DVDBeaver
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- Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 1:10 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
Not meaning to ignite this unpleasant episode again, but I really think it is time that a solution to this screengrabs debacle is reached. Nothing can come out of feuding for either side.
Can we at least agree on these points:
1. Gary Tooze and DVDBeaver do an overall great service to people shopping for rare and hard to find movies on DVD.
2. Contrary to popular belief, it is quick, easy, and inexpensive (perhaps even free) to take accurate, clear screen captures - if you know the right method. It can be done on a computer running Windows - it does not require expensive hardware.
3. Most people are not aware of video calibration (beyond setting basic controls like Brightness) and/or haven't had their TVs professionally calibrated with a measuring device, so what they are seeing on their TVs already has a layer of abstraction added to it compared to how the cinematographers intended. DVDBeaver nor DVD/BD producers can really do anything about this, beyond promoting imaging standards. However, almost no incorrectly configured TVs actually blur the picture (take that from a guy who calibrates and reviews TVs for a half-living, and also advises TV manufacturers' technical departments).
4. There is nothing wrong with saving screen grabs as high quality JPEGs. Once again, from an anal-retentive videophile and video compressionist: there is nothing wrong with saving screen grabs as high quality JPEGs. And again: JPEG IS FINE. And once again: compression is NOT the reason for those blurred screen captures. This is a misconception I see time and time again, in fact DVDBeaver's own "open response" page even fell victim to this. Over-compressed JPEG (and MPEG, for that matter) pictures look blocky, not blurred.
5. DVDBeaver issuing written recommendations is an entirely separate issue to that of the inaccurate images.
6. As a screen capture comparison site, DVDBeaver has a responsibility not to allow their process to abstract or filter the screen grabs they post - especially not selectively. Some of their captures are fine, whereas others are blurred - and that is a serious issue. It's the main reason why Mondo Vision, myself, and I believe at least one other DVD producer, have been outspoken regarding this issue.
It is quite likely that the methods DVDBeaver are using to take screen grabs could actually be replaced with quicker, more efficient ones, while at the same time showing the disc's contents exactly. I am completely willing to help solve the issue, because like I said - it would benefit everyone and there is no point in holding grudges over this going forward.
Can we at least agree on these points:
1. Gary Tooze and DVDBeaver do an overall great service to people shopping for rare and hard to find movies on DVD.
2. Contrary to popular belief, it is quick, easy, and inexpensive (perhaps even free) to take accurate, clear screen captures - if you know the right method. It can be done on a computer running Windows - it does not require expensive hardware.
3. Most people are not aware of video calibration (beyond setting basic controls like Brightness) and/or haven't had their TVs professionally calibrated with a measuring device, so what they are seeing on their TVs already has a layer of abstraction added to it compared to how the cinematographers intended. DVDBeaver nor DVD/BD producers can really do anything about this, beyond promoting imaging standards. However, almost no incorrectly configured TVs actually blur the picture (take that from a guy who calibrates and reviews TVs for a half-living, and also advises TV manufacturers' technical departments).
4. There is nothing wrong with saving screen grabs as high quality JPEGs. Once again, from an anal-retentive videophile and video compressionist: there is nothing wrong with saving screen grabs as high quality JPEGs. And again: JPEG IS FINE. And once again: compression is NOT the reason for those blurred screen captures. This is a misconception I see time and time again, in fact DVDBeaver's own "open response" page even fell victim to this. Over-compressed JPEG (and MPEG, for that matter) pictures look blocky, not blurred.
5. DVDBeaver issuing written recommendations is an entirely separate issue to that of the inaccurate images.
6. As a screen capture comparison site, DVDBeaver has a responsibility not to allow their process to abstract or filter the screen grabs they post - especially not selectively. Some of their captures are fine, whereas others are blurred - and that is a serious issue. It's the main reason why Mondo Vision, myself, and I believe at least one other DVD producer, have been outspoken regarding this issue.
It is quite likely that the methods DVDBeaver are using to take screen grabs could actually be replaced with quicker, more efficient ones, while at the same time showing the disc's contents exactly. I am completely willing to help solve the issue, because like I said - it would benefit everyone and there is no point in holding grudges over this going forward.
