BD and HD DVD Sizes
Video Technical Info
Folder and File Structure
Video file comparison
More info


Ultra HD Blu-ray (UHD) is the future 4K Blu-ray Disc format. It will support 4K UHD (3840x2160 resolution) video at frame rates up to 60 frames per second. The standard will encode videos under the High Efficiency Video Coding standard(HEVC/H265). 4K Blu-ray Discs will support both a higher dynamic range by increasing the color depth to 10-bit per color and a greater color gamut by using the Rec. 2020 color space using HEVC. The 4K-Blu-ray specification allows for three disc sizes, each with their own data rate: 50 GB with 82 Mbit/s, 66 GB with 108 Mbit/s, and 100 GB with 128 Mbit/s. Wikipedia

Blu-ray Disc (abbreviation BD) is a next-generation optical disc format meant for storage of high-definition video and high-density data. The Blu-ray standard was jointly developed by a group of consumer electronics and PC companies called the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). As compared to the HD DVD format, its main competitor, Blu-ray has more information capacity per layer, 25 instead of 15 gigabytes, but may initially be more expensive to produce. Wikipedia

AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video. Developed jointly by Sony and Panasonic, the format was introduced in 2006 primarily for use in high definition consumer camcorders. Favorable comparisons of AVCHD against HDV and XDCAM EX[3][4] solidified perception of AVCHD as a format acceptable for professional usage. Panasonic released the first professional AVCHD camcorder in autumn of 2008, followed by Sony in the first quarter of 2010. Wikipedia

HD DVD (High Density Digital Versatile Disc or High Definition Digital Video Disc) is a discontinued digital optical media format which is being developed as one standard for high-definition DVD. HD DVD is similar to the competing Blu-ray Disc, which also uses the same CD-size (120 mm diameter) optical data storage media and 405 nm wavelength blue laser. HD DVD is promoted by Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, and, most recently, Microsoft, HP [1], and Intel. HD DVD was discontinued in February 2008. Wikipedia

Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD Disc Sizes

BD-R Single layer 25GB (23.3GiB)
BD-R Dual layer 50GB (46.6GiB)
BD-RE Single layer REwriteable 25 GB (23.3GiB)
BD-RE Dual layer REwriteable 50GB (46.6GiB)
BD-XL Triple layer 100GB (93.1GiB)
BD-XL Quadruple layer 128GB (119.2GiB)

HD DVD-R Single layer 15GB (13.9GiB)
HD DVD-R Dual layer 30GB (27.9GiB)
HD DVD-RW Single layer ReWriteable 15GB (13.9GiB)
HD DVD-RW Dual layer ReWriteable 30GB (27.9GiB)
HD DVD-RAM 20GB (18.6GiB)

