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PSP News is a News and downloads site for the PSP, PSVita, PS4, PS3, PS2 and PSOne, We have all the latest emulators, hack and custom firmwares, homebrew and all the downloads on this site, we also cover commercial gaming and console news., the latest homebrew and releases, Part of the
DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network.
This Website
THE LATEST NEWS BELOW
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January 2nd, 2007, 16:41 Posted By: splodger15
Adding to the huge list of hacks and exploits in the last few weeks is another piece of work by 0okm, this time a firmware 2.80 to 2.71 Downgrader for TA-079 - TA-086 PSPs. What this means is that 2.80 people who're stuck with a TA-082 or TA-086 PSP can now downgrade to 2.71, and from there, downgrade to 1.5 using Dark_AleX's TA-082 downgrader. Once on 1.5, it has been proven that everyone - including TA-082ers - can upgrade to 3.02 OE-B and have all the fun that the rest of the PSP public is having.
But just like the last downgrader by 0okm, don't expect it to be as easy as a downgrader by Dark_AleX. He seems to be not releasing the downgrader in public: You have to mail him and ask for it.
To ready yourself for the downgrade, here's a list of things you need:
The latest PSARDumper.
Firmware 2.71 Update Eboot.
PBP Unpacker.
The actual downdater. (Available on request)
Download links to all of these are at the bottom of the article. Once you have all these things ready, you'll need to find a friend who has a PSP (with firmware 1.5/2.71 HEN-D/2.71 SE/3.02 OE), which can run PSARDumper and extract the DATA.PSAR file.
Here are the steps you need to take:
Open Firmware 2.71 Eboot in PBP Unpacker.
Extract the DATA.PSAR file somewhere on your PC and move it to the root of your Memory Stick. (On helper PSP with 1.5/2.71/2.71SE/3.02OE firmware)
Extract and run the latest PSARDumper on the helper PSP.
Press Circle when in PSARDumper to dump encrypted without sigcheck and dump reboot.bin.
Once the DATA.PSAR file has been dumped, move the newly created folder to the PSP which you want to downgrade.
Obtain the Downdater from 0okm and use the noobz team's xLoader to run the Downdater.
Here is the link to the 2.71 Eboot
Here is 0okm's email address : 0okm00@gmail.com
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January 2nd, 2007, 03:56 Posted By: MasterChafed
This is a mod of PSP Mancala by ZX-81. This mod changes the stones to several new colors, new board style, new icons, new eboot with sound.
Enjoy, Masterchafed
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January 2nd, 2007, 02:00 Posted By: wraggster
New tool for the Macosx to convert PSX games etc:
Heres the details:
What's the difference?
- Create folder with Game Name, automatically copy there KEYS.BIN and EBOOT.PBP.
- Allow different PNG sizes (but not allow bigger than max size) except BACKGROUND.PNG (it has fix size).
- When you change Game ID Number or Game Name you don't have got to press Enter. (Just Press Start button)
- Live preview,
- Unpack / pack PBP files.
More info/download --> http://wattks.extra.hu/
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January 2nd, 2007, 01:35 Posted By: wraggster
via brent baude
I'm pleased to announce that a BETA LiveCD for PS3s and PowerMacs is making it's way onto the Gentoo mirrors as I write this. The LiveCD can be found on the mirrors in the ppc64 experimental section. You can check out a screenshot from the LiveCD at:
http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/ppc64/ps3/beta.jpg
The LiveCD works on PS3s and G5 Apple PowerMacs. It contains a full Gnome desktop as well as:
Firefox-2x (Bon Echo)
Audacious
Xchat
Gaim
Evolution
Gimp-2
Among other things, we plan to add Thunderbird in the near future.
Please feel free to download and test the LiveCD; however, do not, under any circumstances, report bugs via Gentoo's official bugzilla mechanism. I'd prefer join us on #gentoo-ppc64 to report feedback.
Note to PS3 Users
The LiveCD contains a kboot.conf file which should allow you to boot the LiveCD. Choose the label that most closely matches your TV's resolution. This is an area where we plan to put some future enhancements.
Sound
Sound should be functional on the LiveCD. You need to unmute the master channel with the alsa-mixer application.
I would like to thank each of the following for their participation in the LiveCD creation: lu_zero, mtb, nickthecook, deadfall, wolf3l02, and mmschnei. Sorry if I missed anyone.