- mikkelmark
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:00 am
- Location: Denmark
Re: DVDBeaver
Couldn't you maybe post how to correct it, and also a couple of screenshots that shows both from dvdbeaver and how they're supposed to be, so we can see the difference?
I'm very interested, my main review sites are dvdbeaver and blu-ray.com, and that's mainly because they show screenshots and I believe them more than whatever star rating system they give.
I'm very interested, my main review sites are dvdbeaver and blu-ray.com, and that's mainly because they show screenshots and I believe them more than whatever star rating system they give.
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- Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 1:10 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
Yes, that's probably the best way forward. I'll write an article in the next week or so when I have time that anyone can use.
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- Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:16 pm
- Location: Germany
Re: DVDBeaver
Great, looking forward to it. Can you already give us an idea which software you'll use? I currently grab all my screenshots with VLC as it is free, fast and easy to use. I'm sure I'm doing things wrong when it comes to interlaced titles but other than that I have some hope they're done right I grab five PNG screenshots of every new dvd I get to be able to compare it to other editions online and get a good idea about its picture quality.David Mackenzie wrote:Yes, that's probably the best way forward. I'll write an article in the next week or so when I have time that anyone can use.
Here are my caps of the controversial La vie de Jésus. They look more like the Beaver shots than those that MoC posted back then so I fear/hope I'm doing something wrong
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
Add Mantan Moreland to the list of things DVDBeaver loves, right below nudity
- Ashirg
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:10 am
- Location: Atlanta
Re: DVDBeaver
I wanted to make up for lack of Mantan Moreland in my other reviews. Sorry to upset you for not including any nude Moreland captures...
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: DVDBeaver
I was actually kind of disappointed that Willem Dafoe failed to make an appearance.
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- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:39 pm
- Location: Lebanon, PA
Re: DVDBeaver
But what's not to love about Mantan Moreland?
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- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:39 pm
- Location: Lebanon, PA
Re: DVDBeaver
Well it ain't a Gene Krupa smilie...
- John Edmond
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 8:35 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
Profound Desires of the Gods was robbed, but I'm glad to see the Vlacil collection up so high (even with the poll's boxset bias).
- Alphonse Doinel
- Joined: Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:42 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
Surprised that Fantasia didn't get more love. Disney really did a wonderful job with it, and it looks and sounds glorious.
- Saturnome
- Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2007 5:22 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
It could have been better though, and maybe that played a part in the votes - the "Fantasia World" bonus feature that was cancelled (It could have sent this thing straight into DVDBeaver's top ten!), the supplements on BD-Live (a horrible idea in my opinion)... The deleted "Clair de Lune" segment in HD straight on disc should have been a no brainer, though I guess it was part of Fantasia World.Alphonse Doinel wrote:Surprised that Fantasia didn't get more love. Disney really did a wonderful job with it, and it looks and sounds glorious.
- perkizitore
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 pm
- Location: OOP is the only answer
- Duncan Hopper
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:16 am
- Location: http://www.eldiabolik.com
- Contact:
Re: DVDBeaver
Yeah, I can't move after watching that.
- colinr0380
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:30 pm
- Location: Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, UK
Re: DVDBeaver
*puts hand on hip, turns slightly towards camera* "I have not seen acting so stilted...and wooden...since viewing...Hilary Swank's last movie (*over lengthy pause for comic cymbal crash*). Though it is...on a par...with Avatar"
"Yes. Is that the one also starring Jamie Foxx..out on a stacked BluRay?"
*turning to face interlocutor while keeping eyes fixed in the same position* "Hey now...that's right. Though the BluRay image is weak and I wasn't a fan. Pass."
"Yes. Is that the one also starring Jamie Foxx..out on a stacked BluRay?"
*turning to face interlocutor while keeping eyes fixed in the same position* "Hey now...that's right. Though the BluRay image is weak and I wasn't a fan. Pass."
- willoneill
- Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:10 am
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: DVDBeaver
After watching that, were it not for people's comments here, I would be concerned that someone spiked my water with PCP. Also, why does the male character pronouce blu-ray like a dirty frenchman?
