Is there a disc format for 4K video?

Hello!
I know that for 1080p video, we create either a standard Blu Ray disc or an AVCHD-DVD disc. The first preserves the full video quality but requires a BD-R drive to play the disc. The other uses higher AVC video compression to fit in a standard DVD-R disc or a dual layer DVD-R disc. It plays in a standalone Blu Ray player and any computer with a standard DVD-R drive and VLC or other appropriate player.

What about 4K video? I don't have an UHD BD-R drive on my PC. Is there any other format to record 4K video on a standard BD-R or even DVD-R disc? Does it play on a standalone UHD Blu Ray player? I have read about XAVC-S format, but this is compatible with Sony players only. Anything universal? Which software can create such content on Windows 11 or 10, preferably free?

PS: I know I can just burn an MKV file on a disc (data disc), but I wonder if a video disc exists.

It takes a special blu-ray drive, special blu-ray disc, and special software.

glasskuter said:

It takes a special blu-ray drive, special blu-ray disc, and special software.

Click to expand...

That is partially true...

For a dedicated Blu-Ray player (the type you connect to a TV) this is true. You need a 4K capable player.

For a PC, any standard Blu-Ray player will work. The reason for this is that there is no difference whatsoever in the physical media. The only difference is in what CODECs are used to store the video and audio. Of course, the DRM has also been updated. You simply need a Blu-Ray player software package capable of decoding 4K discs.

NOTE: This may be counter-intuitive, but to play 4K UHD discs on a computer you need a CPU << OLDER THAN >> an 11th gen Intel CPU. This is because the DRM requires a CPU feature called "SGX" and that was dropped starting with the 11th gen CPUs.

<RANT ON> I have a collection of WAY over 1,000 DVDs and probably somewhere around 500 Blu-Ray discs, all legitimately purchased at retail. But when the manufacturers go out of their way to make DRM impossible to manage by honest users of their products it makes one start to question why one bothers to color within the lines. <RANT OFF>

For the dedicated players that connect to a TV, the software that does the reading of the discs is built into the player, that is why 4K discs require a new player that can understand 4K discs.

As already mentioned, we normally record HD video on Blu Ray disc. But this is expensive and requires a BD-R drive. Fortunately, it is also possible to record HD video on an UDF data disc with specific structure that plays in a PC AND standalone Blu Ray player. This format is called AVCHD-DVD. I asked if there is anything equivalent for 4K video. Instead of the standard UHD BD-R drive and media that are too expensive, is there any special format to record 4K video on a standard single layer BD-R 25GB or a dual layer BD-R 50GB? Does that format plays on PC only, or it is playable on standalone UHD Blu Ray player? It is restricted to BD-R discs only, or you may also use a standard DVD-R disc or dual layer DVD-R disc (for short videos)? Thanks.

hsehestedt said:

This is because the DRM requires a CPU feature called "SGX" and that was dropped starting with the 11th gen CPUs.

Click to expand...

Let me guess! They didn't want to pay for the licensing fee?

Since we are talking about recording our own 4K footage on disc, DRM is irrelevant. I just wanted to know if there is a ubiquitous format that plays in any standalone 4K UHD Blu Ray player. I don't worry about computers, they play anything with the right software. DRM can also be bypassed. I had to bypass DRM so I could play my purchased Blu Ray movies on my PC because Cyberlink PowerDVD refused to play on my VGA monitor. It required a DVI or HDMI connection with HDCP. Thankfully VLC and Media Player Classic aren't that stubborn.

spapakons said:

Since we are talking about recording our own 4K footage on disc, DRM is irrelevant. I just wanted to know if there is a ubiquitous format that plays in any standalone 4K UHD Blu Ray player. I don't worry about computers, they play anything with the right software. DRM can also be bypassed. I had to bypass DRM so I could play my purchased Blu Ray movies on my PC because Cyberlink PowerDVD refused to play on my VGA monitor. It required a DVI or HDMI connection with HDCP. Thankfully VLC and Media Player Classic aren't that stubborn.

Click to expand...

I believe there's something now newer than H265-HEVC but the H265-HEVC protocol will allow up to 20 - 30 mbits/sec so I can't conceive of anything that will refuse to play those for years yet and this is great quality even on decent 65 inch TV sets.

I think also that the days of physical optical media for video etc -- especially with faster broadband and better hardware are really numbered now. Who really buys DVD's or CD's any more and if they do usually the first thing they do is "De-DRM" the DVD's and rip those as well as using any number of "bog standard" programs to rip CD's.

Any competant Blu Ray player should play "Normal DVD's", home recorded ones and commercially produced ones. The requirement for an HDMI cable V2 is pretty standard - in any case using a cheap chinese unbranded HDMI video splitter can often strip off the DRM and pass video straight through to recording device, computer or TV screen. Note the cheap unbranded ones are more likely to work than the branded more expensive variety for this purpose - up to 4K UHD pass thru.

Nobody as yet has got a bypass for 8K UHD stuff yet but there's hardly any of that around currently and even less domestic grade equipent capable of handling it. Many TV programs are still being made in basic SD format. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

Hi, these days (1/2024), the 4K media is on BDXL discs of up to 4 layer 128GB. Movies seem to occupy between 45-75 GB, from the few I have looked at. The directory structure used to be different than BD discs used for movies. But, as I understand it, BD players and recorders used in PCs can read them now. I am uncertain if the codec is x/h.265. Though I use that to encode BD recordings onto DVD for distribution to my family. DRM is irrelevant with homemade videos. They have BDXL 3 layer and 4 layer discs. They are more expensive, but are optimal for 4K playback in a dedicated 4K/UHD player. There is software that will re-encode your 4K files from cameras or phones into the codec your 4K player can read. I'm planning on recoding my family's old VHS, Beta, DVC, Hi-8, and 8mm Digital tapes onto BD using x/h.265. And, we have a bunch of old 8mm and Super 8 home movies to transfer to digital. Planning on getting a dedicated Projector to SD card digitizer to do that. I'd get more specific about the hardware and software, but they are constantly evolving over the course of months.

David in Tucson

Surely most standalone UHD Blu Ray players can read 4K x265 files from a USB, but is not practical to share USB flash drive with family and friends. A cheap disc makes more sense. If the players can also play the same files from a UDF formatted DVD or BD-R disc, problem solved. Just create a data disc with the .MKV or .MP4 file. Anyone has tried it?