Merry Christmas,
Ranger
Links etc at the link above
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January 2nd, 2007, 01:12 Posted By: 2.6,CRACKED
2.6,CRACKED!, PSP-KID, Rikardo_92 have updated their shell PSPHustlaz Shell v0.2. Dont forget this is affilated with www.desire-network.com
Here is the changelog:
v0.2
1. Multiple Icon in Shell menu bug fixed (At start of MP3 Player and Shell appears black, jst press any button and the screen will come up - i wouldn't press X because it will load something before you know what you are loading
2. On the shell's music icon press X to go straight to the Music player, O to define a homebrew (it goes to a filebrowser where it saves the dir to the file, but you cant exit due to an exception error im working on)
3. MP3's Buttons updated
4. Fixed some of the problems with the EBOOT loader (please leave feedback if it doesn't load a certain type of EBOOT)
5. A minor bug crash that shoudlnt have been noticeable - but fixed 
v0.1
1. Cant use home to exit -> press L+R+Start to exit
2. Image viewer works but is kinda screwy, cant return to the shell once loaded
3. Music player works but circles are left at the end of the lines :S, and you cant return to the main shell atm :S
Download here:
http://www.desire-network.com/HustlazShellv%200.2.rar
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January 1st, 2007, 22:14 Posted By: wraggster
via rpgfan
Like every year, Dengeki Online has put together a massive New Years feature. And as every year, the most prominent feature of this special is a collection of comments made by Japan's leading developers.
The director of Koei's online business and producer of Nobunaga's Ambition Online, Kenji Matsuhara, talked at length about the possibilities offered by the PlayStation 3's CELL processor. Using this new powerful hardware, Matsuhara wants to deliver an undisclosed game fans can freely enjoy.
Hiroshi Matsuyama, president of CyberConnect 2, the developers of Bandai Namco's .hack and .hack//GU series, emphasized the different functions offered by each of the three next-generation systems. He also confirmed that his company has begun to work with the new hardware, without going into specifics.
Phantasy Star Universe producer Takao Miyoshi obviously emphasized the online capabilities of the new hardware. In particular, he feels Nintendo's Wii offers enormous potential.
Miyoshi's colleague at Sega, Yuuji Naka, was particularly interested in the new input devices (the Wiimote and the PlayStation 3's SIXAXIS controller). Since games were, unlike movies, interactive, Naka felt these new input schemes will become very important in the future.
Nippon Ichi Software's Souhei Shinkawa offered a less enthusiastic view. He pointed to a shrinking market and declining sales of high profile games. Hence, the key to survival would be the creation of games by making good use of the next generation console's capabilities, focusing on one's idea, while balancing rising development costs. His main ambition for 2007 was the creation of a game fans could truly enjoy. While we was likely talking about Makai Wars, Shinkawa did not mention the title, which was first announced at Electronic Entertainment Expo in May.
Bandai Namco Games' Tales series producer Makoto Yoshidzumi also chose his words carefully. He explained that, traditionally, the Tales series wasn't about the latest technology and CG. Instead, the developers focused on using existing technology and offering players a story they can freely enjoy. However, the producer said he had no idea what the future had in store for the series. He feels the time has come for the entire concept behind Tales to be re-built.
Level 5 president Akihiko Hino, on the other hand, apparently has had no such trouble adapting. His Fukuoka-based company is currently hard at work on its first adventure title, Layton Kyouju to Fushigi na Machi, and Dragon Quest IX Hoshizora no Mamori Hito for DS. Hino did not comment on Shirokishi Monogatari, the PlayStation 3 RPG Level 5 is developing for Sony Computer Entertainment, as it is still early in development.
From Soft's Atsushi Taniguchi promised the announcement of a DS title would be forthcoming. The game is a new installment of an existing franchise and will feature multiplayer support.
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January 1st, 2007, 21:57 Posted By: wraggster
via kotaku
Reports have been steadily trickling in since yesterday of stockpiles of Playstation 3s found sitting around in Best Buys untouched, or hardly touched.
Best Buy announced they would be selling a bunch of the consoles starting Sunday and according to several emailers, very few people took them up on their offer. Of course this is all anecdotally, so I'm not sure how widespread it is.
What I can tell you is that the Best Buy near my house had 31 Playstation 3s sitting in a lovely wall o' consoles this morning when I swung by the store. Many, if not all of them, were the 60GB model.
While taking pictures of the stack load of PS3s (and the nearby wall of Xbox 360s, twice the size) someone came buy and plucked one up. He happened to be right next to me when I was paying for my stuff and I heard him saying that the main reason he decided to get it was because it offered up games at 1080p and he wanted to see what it looked like on his plasma. It appeared he was also buying a Blu-ray movie and a copy of Madden for the system.
I can't help but wonder if this seeming lack of interest in the PS3 at Best Buys is because of a general post-holiday buying drought or something more about the system itself. It certainly doesn't look good, especially when coupled with the details were reported on last week about the PS3's grey market.
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January 1st, 2007, 14:07 Posted By: wraggster
via destructoid
If you've been keeping up on your Podtoids since episode 8, you might be aware that I'm a PSP owner and perhaps one of its more vocal critics. We're coming up on nearly two years since the PSP's advent and I can only now come up with a laundry list of reasons why you might be compelled to own them. That I'm even here, even bothering to say stuff about the PSP, that should mean something. Right? Not many people cruising about espousing the good word on Sony's handheld-what-couldn't. By virtue of my very need to speak on the topic, you ought to be excited for what I'm about to say. You stoked? Good.
