Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

What do TELESYNC, DVDRIP, BRRIP, and SCR mean?

Posted: 20 Aug 2009 03:48 AM PDT

Like downloading movies using P2P? Movies downloaded using torrent sites like piratebay, mininova and isohunt are usually tagged with keywords like TELESYNC, DVDRIP, BRRIP, and SCR. To quench your curiosity, let me share you what I have found out about this keywords.

Let's start with the most obvious, DVDRIP. A DVDRIP is 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.

They usually are of good quality depending of course on the quality of the ripping software used and the DVD source. Typically they are about 700MB in size so you could burn them to blank CDs and stow. Axxo is one of the most popular submitters of DVDRIPs in the torrent world. Read my previous post on how to rip your own DVDs.

A BRRIP, on the other hand, is a higher quality format since it is ripped from Blue Ray discs. The BRRIP is usually 720p in resolution and usually comes with an audio of 5.1 channels. Compare that to 420p of DVDRIP with stereo channel audio.

A screener is an advance screening of a film sent to critics, awards voters, video stores (for their manager and employees), and other film industry professionals, including producers and distributors. A DVD SCR is a screener, but transferred off a DVD.

Usually in a letterbox aspect ratio, 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.

A CAM is a theater rip usually done with a digital video camera. A mini tripod is sometimes used, but a lot of the time this wont be possible (because it is illegal), so the camera often shakes. Also seating placement isn’t always ideal, and it might be filmed from an angle.

Sound is taken from the onboard microphone of the camera, and especially in comedies, laughter can often be heard during the film. Due to these factors, picture and sound quality are usually quite poor, but sometimes we’re lucky, and the theater will be fairly empty and a fairly clear signal will be heard.

If you really like the movie, I advice you skip this type of download as it is the most horrible of the other formats. Wait for the DVD or BR rip instead.

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 (i.e coughs and laugher from the live audience).

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.

Before you download a movie overnight, make sure you understand the movie's quality based on its tag. Also put a little common sense, a movie that just came out on cinemas won't have a DVD rip yet. There are a lot of movies with fake tags to get hits from unknowing users, so watch out!