Superbit
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Superbit was a brand of premium DVD-Video versions of motion pictures from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Superbit DVDs aimed to improve picture quality over a standard DVD edition of a feature by increasing the bit rate of the encoded video. Audio quality was also improved by the mandatory inclusion of both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround audio tracks.
Superbit discs can be read by all regular DVD video players, but their film files were encoded at a bit rate that is, according to Sony, approximately 1.5 times higher (6-7 Mbit/s) than standard DVDs (4-5 Mbit/s), which helps minimize artifacts caused by video compression and allow the image to be pre-filtered less prior to compression, which results in more detail.
To maximize space for the main feature, static menus are used and commentary tracks are removed. To further improve the size and therefore quality of the film on the disc, Superbit discs contained a reduced amount (and usually completely devoid) of bonus materials, such as documentaries or interviews, which can be found on regular DVDs. All Superbit releases present the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio. Foreign dubs are also omitted and only subtitles in other languages besides the original English audio are offered for non-English-speaking consumers.
In addition to maximizing the bitrate for improved audio and video, the Superbit line introduced seamless layer changes. Prior to this line of Sony DVDs, all dual layer DVDs caused a slight pause during playback when the layer change occurred. Some standard DVDs had their layer changes placed in scenes where they were almost imperceptible. Superbit DVD were the only optical media discs produced that had true seamless layer changes until Blu-ray was introduced.