Despite the recent public backlash over particularly slimy marketing strategies, I think now is the best time to own a PSP -- almost none of it having to do with Sony's influence. Indeed, the PSP is a unique wunderkind, owing its current streak of successes not to its creator, but to the valiant efforts of a handful of third-party developers and folks like you and me. Well, folks smarter than you and me, anyway. Don't believe me? Hit the jump and I'll do my damndest to sell you on a nigh-useless $200 hunk of plastic and silicon in five simple reasons, and all without almost any mentioning of on-the-go porn!
#1: The games.
It seems as though it took Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops to awaken folks to the idea that good games are finally beginning to find a home on the PSP. Truth is they've been trickling in for months now, but it's all the same, really. Now we're paying attention.
So maybe you've seen the GTAs come and go and you're still not interested. I'm the same way. Truthfully, within the first year-plus of the PSP's shelf life, I purchased three games: Lumines and Metal Gear Solid at launch, Me & My Katamari some time later. When Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth finally came out, I was startled when I noticed how much good stuff had suddenly popped up, all ripe for the picking. Capcom had a slew of good stuff on the shelves -- we'll get to that in a minute -- but there was a sudden strong showing on the part of a number of third parties.
If you haven't been keeping up with the onslaught of quality PSP experiences, let me give you a brief list of games that no PSP owner should be without: Daxter, Virtua Tennis: World Tour, Loco Roco, OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast, Gitaroo Man Lives!, Gradius Collection, Power Stone Collection, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, Lumines 1 and 2, Every Extend Extra, Gunpey, Ys: Ark of Naphistim, Tales of Eternia, Metal Gear Acid 1 and 2, Wipeout Pure, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, the Grand Theft Auto games -- the list goes on. Now, I could go on and on about these games in detail, but just look at that -- that's a mighty list. I figured just the scope of such a list would be reason enough to consider getting back into the PSP if you, like me, thought it had died an early death.
And if you're still on the fence, the House that Mega Man Built would like to have a word with you.
#2: The Capcom.
Holy god, Capcom pulled out all the stops for the PSP this last year, and it doesn't seem like they have any intentions of letting up. You might be saying to me "But Aaron, most if not all of Capcom's PSP games are ports from other systems!", and you'd be right. But you'd also be bleeding from the eyes, because nobody disagrees with me in front of my children, understand? Nobody.
Anyway, they're ports, to be sure -- but they're ports that operate exceptionally well as portable experiences, every last one of them. A wide spectrum of gameplay experiences ranging from classic arcade (Capcom Classics Collection), platforming, and a slew of fighters (Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX). It's likely that you'll find at least two or three games fitting with your gaming preferences within Capcom's burgeoning PSP library.
Some of these games even constitute full-fledged remakes, like the excellent Mega Man: Powered Up, Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X and Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins which, no matter what some people say, is an amazing title an worth your cash. And don't forget about Power Stone Collection, which -- huh? Never heard of Power Stone? It's only the greatest four-player fighting game this side of Smash Bros, and the very reason that God granted you the gift of fingers!
Enough hyperbole. Let's move on to what you've no doubt heard whispered in the darkest corners of the internet...
#3: The homebrew.
Yep, this is the part I mentioned about us doing the work that made the PSP worth it, despite Sony's best efforts to keep us out. Why the hate, Sony?
It's the user-created software that really brings out the best in the PSP. For those of you unaware of the homebrew community's latest developments, the PSP is now capable of emulating almost everything up to 4th-gen, in some cases perfectly, in others almost perfectly. Not that I would ever advocate piracy and rommin' it up or anything in any sort of public forum -- but, you know. I own an unholy lot of games, and I have no qualms running them in various other forms on my other consoles capable of doing so.
There are some exceptions. Games with complicated software/hardware architecture, particularly on the SNES, still aren't running at full speed -- this includes games that use the Super FX chip (like Star Fox, Super Mario World 2, and Stunt Race FX) as well as those utilizing the Nintendo SA-1 (Kirby Super Star, Super Mario RPG, Kirby's Dream Land 3). Rest assured, however -- they're workin' on it.
Meanwhile, Genesis and PC Engine/TG16 emulation is damn near perfect, going to far as to allow you the opportunity to play games for their CD addon counterparts (Sega CD and PCCD, respectively). What the hell's so special about that, you ask? Sonic CD and Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, stupid! No longer am I restrained to tossing my discs in the ol' PC and playing them on some crude keyboard -- I've got 'em on the go!
Mind, the whole process is a little sketch. If you haven't got a PSP yet, chances are good that one off the shelf will come equipped with the latest firmware -- currently at 3.02 -- which negates the possibility of running unsigned code. While there are (limited) options for some other firmware versions, 1.5 is currently the golden boy of the PSP homebrew scene. Though there are downgraders available for some key firmware versions like 2.0, 2.71 and others, it gets tricker the higher and more current your firmware might be. Of course, new solutions are cropping up all the time, but if you aren't keen on waiting, you can always buy an older model secondhand, or go to a place where PSPs don't exactly sell at lightning speed -- the bundles at Costco or Sears. There's a fair chance you'll find an older model with lower firmware in such a place.
