in) diameter
UsageUltra-high-definition video
PlayStation 5 format software
Extended fromStandard Blu-ray
ReleasedFebruary 14, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-02-14)
Optical discs
General
Optical media types
Standards
See also

Ultra HD Blu-ray (4K Ultra HD, UHD-BD, or 4K Blu-ray)[2][3] is a digital optical disc data storage format that is an enhanced variant of Blu-ray.[4] Ultra HD Blu-ray supports 4K UHD (3840 × 2160 pixel resolution) video at frame rates up to 60 progressive frames per second,[4] encoded using High-Efficiency Video Coding.[4] These discs are incompatible with existing standard Blu-ray players.[1]

The discs support both high dynamic range by increasing the color depth to 10-bit per color and a greater color gamut than supported by conventional Blu-ray video by using the Rec. 2020 color space. Ultra HD Blu-Ray discs also support a 12-bit per color container via Dolby Vision.[5] Moreover, Dolby Vision makes use of dynamic metadata, which adjusts the brightness and tone mapping per scene. In contrast, standard HDR10 only makes use of static metadata, which sets the same brightness and tone mapping for the entirety of the content.[6]

The first Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs were officially released in the United States on February 14, 2016.[7] To differentiate retail Ultra HD Blu-ray releases, the format usually uses a black opaque or largely transparent keep case packaging format (as opposed to blue), but with the same case size as standard Blu-ray. The format is supported on Microsoft's Xbox One X,[8] One S,[9] Series X, and Sony's PlayStation 5.[10] Software made for the PlayStation 5[11][12] can use 100 GB UHD Blu-ray discs.[13]

Specifications

Early 4K Blu-ray display at Best Buy

The specification for 4K Blu-ray allows for three disc capacities, each with its own data rate: 50 GB at 72 or 92 Mbit/s, and 66 GB and 100 GB at 92, 123, or 144 Mbit/s. On 66 GB and 100 GB discs, the pits and lands are not narrower than those of a standard Blu-ray Disc, but shorter, which increases the capacity of each layer from 25 GB to 33 1/3 GB. This also means that each revolution of such a disc transfers more data than that of a standard Blu-ray Disc, which means the transfer rate is higher with the same linear velocity. In addition, the disc can be encoded to have the drive hold the full 5,000 rpm until it reaches a point largely away from the innermost part of the disc if an even higher transfer rate is needed. 50 and 66 GB use two layers, and 100 GB uses three layers.[14][4] Ultra HD Blu-ray technology was licensed in mid-2015, and players had an expected release date of Christmas 2015.[4] Ultra HD Blu-ray uses a new revision of AACS DRM: AACS 2. AACS 2.1 is used on certain releases such as Stand by Me, Fury, The Patriot, and Zombieland.

On May 12, 2015, the Blu-ray Disc Association revealed completed specifications and the official Ultra HD Blu-ray logo.[15] Unlike conventional DVDs and Blu-rays, the new 4K format does not have region coding.[16]

On February 14, 2016, the BDA released Ultra HD Blu-ray with mandatory support for HDR10 Media Profile video and optional support for Dolby Vision.[17][18]

In December 2017, the BDA also settled the specification for an 8K Blu-ray format for use in Japan. More than two hours of 8K UHD content can be recorded on BDXL discs (128GB – quad-layer, 100GB triple-layer).[19]

On January 23, 2018, the BDA spec v3.2 gained optional support for HDR10+ and for SL-HDR2 (developed by Philips and Technicolor) also known as Advanced HDR by Technicolor.[20] However, no Ultra HD Blu-ray player has ever supported SL-HDR2, and no discs encoded in SL-HDR2 have been released.

Advanced HDR by Technicolor

The term Advanced HDR, as used by Technicolor, covers a group of three Technicolor HDR technologies: SL-HDR1 (Single-Layer HDR1); SL-HDR2; SL-HDR3.[21]

SL-HDR1

According to Technicolor, Technicolor “has developed a single-layer solution, known as Technicolor HDR (ETSI standard SL-HDR1), which ensures backwards compatibility with all non-HDR screens and non-HDR equipment. Broadcasters just need to produce a single feed, and the technology allows content to be converted into a format for both legacy screens and HDR screens.”[22][23]

Ultra HD Blu-ray disc encoding

Most retail Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are encoded with Ateme TITAN.[24] Ultra HD Blu-ray discs use HDMV or BD-J for menus. Subtitles use Presentation Graphic Stream, which is the same format as normal Blu-ray discs.