GiB = GigaBytes in computer world where 1 kilobyte = 1024 bytes

Video Technical Info for Blu-ray Disc, AVCHD and HD DVD

Blu-ray Disc Video codecs Ultra HD Blu-ray HEVC/H.265 Blu-ray MPEG2 - MP@HL and MP@ML AVC/H.265 - MPEG-4 AVC: HP@4.1/4.0 and MP@4.1/4.0/3.2/3.1/3.0 VC-1 - AP@L3 and AP@L2 Video frame size High Definition Video (frame size x frames/fields per second x interlaced or progressive) (frame aspect ratio) Ultra HD Blu-ray (UHD) 3840×2160 23.976 frames progressive (16:9) 3840×2160 24 frames progressive (16:9) 3840×2160 25 frames progressive (16:9) 3840×2160 50 frames progressive (16:9) 3840×2160 59.94 frames progressive (16:9) 3840×2160 60 frames progressive (16:9) 1920×1080 23.976 frames progressive (16:9) 1920×1080 24 frames progressive /16:9) 1920×1080 25 frames progressive (16:9) 1920×1080 50 frames progressive (16:9) 1920×1080 59.94 frames progressive (16:9) 1920×1080 60 frames progressive (16:9) Blu-ray 3D 1920×1080 (x2) (base view + dependent view) 23.976 frames progressive (x2) (16:9) 1280×720 (x2) (base view + dependent view) 59.94 frames progressive (x2) (16:9) 1280×720 (x2) (base view + dependent view) 50 frames progressive (x2) (16:9( Blu-ray 1920×1080 29.97 frames interlaced / 59.94 fields (16:9) 1920×1080 25 frames interlaced / 50 fields (16:9) 1920×1080 24 frames progressive (16:9) 1920×1080 23.976 frames progressive (16:9) 1440×1080 29.976 frames interlaced / 59.94 fields (16:9) 1440×1080 25 frames interlaced / 50 fields (16:9) 1440×1080 24 frames progressive (16:9) 1440×1080 23.976 frames progressive (16:9) 1280×720 59.94 frames progressive (16:9) 1280×720 50 frames progressive (16:9) 1280×720 24 frames progressive (16:9) 1280×720 23.976 frames progressive (16:9) 720×480 29.97 frames interlaced / 59.94 fields (4:3/16:9) 720×576 25 frames interlaced / 50 fields (4:3/16:9) Max video bitrate 40 Mbit/s Audio codecs Dolby Digital up to 5.1 channels (Max 640 Kbit/s) Dolby Digital Plus up to 7.1 channels (Max 4.736Mbit/s) Dolby Lossless up to 9 channels (Max 18.64Mbit/s) DTS up to 5.1 channels (Max 1.524Mbit/s) DTS HD up to 9 channels (Max 24.5Mbit/s) Linear PCM up to 9 channels (Max 27.648Mbit/s) Subtitles Image bitmap subtitles Text subtitles - select different font styles, sizes and colors for the subtitles, or location on screen, depending on the disc's offerings. Subtitles can be animated, scrolled or faded in and out. Other Features HDMV mode Offers all features of DVD-Video and more. The authoring process is in line with DVD-Video creation. BD-J mode Offers unparalleled flexibility and features, because it is based on the Java runtime environment. It allows for extensive interactive applications, and offers Internet connectivity. Maximum total bitrate 48 Mbit/s Maximum data transfer rate 54 Mbit/s More information Detailed Blu-ray Video specifications here and Encoding Video for Blu-Ray using H264/AVC

AVCHD Video codecs AVC/H264 - MPEG-4 AVC Video frame size High Definition Video (frame size x frame rate x interlaced or progressive) (frame aspect ratio) AVCHD 2.0 1920x1080x59.94, 50 (16:9) 1440x1080x59.94, 50 (16:9) AVCHD 1920x1080x29.97, 25 (16:9) 1920x1080x23.97 (16:9) 1440x1080x29.97, 25 (16:9) 1440x108023.97 (16:9) 1280x720x59.94, 50 (16:9) 1280x720x24, 23.97 (16:9) Standard Definition Video 720x480x29.97 (4:3/16:9) 720x576x25 (4:3/16:9) Max video bitrate - Audio codecs Dolby Digital up to 5.1 channels (Max 640 Kbit/s) Linear PCM (Max 1.5Mbit/s) Subtitles Image bitmap subtitles Subtitles are used in some camcorders to timestamp the recordings. Other Features Menus Maximum total bitrate 18 Mbit/s (DVD Media) 24 Mbit/s (other media) 28 Mbit/s (AVCHD 2.0) Maximum data transfer rate - More information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD

HD DVD Video codecs MPEG2 AVC/H264 - MPEG-4 AVC VC-1 Video frame size High Definition Video (frame size x frame rate x interlaced or progressive) (frame aspect ratio) 1920x1080x29.97, 25 (16:9) 1920x1080x24, 23.976 (16:9) 1280x720x59.94, 50 (16:9) 1280x720x24, 23.976 (16:9) Standard Definition Video 720x480x59.94 (4:3/16:9) 720x576x50 (4:3/16:9) Max video bitrate 29.4 Mbits Audio codecs Dolby Digital up to 5.1 channels Dolby Digital Plus up to 7.1 channels Dolby Lossless up to 9 channels DTS up to 5.1 channels DTS HD up to 9 channels Linear PCM up to 9 channels Mpeg Audio Subtitles Image bitmap subtitles Other Features HDi HDi allows interactivity to be authored into a data format using XML and ECMAScript (standardized JavaScript) as its interpreted scripting engine. In contrast, the competing Blu-ray Disc high definition video discs will use either HDMV or BD-J for authoring interactive features. Maximum total bitrate 30.24 Mbit/s Maximum data transfer rate 36.55 Mbit/s More information http://www.dvdforum.org/

Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD Folder and File Structure

Blu-ray Disc folder structure
BDMV
PLAYLIST
xxxxx.mpls - files store information corresponding to Movie PlayLists. One file is created for each Movie PlayList. The filenames of these files are in the form “xxxxx.mpls”, where “xxxxx” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Movie PlayList.
CLIPINF
zzzzz.clpi - files store Clip information associated with a Clip AV stream file. The filenames of these files are in the form “zzzzz.clpi”, where “zzzzz” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Clip.
STREAM
zzzzz.m2ts - files contains a BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream. The names of these files are in the form “zzzzz.m2ts”, where “zzzzz” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Clip. The same 5-digit number “zzzzz” is used for an AV stream file and its associated Clip information file.
AUXDATA
sound.bdmv - file stores data relating to one or more sounds associated with HDMV Interactive Graphic streams applications. This file may or may not exist under the AUXDATA directory. If it exists, there shall be only one sound.bdmv file and its filename is fixed to “sound.bdmv “.
aaaaa.otf - file stores the font information associated with Text subtitle applications. The names of these files are in the form “aaaaa.otf”, where “aaaaa” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Font.
BACKUP
The BACKUP directory contains copies of the "index.bdmv” file, the “MovieObject.bdmv” file, all the files in the PLAYLIST directory and all files in the CLIPINF directory.

index.bdmv - file stores information describing the contents of the BDMV directory. There is only one index.bdmv file under the BDMV directory and its filename is fixed to “index.bdmv”.
movieobject.bdmv - file stores information for one or more Movie Objects. There is only one MovieObject.bdmv under the BDMV directory and its filename is fixed to “ MovieObject.bdmv “.

Example from Talladega Nights Blu-ray

\BDMV\index.bdmv \BDMV\MovieObject.bdmv \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00000.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00054.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00058.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00059.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00060.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00061.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00062.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00063.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00064.mpls \BDMV\PLAYLIST\00065.mpls \BDMV\CLIPINF\00000.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00001.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00055.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00059.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00060.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00061.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00062.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00063.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00064.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00065.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00066.clpi \BDMV\CLIPINF\00067.clpi \BDMV\STREAM\00000.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00001.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00055.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00059.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00060.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00061.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00062.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00063.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00064.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00065.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00066.m2ts \BDMV\STREAM\00067.m2ts \BDMV\AUXDATA\sound.bdmv \BDMV\BACKUP\index.bdmv \BDMV\BACKUP\MovieObject.bdmv \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00000.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00054.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00058.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00059.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00060.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00061.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00062.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00063.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00064.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\PLAYLIST\00065.mpls \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00000.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00001.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00055.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00059.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00060.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00061.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00062.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00063.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00064.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00065.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00066.clpi \BDMV\BACKUP\CLIPINF\00067.clpi \AACS\MKB_RO.inf \AACS\MKB_RW.inf \AACS\ContentRevocation.lst \AACS\Unit_Key_RO.inf \AACS\Content000.cer \AACS\CPSUnit00001.cci \AACS\mcmf.xml \AACS\DUPLICATE\MKB_RO.inf \AACS\DUPLICATE\MKB_RW.inf \AACS\DUPLICATE\ContentRevocation.lst \AACS\DUPLICATE\Unit_Key_RO.inf \AACS\DUPLICATE\Content000.cer \AACS\DUPLICATE\CPSUnit00001.cci \AACS\DUPLICATE\mcmf.xml \AACS\DUPLICATE\ContentHash000.tbl \AACS\ContentHash000.tbl

AVCHD folder structure
PRIVATE
AVCHD
AVCHDTN thumb.tdt - Thumbnails
thumb.tdi BDMV PLAYLIST
xxxxx.mpl - files store information corresponding to Movie PlayLists. One file is created for each Movie PlayList. The filenames of these files are in the form “xxxxx.mpls”, where “xxxxx” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Movie PlayList.
CLIPINF
zzzzz.clp - files store Clip information associated with a Clip AV stream file. The filenames of these files are in the form “zzzzz.clp”, where “zzzzz” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Clip.
STREAM
zzzzz.mts - files contains the video transport streams. The names of these files are in the form “zzzzz.mts”, where “zzzzz” is a 5-digit number corresponding to the Clip. The same 5-digit number “zzzzz” is used for an AV stream file and its associated Clip information file.
BACKUP
Optional

index.bdm - file stores information describing the contents of the BDMV directory. There is only one index.bdm file under the BDMV directory and its filename is fixed to “index.bdm”.
movieobject.bdm - file stores information for one or more Movie Objects. There is only one MovieObject.bdm under the BDMV directory and its filename is fixed to “ MovieObject.bdm “.
DCIM
Still images MISC
Optional data