But when you're finally bored of playing Toejam & Earl whilst steeped in the bathtub, what then? Fortunately for you, children, there's good stuff on the way.
#4. The future.
We're just gettin' started, bitches! In little more than a week we'll be getting our hands on Metal Slug Anthology which, as much as I adore it on the Wii, belongs on a PSP. From there, everything's coming up Milhouse.
Capcom (blessed Capcom!) is hitting us with Capcom Puzzle World next month, cataloging some of their best puzzlers over the years, all of which, again, belong on a portable machine. If anything, this'll be your chance to get your hands on a copy of Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, whose PSOne version commands a ridiculous fifty-plus bones on eBay. And while we're talkin' up ports, Landstalker and Earthworm Jim are being revamped for release on Sony's little black brick, too.
The new Ratchet and Clank, due in February, is said by our own Robert Summa to be dynamite -- if it comes with the same marks of quality with which the Jak and Daxter series hit the PSP, it should make for a great time.
Square-Enix'll be gracing their fans with a remake of the brilliant Final Fantasy Tactics, hopefully with as many updates and additions as earlier revisions of other Final Fantasy titles have enjoyed on other portable systems. Moreover, word is that Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core won't be the same sort of bullshit abortion that the other VII spinoffs have been (namely, Dirge of Cerberus), and who doesn't love a solid action RPG? Nobody, that's who!
The PSP is poised to shine in 2007. Will it wrench control of the handheld market away from Nintendo's undefeatable DS? Hell, no! But that doesn't mean that the games won't be fun. Keep an eye out for some big names in the next year.
#5. The porn.
Hey, hey-- I said almost without any mentioning of porn on the go.
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January 1st, 2007, 11:30 Posted By: wraggster
Those with PS3 consoles who are struggling to sell them may have to paint theres to get a great markup on the sale price, the group who painted theres white the other day sold their PS3 on ebay for $1425
A nice tidy profit
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January 1st, 2007, 02:43 Posted By: 2.6,CRACKED
NOTE: I registered as 2.6,CRACKED, but i am actually 2.6,CRACKED!
I have released a shell with the help of PSP-KID and Rikardo_92 from www.desire-net.com, there is more info in the readme.
Includes:- UMD loading
- Music Playing (MP3 only)
- Image Viewing (JPG and PNG only)
- EBOOT Loading
- USB
- Battery Information
Download here:
Hustlaz Shell v0.1
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December 31st, 2006, 19:06 Posted By: wraggster
New BlueRay Player released:
features
Blu-ray movies playback is restricted to "Region A" coded discs
DVD movie playback is restricted to "Region Free" coded discs
Highest Definition in full 1080p(1920x1080)
HDMI™ (High Definition Multimedia Interface) Digital Interface
Up-conversion capabilities with Faroudja DCDiTM
Multi Format for DVD and CD Playback
Audio Decoding (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, DTS, MP3 Audio)
10 in 2 Multi Memory Card Slot(Memory Stick，Memory Stick Pro，Memory Stick Duo，Memory Stick Pro Duo，SD Card，Mini SD Card，Multi Media Card，RS Multi Media Card，XD Picture card，Compact Flash Card)
description
Today's high-definition televisions (HDTV) are capable of displaying a far greater amount of movie realism than a DVD can deliver. That's why Blu-ray DiscTM (BD) technology was developed.
Samsung presents the highest-definition playback in the world: the BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc Player. Be among the first to view Blu-ray format discs on your HDTV. You'll marvel at the clarity and full-color spectrum of every scene, while multi-channel sound puts you in the center of the action. The Samsung Blu-ray player gives you full 1080p native output and up-conversion for your current catalog. This player also offers backwards compatibility to current dvds and CD playback.
More Info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-1rv2.html
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December 31st, 2006, 18:12 Posted By: wraggster
The LTE Studios team have released a new version of LTE Game Engine which is now at v2.2
The main LTE Studios project is LTE Game Engine, a full featured game engine wich allow you to program your games (or applications) without having to fight with any of the pspsdk calls.
Heres whats new:
- Fixed IReadFile and IWriteFile to work with relative paths
- Added the method IVideoDriver::draw2DStretchedImage to draw stretched images.
- Added the method IAudioSound::setAutoStop(ms) to automatically stop the sound after
ms milliseconds
- Important fixes in the audio driver
- added getAbsoluteClippingRect to get the clipping rect in gui elements
- Added custom bones for Direct X meshes
- Added GUI progressbar
Download Here --> http://www.ltestudios.com/?home
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December 31st, 2006, 18:09 Posted By: wraggster
New Sound system for the PSP, heres the details:
Get unbelievable sound from your PlayStation Portable ™ System. Completely better than the rest, there is no competition when it comes to filling a room with crisp clear audio.