PC playback

Only computers with activated Software Guard Extensions (SGX) support Ultra HD Blu-ray playback. Intel introduced SGX in the Skylake generation Core processors in 2016, enabling PCs to play protected Blu-ray discs for the first time. In January 2022, Intel deprecated support for SGX for the Rocket Lake and Alder Lake generation desktop processors, leading to Ultra HD Blu-ray discs being unplayable on those systems, even with licensed software such as PowerDVD.[25][26][27] However, on systems without SGX support, Ultra HD Blu-ray discs can be ripped using a drive with patched firmware (LibreDrive) and compatible software such as MakeMKV, DVDFab, or AnyDVD HD.[28]

8K format

The Blu-ray Disc Association also completed the specification for an 8K Blu-ray format supporting 8K UHD (7680 × 4320 pixel resolution) videos for use in Japan.[19] However a spokesperson from the association said that the release of such a format would be unlikely. This may be partly driven due to lower than expected sales of 8K resolution televisions.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "White Paper: Blu-ray Disc™ Format" (PDF). Blu-RayDisc.com (4th ed.). 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 15, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  2. ^ Morrison, Geoffrey. "What is 4K Blu-ray?". CNET. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "4K Movies, 4K Blu-ray Movies, 4K Blu-ray Players". www.blu-ray.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "4K Blu-ray discs arriving in 2015 to fight streaming media". CNET. September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  5. ^ "What is Dolby Vision? Dolby's own HDR tech explained". October 2021.
  6. ^ "HDR10 vs HDR10+ vs Dolby Vision: Which is better?".
  7. ^ "Upcoming Fox 4K Blu-ray Titles". Blu-ray.com. January 7, 2016. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  8. ^ Warren, Tom (June 11, 2017). "Xbox One X is Microsoft's next game console, arriving on November 7th for $499". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  9. ^ Webster, Andrew (June 13, 2016). "Microsoft announces the Xbox One S, its smallest Xbox yet". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  10. ^ Lyons, Ron Jr.; Antonelli, William (January 28, 2021). "Yes, the PS5 has 4k — here's what you'll need to play games and stream movies in the highest resolution possible". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Rubin, Peter (October 8, 2019). "Exclusive: A Deeper Look at the PlayStation 5". Wired. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  12. ^ Hood, Vic; Lynch, Gerald; St Leger, Henry; Boyle, Emma (January 9, 2020). "PS5 release date, specs, news and rumors for Sony's PlayStation 5". TechRadar. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Stuart, Keith (June 19, 2020). "PlayStation 5 v Xbox Series X: how will the rival consoles compare?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "White Paper Blu-ray Disc™ Format General 5th Edition" (PDF). Blu-ray Disc Association. January 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Blu-ray Disc Association Completes Ultra HD Blu-ray™ Specification and Releases New Logo". Business Wire. May 12, 2015. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  16. ^ Palmer, Michael S. (October 7, 2015). "Everything We Know About Ultra HD Blu-ray". High-Def Digest. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2016.
  17. ^ Denison, Caleb (January 28, 2016). "Ultra HD Blu-ray arrives February 2016; here's everything we know". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  18. ^ Palmer, Michael S. (February 10, 2016). "Hands On First Look: Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player". High-Def Digest. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Chinnock, Chris (January 22, 2018). "Blu-ray Disc Association Settles on 8K Format". Display Daily. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  20. ^ "Blu-ray Disc Association – Update – 1/12/2018". From Vinyl to Plastic. January 12, 2018. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "What is Advanced HDR by Technicolor? - CNET". February 15, 2024. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "Single-Layer Technology Helps Broadcasters Manage Complexity of Delivering HDR and SDR Content to Consumers | Technicolor". February 15, 2024. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Technicolor's David Touzé Describes How Single-Layer Technology Helps Broadcasters Manage Complexity of Delivering HDR and SDR Content — BizTechReports". February 15, 2024. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  24. ^ "ATEME TITAN – SCENARIST®". Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  25. ^ "New Intel chips won't play Blu-ray disks due to SGX deprecation". Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  26. ^ "CyberLink Support Center".
  27. ^ "How do I Set up an Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Compatible Platform?".
  28. ^ Yee, Alaina. "4K Blu-ray support is dying on the PC. MakeMKV can help". PCWorld. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  29. ^ Lewis Empson (February 27, 2024). "200TB optical discs are on their way, but 8K Blu-ray certainly isn't". whathifi. Retrieved June 18, 2024.