HD DVD
Example from Pitch Black HD DVD

\ADV_OBJ\DISCID.DAT \ADV_OBJ\menus.aca \ADV_OBJ\VPLST000.XPL \HVDVD_TS\BLACK.EV \HVDVD_TS\BLACK.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE03.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\CHASE03.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE07.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE07.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE13.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE13.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE14.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE14.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE16.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE16.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE20.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE20.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE25.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE25.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE26.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE26.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE27.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE27.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE39.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE39.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE40.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE40.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE47.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE47.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE53.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE53.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE55.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE55.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE56.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE56.MAP \HVDVD_TS\CHASE63.EVO \HVDVD_TS\CHASE63.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\CHASE76.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\CHASE76.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\DARKFURY.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\DARKFURY.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\FEATURE_1.EVO \HVDVD_TS\FEATURE_1.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\FEATURE_2.EVO \HVDVD_TS\FEATURE_2.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\GAME.EVO \HVDVD_TS\GAME.MA \HVDVD_TS\HVA00001.VTI  \HVDVD_TS\INTRO.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\INTRO.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\MAKING.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\MAKING.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\MENU.EVO    \HVDVD_TS\MENU.MAP    \HVDVD_TS\RAVE.EVO    \HVDVD_TS\RAVE.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\UNILOGO.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\UNILOGO.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VIEW.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VIEW.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_INTRO.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_INTRO.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_LOOP.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_LOOP.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_MERC.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_MERC.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_ORRERY.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_ORRERY.MAP  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_SLAM.EVO  \HVDVD_TS\VISUAL_SLAM.MAP

Video File Comparison

Format	VCD	SVCD	DVD	Blu-ray	MKV HD MP4 HD H264 HD WMV HD	AVI DivX XviD WMV	MOV QuickTime	FLV MP4	AVI DV
Resolution NTSC/PAL	352x240 352x288	480x480 480x576	720x480² 720x576²	1920x1080 1280x720	1920x1080² 1280x720²	640x480²	640x480²	640x480²	720x480 720x576
Video Compression	MPEG1	MPEG2	MPEG2, MPEG1	H264 VC1 MPEG2	H264 VC1	DivX, Xvid, MPEG4 ASP, WMV	H264	H264, FLV, VP6, VP7, VP8	DV
Video bitrate	1150 Kbit/s	~2000 Kbit/s	~7000 Kbit/s	~30Mbit/s	~10Mbit/s	~1000 Kbit/s	~1000 Kbit/s	~700 Kbit/s	25Mbit/s
Audio Compression	MP1	MP1	MP1, MP2, AC3, DTS, PCM	DTS-HD, EAC3, TrueHD, AC3, DTS, PCM	AAC, AC3, DTS, WMA	MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, AC3	MP3, AAC	MP3, AAC	DV
Audio bitrate	224 Kbit/s	~224 Kbit/s	~448 Kbit/s	~448 Kbit/s	~448 Kbit/s	~128 Kbit/s	~128 Kbit/s	~64 Kbit/s	~1500 Kbit/s
Size/min	10 MB/min	10-20 MB/min	30-70 MB/min	50-150MB/min	50MB/min	4-10 MB/min	4-10 MB/min	4-10 MB/min	216MB/min
Min/74min CD	74min	35-60min	10-20min	4min-10min	10min	60-180min	60-180min	60-180min	3min
Hours/DVD	N/A	N/A	1-2hrs	30min-1hrs	1hrs	7-18hrs	7-18hrs	7-18hrs	20min
Hours/ DualLayerDVD	N/A	N/A	2-4hrs	60min-2hrs	2hrs	13-30hrs	13-30hrs	13-30hrs	37min
Hours/ Blu-ray 25GB	N/A	N/A	8-16hrs	2-4hours	6hours	40-100hrs	40-100hrs	40-100hrs	110min
DVD Player Compatibility	Great	Good	Excellent	None	None	Good	None	None	None
Computer CPU Usage	Low	Low	Low	Very high	Very high	Low	Low	Low	Low
Quality	Bad	Good*	Great*	Superb*	Excellent*	Great*	Great*	Great*	Good

Kbit/s = thousand bits per second
Mbit/s = million bits per second
² approximately resolution, it can be higher or lower
~ approximately bitrate, it can be higher or lower
* the video quality depends on the bitrate and the video resolution, higher bitrate and higher resolution generally means better video quality but bigger file size

More Info

Official Blu-ray Disc - http://www.blu-raydisc.com/

Official HD DVD - http://www.dvdforum.org/hddvd-tech.htm

Getting started with HD DVD - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/hddvd/default.aspx Visit our sponsors! Try DVDFab and backup Blu-rays!