Features:
PSP™ docking station with adjustable viewing angles and charging capability
Utilizes signal processing to maximize all frequencies
Contains the exceptional Class T amp with 4ohm load impedance
Dual-op remote runs both the PSP and Nodus systems
Includes a six foot 3.5mm input extension cable for gaming or auxiliary input
More Info
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December 31st, 2006, 18:06 Posted By: wraggster
Art has posted a new release of his Firmware Modification app for the PSP, heres whats new:
X-Flash V18f (31/12/06):
- Implemented flasher with write verify for topmenu_plugin.rco
files of all supported firmware versions.
- File flasher can only write topmenu_plugin.rco files, and only
of sizes that match 1.50, 2.71, 3.02, and topmenu_plugin.rco
file with new icons as output by kgsws's program for 3.02SE.
- Fixes to PSP Information screen,
and red screens that display some startup warnings.
- Seven Hour XMB Label Editor works with 3.02 SE if the
new icons topmenu_plugin.rco file is flashed.
The new "Network" label that was not present in 1.50 is copied
from the "Network Settings" string that is entered by the user.
X-Flash V18f (Multi Firmware Support)
************************ MULTI FIRMWARE SUPPORT
X-Flash Feature Description 1.50 2.71 SE 3.02 OE
Debranded Coldboot Intro screen YES YES YES
Debranded Gameboot Movie YES YES YES
Alternate Coldboot Sound YES YES YES
Alternate XMB Sound Effects YES YES NO
Disable Network Update Icon YES YES YES
Disable XMB Menu Wave Effect YES YES YES
Replace Monthly Backgrounds YES YES YES
Apply Name Plate Picture YES YES YES
Install Custom Font YES YES YES
XMB Menu Label Editor YES NO YES*
Custom Gameboot Movies YES YES YES
All Version Spoofer YES NO YES
Special 1337 Version Spoofer YES NO YES
Complete Firmware Dump YES YES YES
Registry Backup and Restore Tool YES YES YES
DAX Custom Firmware Modification Tools YES N/A N/A
Flash0 Backup and Restore of mp3 file YES NO NO
Download Here --> http://www.sendspace.com/file/idtjk5
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December 31st, 2006, 17:42 Posted By: wraggster
via pspfanboy
The Ivalice Alliance is strong: Final Fantasy Tactics makes a triumphant return in a remake, enhanced specifically for the PSP. PSPHyper has some gorgeous scans of the latest issue of Famitsu, showing off the game's new cutscenes and yes ... gameplay too. What a great way to end the year look forward to the next!
Scans at psphyper
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December 31st, 2006, 17:31 Posted By: wraggster
via chubigans
There’s a lot of things the PS3 can do...and as we move into the next generation, there’s a lot of competition with what format looks better, which console can pump out the best visuals, and so on. While the jump from DVD to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD is pretty huge for those with capable HDTVs, the jump to next-gen audio has been rather quiet.
While the debate over which format can deliver the best visuals continues, there’s one thing that’s clear: Blu-Ray has an advantage in the audio department, delivering uncompressed PCM audio that’s unlike anything I’ve heard. Today I’ll show you how to get the next-gen codecs in your living room, what you’ll need, and what to watch out for.
What is Next Gen Audio?
With the new HD formats of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray come some audio formats that are new to home theater. Here’s the breakdown of previous and future codecs:
Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS: These are the standard codecs found on almost all DVDs. DD5.1 is common among new DVDs and games alike, and is the most widespread. DTS tracks are found on quite a few DVDs, and even a few games (GTA: Vice City for the PS2). All you need is an optical or coaxial cable to enjoy these formats, and most HD-DVDs and BD movies include a standard DD5.1 track.
DTS-HD Master Audio: This is the new DTS codec for the next gen formats. Every single Fox Blu-Ray release has a DTS-MA track...in fact, nearly all of them only have the DTS option. Now here’s the interesting thing: there is not a single product on the market today that supports DTS-MA. Even the PS3 can’t decode this codec at the moment, but the March firmware is confirmed to update the PS3 to DTS-MA specifications. Even with that in mind, you still need a reciever to decode DTS-MA, and there’s not one available right now. Heck, there’s no Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player on the market today that supports DTS-MA!
Here’s the good news: DTS-MA is simply converted to an improved DTS format read by virtually any player and receiver if the MA format isn’t supported. You’ll still hear the benefits of the DTS-MA track, but even moreso once the hardware is in place. Kudos to Fox for supporting a future proof codec that isn’t even supported on the market yet! (although all things considering, I’d still enjoy a PCM track more).
Dolby TrueHD: The standard codec found on all HD-DVDs but only a handful of Blu-Ray discs (well, just one BD title actually- Legends of Jazz). While this track is still compressed, it delivers a more robust audio experience that is a big step up from DD5.1. The HD-DVD drive for the 360 cannot support this codec due to lack of HDMI, but instead converts the format into DD5.1 that is still a step up, but not “TrueHD.” The PS3 does not support DTHD right now (it will be added via the March firmware) but instead converts the DTHD track into PCM 5.1 audio (only via HDMI). Basically both the 360 and PS3 support this codec, but not in a “true” sense for either console. Still sounds great regardless.