- matrixschmatrix
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
Haha, that program is awesome, you can make any block of text into a really strange and stilted movie- the pronunciations are weird because it's a text-to-speech program.
That's the first time I've ever seen anyone use it for anything other than a joke, though.
That's the first time I've ever seen anyone use it for anything other than a joke, though.
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- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 6:42 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
I'd had never figured Gary for a guy that would bother putting that much gel in his hair every morning, but I guess you should never prejudge.
Well, looking at the Beaver release calendar, there's an absurd amount of stuff I would want coming out on blu-ray around the world in the next 3 months. For the sake of my wallet, I should just stay away from that calendar link. On top of all of the Criterions I won't be able to afford, there's Holy Mountain, Taking Off, Alice, L'Age D'or, Ozu, et al, on blu-ray?!? Fuck.
Well, looking at the Beaver release calendar, there's an absurd amount of stuff I would want coming out on blu-ray around the world in the next 3 months. For the sake of my wallet, I should just stay away from that calendar link. On top of all of the Criterions I won't be able to afford, there's Holy Mountain, Taking Off, Alice, L'Age D'or, Ozu, et al, on blu-ray?!? Fuck.
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- Joined: Sat May 10, 2008 1:10 pm
Re: DVDBeaver
As promised, how to take accurate screen shots from DVD with VLC Media Player.
Step 1. Go to "Video" and choose "Snapshot".
Step 2. That's it. VLC will have output a .PNG file in your C:\Users\YOUR LOGIN NAME\pictures\ folder as a .PNG image, with decent quality scaling applied to "unsqueeze" the picture. I'm not sure where it will put the files on Mac or Linux systems, but hopefully you'll be able to find them.
VLC outputs PNG images by default, but it's fine to convert to high quality (low compression) JPEG. DVDBeaver have misunderstood this point in the past. Once again, JPEG is fine so long as it's not overcompressed, in fact, PNG would probably be overkill for DVD captures.
All I did was start VLC, pop in a disc, and take the screen capture. You might want to make sure any Deinterlacing or other Post Processing features are shut off, in case they interfere. Like I said - all I did was start VLC, load the disc, and go to Video > Snapshot.
I urge any other sites still taking (sometimes) blurred screen captures to use VLC so they can give readers an accurate idea of what's on the disc - it's free and so easy!
Step 1. Go to "Video" and choose "Snapshot".
Step 2. That's it. VLC will have output a .PNG file in your C:\Users\YOUR LOGIN NAME\pictures\ folder as a .PNG image, with decent quality scaling applied to "unsqueeze" the picture. I'm not sure where it will put the files on Mac or Linux systems, but hopefully you'll be able to find them.
VLC outputs PNG images by default, but it's fine to convert to high quality (low compression) JPEG. DVDBeaver have misunderstood this point in the past. Once again, JPEG is fine so long as it's not overcompressed, in fact, PNG would probably be overkill for DVD captures.
All I did was start VLC, pop in a disc, and take the screen capture. You might want to make sure any Deinterlacing or other Post Processing features are shut off, in case they interfere. Like I said - all I did was start VLC, load the disc, and go to Video > Snapshot.
I urge any other sites still taking (sometimes) blurred screen captures to use VLC so they can give readers an accurate idea of what's on the disc - it's free and so easy!
Last edited by David M. on Fri Feb 04, 2011 1:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:20 pm
- Location: New England
- Contact:
Re: DVDBeaver
I believe you can choose any save location you want in the Linux version (and perhaps other versions as well). If I'm making lots of screen caps for a film, I create a new directory (using a file manager) and then set the save location to the new directory in VLC. This setting is sticky -- so you have to change it the next time you use VLC, or any new screen captures will also go into the previously-selected directory).David Mackenzie wrote:I'm not sure where {VLC} will put the files on Mac or Linux systems, but hopefully you'll be able to find them.
- Anthony
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 1:38 pm
- Location: Berkeley, CA
Re: DVDBeaver
I love these video newsletter recaps. What is a Snooki? I wish I didn't know the answer to that question. Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.