Uncompressed PCM 5.1: Found on a large number of Blu-Ray discs but not supported on HD-DVD, uncompressed PCM 5.1 is simply that: an uncompressed version of the film’s standard 5.1 to 7.1 soundtrack. While that doesn’t sound too exciting, believe me when I say PCM 5.1 is a joy to hear. I’ll post my own experiences in a second, but here’s what many reviewers of BD and HD-DVD discs have to say about PCM audio:
”Buena Vista continues to aggressively support uncompressed PCM soundtracks on its Blu-ray releases, and I say cheers to that. With so much talk about new audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (which are indeed great, make no mistake), it is easy to forgot that plain ol' PCM can produce some the best sound around.”
”If you haven't heard uncompressed PCM you really don't know what you're missing. I haven't heard anything from DD, DD+, True HD or even DTSHD quite on the same level. Of course the later can currently only be based on hearing the core DTS on DTS MA tracks from Fox. And I'm not convinced that the TrueHD tracks that I've heard were the best the codec can do. Regardless, PCM has delivered the most transparent audio presentations I've ever heard even at 16bit. It's like listening directly to the master tapes. Or so I imagine.”
” Buena Vista rolls out the red carpet with an uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track at 48kHz/16-bit. What impressed me most were the quietest moments...'Flightplan' definitely delivers some of the best atmosphere I've heard yet on a Blu-ray release.”
” I have little doubt that the uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track on this disc easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best soundtracks I've heard on either next-gen format.”
”PCM again lives up to the hype, preserving a broad, open transparency with newfound detail and clarity that DVD just can't touch.“
While DD5.1 tracks for DVDs have been compressed to fit, PCM audio allows them to breathe. It’s like listening to an MP3 you downloaded off Limewire & then listening to the same track on the original CD. Another comparison would be listening to a movie with earmuffs on, and PCM audio taking those muffs off, allowing you to hear subtle details like the rain pitter-pattering on the windshield, the hum of an elevator as it moves upwards...if you think I’m exaggerating, believe me, I’m not. It’s incredible how much uncompressed PCM turns your room into a living, breathing environment. It’s almost like going from 5.1 to 20.1.
So now that you know the codecs, let’s see how they get transferred.
The Audio Connection
There are three ways of hooking up your PS3 for audio: using RCA cables (red and white), using optical out, and using HDMI. I guess you could consider using a RF cable as a fourth choice, but if anyone has their PS3 hooked up in this method, I will track them down and destroy them.
RCA cables only allow for Dolby Pro Logic, which is what Wii owners will have to enjoy for the next four or five years until the next Nintendo system comes out. It “simulates” having surround sound without actually providing true tracks for each speaker. Some games on the PS3 (actually all of EA’s sports crapola) only support DPL.
Optical out can carry DD5.1 and DTS tracks to your receiver, providing a much clearer, enjoyable sound. I highly recommend using optical cable, as the results are VERY noticeable. Optical only has enough bandwidth for PCM 2.0 uncompressed, resulting in uncompressed stereo sound (stereo? Meh!). To get the full PCM 7.1 experience, you’ll need...
HDMI. This can carry the next gen audio formats such as DTS-HD MA, Dolby True-HD and uncompressed PCM 5.1-7.1 audio at a full bitrate. The only other method of getting these codecs is through analog out, which is not supported by any console on the market today (but is supported by stand alone HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players).
The nice thing about the PS3 is that you can choose to use component for your video out and HDMI for your audio (at least that’s how it should work in theory, as I cannot confirm this for sure).
So, now that you know all that, it’s time to dive into the more confusing part: the different specifications of HDMI.
The HDMI 1.3 Tech
Over the years there have been updates to HDMI, due to it’s digital nature and high bandwidth. The newest upgrade is 1.3, which results in all kinds of neat things that you can read about right here.
The fact is, many HDTVs don’t support 1.3 because of it being so new. Many receivers don’t support 1.3...well, actually, none do at the moment. In fact, the only thing on the market as of November that supports HDMI 1.3 is...the PS3.
If you plan on getting a new HDTV next year, it might be wise to put off buying that receiver as well. When you hook up your HDMI cable from your PS3 to your receiver, then hook up another HDMI cable from the receiver to the HDTV, you will gain the config of the weakest HDMI link in the chain. So, if you were to hook up your HDMI 1.3 PS3 to a receiver that only supports 1.1, then hook that up to a 1.3 HDTV, you’d only gain the 1.1 performance.
Another thing is that many of the cheaper receivers listed here do not support 1080p...you’ll need to invest in a higher-quality receiver that may range in the upper thousand area.
Now here’s the kicker: HDMI 1.3 is needed to get DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD. However, according to the official HDMI website, 1.3 isn’t actually required for these codecs:
”HDMI has the flexibility to transport these new high definition, lossless audio formats in either an uncompressed PCM stream, or as an encoded stream. PCM stands for Pulse-code modulation and it is a standard way to encode digital audio in computers, consumer electronics, CDs, DVDs, etc. Both Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD, as well as DTS Master HD bitstreams are transportable over all versions of HDMI as decoded PCM. HDMI supports the highest quality uncompressed PCM audio at 192kHz, 24 bits per sample.”
If you just have a SDTV, or an HDTV that only goes up to 1080i, then you’re more ready to invest in a HDMI receiver than most. So, let’s get started!
Receivers, Receivers, Receivers.
First off, make SURE that the receivers you’re looking at have HDMI-decoding capabilities. You do NOT want a receiver that only has pass through HDMI...it essentially carries the HDMI information from one device to another, without touching it. You want a receiver that has full HDMI decoding.
My receiver that I’ve gotten is the Onkyo 604 (~$375), though a cheaper choice is the Panasonic XR-57 (~$275). There’s a great thread on receivers right here.
The Benefits of HDMI-Audio
When I first booted my PS3 up in HDMI audio, I noticed a difference. It could be because I was using a low-end Sony receiver before, but everything sounded a bit sharper and clear. Keep in mind I only replaced the receiver; I was still using the same speakers and subwoofers.
The real difference came with Blu-Ray. I popped in Black Hawk Down, turned on uncompressed PCM audio, and sat back to see what this baby could do.
Audio is an interesting thing. When I first got my HDTV and saw the first image in 1080i, I could immediately see the difference. It was sharper, clearer, better, perhaps even three-dimensional. With audio, it’s not quite as evident the first time you hear it. When I heard uncompressed PCM audio in Black Hawk Down, I thought...yeah, that sounds pretty awesome. Then I stopped paying attention to the movie and focused directly on the sound, switching to Dolby 5.1 and PCM 5.1 to compare a scene every now and then.
The results are pretty amazing. When you’re in a helicopter and your speakers are outputting in standard compressed DD5.1, it sounds good. You can tell the rear surrounds have kicked in and it’s not much of anything aside from some ambient noise.
I had a friend over as I showed him that scene in DD5.1...he said, ok, yeah? And? Then I turned on PCM audio and replayed the scene. The results were clear...you were IN that helicopter as the blades whistled above and the hum of the huge engine over the ambient war noises in the distance, which had my friend say, “Whoa! We’re in the helicopter!” Indeed, if you were to close your eyes, it feels like you’re really there.
The funny thing is, PCM showcases all of the smaller scenes that you wouldn’t think of. Sure the action is intense all the more with PCM, but it’s even more clear just how good PCM is when nothing is happening. Take another scene in Black Hawk Down when the troop goes down a quiet alley, and a bullet hits a soldier’s gun that takes off a few fingers. In DD 5.1, it’s not an event at all aurally...but in PCM audio, you’ll hear the quiet alley and the footsteps of soldiers in the dirt until...QUA-PLANG! A huge striking sound of bullet to metal breaks the small silence and a gunbattle erupts. As soon as that happened, I thought, “now THAT’S what I’m talking about!”
So far the only Blu-Ray disc I own that has uncompressed PCM is Black Hawk Down, but I’m getting Enemy of the State and Lady in the Water next week. I’ll be sure to update the blog with more impressions of uncompressed PCM audio...but as it stands, it’s pretty amazing!
PCM/HD Codec Support
So, what Blu-Ray titles have next-gen audio? Well, it doesn’t actually vary from title to title...it varies from studio to studio.
Both Sony and Disney/Buena Vista have uncompressed PCM audio in all of their releases. You can absolutely count on any title from these two studios to have a smashing soundtrack. Fox is going the DTS-MA route...so far, most all of their titles only support this codec, even though current hardware doesn’t (but that doesn’t stop the titles from sounding great!).
Paramount hasn’t made the jump to any of the new formats, instead opting to just include the DVD 5.1 tracks over to the new next gen formats. While some titles still sound stellar (MI3) it’s still no excuse for their lagging behind.
Warner is in the middle of some controversy right now. All of their HD-DVD releases have Dolby TrueHD, but they’ve quietly dropped that track when making the same titles for Blu-Ray. Superman Returns, for example, has TrueHD on HD-DVD but only DD5.1 on Blu-Ray. Why?
Things are starting to turn around however. Their recent Sorpranos HD-DVD and Blu-Ray boxset has uncompressed PCM audio for BD, but oddly no HD audio support for HD-DVD. Whether or not this will carry over to their movies is unknown, but if they release Batman Begins with just a DD5.1 track on BD then there will be hell to pay for sure.
PCM, much like MPEG-2, is a space eater. Uncompressed tracks could go as high as 6-15GB of space on a BD disc...but this is no problem when studios use BD-50s for their format of choice. Some have made that jump, others are lagging behind...just make sure you read up on the info of a BD disc before making the plunge to buy!
Should I Make the Jump to HDMI Audio?
So that’s the main question...should you spend $300-400 dollars on a receiver for uncompressed PCM audio? It’s not too tough of a question. First, ask yourself...will you be using the Blu-Ray drive in the PS3 for movies? Do you plan on buying many BD titles in the near future? If the answer is no, then getting a HDMI receiver shouldn’t be a priority right now. I’m not sure what the technical limitations are for having uncompressed audio in games, but I’m willing to bet it’ll put a damper on hardware performance until devs can really get a hold of the PS3. It might be a year at the least before we see next-gen audio in games.
After asking those questions, ask yourself...are you willing to spend around $400 to have sound that is even better than current DVD audio? If the answer is yes, invest in a HDMI receiver. If you’re very happy with DD5.1 or DTS, then perhaps the investment can wait another day.
Me? I’m glad I made the plunge. I can now experience movies the way they were meant to be seen and heard...and it’s better than anything I’ve ever seen. Or heard.
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December 31st, 2006, 17:23 Posted By: wraggster
via zeegzaag
With their third home console, Sony has launched their online service, the Playstation Network Platform. An attempt to match the popularity and success of Microsoft's XBOX Live, which is already four million members strong.
One thing that completely sets them apart from eachother is the price. Microsoft's XBOX Live Gold is about $50 annually, meanwhile the Playstation Network platform is FREE. It may be free, but this doesn't make it the better of the two. PNP does complete it's main objective, and this is just simply getting you online and playing your favorite Playstation 3 titles. In fact, it executes it pretty well too, I can be playing a 20 v 20 match on Resistance with no lag whatsoever. Aside from that, PNP is just missing all those little features we have come to take for granted everyday with XBOX Live. These being voice messaging, private chats and customizing your own profile. Not to mention the absence of a unified friends list. Of course, Sony is probably hacking away at these issues somewhere, but that fact that these were absent out of the box is dissapointing. The Network will once in a while go down due to an excessive amount of people on the server ( which is the cause of error 80710D23 when logging in). It may sometimes even take 5 attempts before you can actually log in, but thankfully this isn't very common.
The Playstation Store is Sony's version of the XBOX Live Marketplace. Both contain demos,game + movie trailers and arcade titles. Although, the XBOX Live Marketplace has full TV shows and Movies for rent. You can probably expect something similiar from Sony(maybe even music) , due to the fact that they own several movie studios and record labels. The Playstation Store is made more like a website, so if you do not have a USB/ Bluetooth keyboard + mouse then it might become a bit annoying navigating it with the sixaxis controller. The one thing that really sets these two apart is that the XBOX Live Marketplace uses "Microsoft Points", while the Playstation Store uses the currency of your home country. The bad thing about the Microsoft Points is that you have to buy them in small/ big packages. So if you only want to buy a gamerpicture which is 20 points( $0.25), then you must buy the smallest package of points(400 points, which winds up costing you a whole $6.25). Also, another cool feature on the Playstation Store is the ability to buy PSOne games, to then put on your PSP.
I must give Sony kudos for integrating a browser onto the PS3. This actually works pretty well, wether you want to check your yahoo email or watch Youtube videos. It defianetley reminds of the PSP's browser, and oddly enough the same " out of memory ' alerts are present(those who have the PSP know what I'm talking about). You can do all the usual here as on Internet explorer or firefox which includes saving files, bookmarks, having several tabs on at once, except that reading text on web sites is not that easy on the eyes, as it offers little in the way of anti-aliasing. I definitely suggest sticking with a USB/Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, because I can guarantee you will go mad using the Sixaxis controller to type. Overall, this a great edition to the PS3 and definately something I wish that the XBOX 360 had. Although the PS3 browser does not stack up to what can be done on Yellow Dog Linux for the PS3(which I will be installing tommorow)
The one huge plus of XBOX Live is the ability to have your very own gamercard. This includes a gamer picture,21 character motto, your rep, gamerscore, country, your "zone" and all your games played with the achievements you got in each game. An awesome feature it is, giving everyone a disinct identity.
In my opinion, the thing that makes XBOX Live so great is that I can be playing in the campaign of Gears of War and my friend "MasterPlayer 360" sends me a voice mesage asking me to play an online match in Saints Row with him. While still in my game, I push the guide button and quickly listen to the memo. I send him a private chat invite and we babble while I continue to play my game of Gears of War and he's in his match in Saints Row. Then he can join my game through clicking "Join Session in Progress" on my profile, and voila, we are playing side by side in the Gears of War campign. Then after a while he say's , "hey man, I gotta go eat some dinner", and he drops out, still leaving me in my own game by myself, nothing is lost or neither does it exit my session when he leaves.
Overall, these are two good online gaming services which get the job done by deliviring a lag free game experience and an awesome virtual store.Both services will get a case of "the hiccups" every once in a while. but as of now, my vote must go to XBOX Live. Despite it's $50 annual price tag, it definitely satisfys you with awesome customization features, the ability to download tv shows and renting of movies from the marketplace and over 100 great XBOX live titles. Granted the Playstation Network Platform has only really been out for a month + few days, but it feels a bit bare boned, with the exception of a cool web browser. If Sony wants to match the excellence of XBOX Live then they have along trek uphill.
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