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Source copy:
http://blog.ju-lian.info/what-scene-release-tags-mean-cam-ts-tc-scr-dvdscr-dvdrip-vhsrip-tvrip/
CAM -
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 won’t be possible, so the camera may shake. Also seating placement isn’t always idle, and it might be filmed from an angle. If cropped properly, this is hard to tell unless there’s text on the screen, but a lot of times these are left with triangular borders on the top and bottom of the screen. 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.
TELESYNC (TS) -
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. 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.
TELECINE (TC) -
A telecine machine copies the film digitally from the reels. Sound and picture should be very good, but due to the equipment involved and cost telecines are fairly uncommon. Generally the film will be in correct aspect ratio, although 4:3 telecines have existed. TC should not be confused with TimeCode , which is a visible counter on screen throughout the film.
SCREENER (SCR) -
A pre VHS tape, sent to rental stores, and various other places for promotional use. A screener is supplied on a VHS tape, and is usually in a 4:3 (full screen) a/r, although letterboxed screeners are sometimes found. The main draw back is a “ticker” (a message that scrolls past at the bottom of the screen, with the copyright and anti-copy telephone number). Also, if the tape contains any s*rial numbers, or any other markings that could lead to the source of the tape, these will have to be blocked, usually with a black mark over the section. This is sometimes only for a few seconds, but unfortunately on some copies this will last for the entire film, and some can be quite big. Depending on the equipment used, screener quality can range from excellent if done from a MASTER copy, to very poor if done on an old VHS recorder through poor capture equipment on a copied tape. Most screeners are transferred to VCD, but a few attempts at SVCD have occurred, some looking better than others.
DVD-SCREENER (DVDscr) -
Same premise as a screener, but transferred off a DVD. Usually letterbox , 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.
DVDRip -
A copy of the final released DVD. If possible this is released PRE retail. again, should be excellent quality. DVDrips are released in SVCD and DivX/XviD.
VHSRip -
Transferred off a retail VHS, mainly skating/sports videos and XXX releases.
TV-Rips/Episodes -
* Preair/VCD
These are the first releases usually available on a TV show since they are encoded while the program airs, unlike the other release formats. Sometimes they are even from the feed to local stations and therefore available before it airs on tv.
The quality of these releases vary, but are generally pretty low since it is VCD, and widescreen shows (that includes the black lines, so it doesn’t leave many lines for the actual video). The only advantage to this format is that it is available fast and it plays on all the standalone dvd players but if you have something that supports xvid go for one of the formats below if possible.
* TVRip
Postair rips from an analogue source but the image quality is generally very good and they are encoded in xvid.
* DSRip (Digital Satellite)
Postair rips from a digital satellite transmission, very good quality and they are encoded in xvid.
* PDTV (Pure Digital TV)
Postair rips from a pci TV card that supports digital TV. This and HDTV are the most common formats and the quality is excellent. They are encoded in xvid.
* HDTV (High Definition TV)
Postair rips from a pci tv card that supports HDTV which is broadcasted digitally and at a very high resolution although it is encoded in about the same resolution as PDTV releases depending on the release groups so there won’t be a huge difference in quality between them, most networks are broadcasting in this format and it is encoded in xvid.
WORKPRINT (WP) -
A workprint is a copy of the film that has not yet been finished. It can be missing scenes, music, and quality can range from excellent to very poor. Some WP’s are very different from the final print (’Men In Black’ in it’s time for example was missing all the aliens, and had actors in their places (kinda funny though!)) and others can contain extra scenes. WP’s can be nice additions to the collection once a good quality final has been obtained.
DivX Re-Enc -
A DivX re-enc is a film that has been taken from its original VCD source, and re-encoded into a small DivX file. Most commonly found on file sharers, these are usually labeled something like Film.Name.Group(1of2) etc. Common groups are SMR and TND. These aren’t really worth downloading, unless you’re that unsure about a film u only want a 200mb copy of it. Generally avoid.
Watermarks -
A lot of films come from Asian Silvers/PDVD (see below) and these are tagged by the people responsible. Usually with a letter/initials or a little logo, generally in one of the corners. Most famous are/were the “Z” “A” and “Globe” watermarks.
Asian Silvers / PDVD -
These are films put out by eastern bootleggers, and these are usually bought by some groups to put out as their own. Silvers are very cheap and easy to come by in a lot of countries, and its easy to put out a release, which is why there are so many on the scene at the moment, mainly from smaller groups who don’t last more than a few releases. PDVDs are the same thing pressed onto a DVD. They have removable subtitles, and the quality is usually better than the silvers. These are ripped like a normal DVD, but usually released as VCD.
Scene Tags…
PROPER -
Due to scene rules, for example, whoever releases the first Telesync has won that race. But if the quality of that release is fairly poor, if another group has another telesync (or the same source in higher quality) then the tag PROPER is added to the folder to avoid being duped. PROPER is the most subjective tag in the scene, and a lot of people will generally argue whether the PROPER is better than the original release. A lot of groups release PROPERS just out of desperation due to losing the race. A reason for the PROPER should always be included in the NFO.
LIMITED -
A limited movie means it has had a limited theater run, generally opening in less than 250 theaters, generally smaller films (such as art house films) are released as limited.
INTERNAL -
An internal release is done for several reasons. Classic DVD groups do a lot of INTERNAL releases, as they wont be dupe’d on it. Also lower quality theater rips are done INTERNAL so not to lower the reputation of the group, or due to the amount of rips done already. An INTERNAL release is available as normal on the groups affiliate sites, but they can’t be traded to other sites without request from the site ops. Some INTERNAL releases still trickle down to IRC/Newsgroups, it usually depends on the title and the popularity. Some years ago people referred to Centropy going “internal”. This meant the group was only releasing the movies to their members and site ops. This is in a different context to the usual definition.
STV -
Straight To Video. Was never released in theaters, and therefore a lot of sites do not allow these.
ASPECT RATIO TAGS -
These are *WS* for widescreen (letterbox) and *FS* for Fullscreen.
REPACK -
If a group releases a bad rip, they will release a Repack which will fix the problems.
NUKED -
A film can be nuked for various reasons. Individual sites will nuke for breaking their rules (such as “No Telesyncs”) but if the film has something extremely wrong with it (no soundtrack for 20mins, CD2 is incorrect film/game etc) then a global nuke will occur, and people trading it across sites will lose their credits. Nuked films can still reach other sources such as p2p/usenet, but its a good idea to check why it was nuked in the first place. If there’s something wrong with a group release, they can request a nuke.
NUKE REASONS…
this is a list of common reasons a film can be nuked for (generally DVDRip)
BAD A/R = bad aspect ratio, ie people appear too fat/thin
BAD IVTC = bad inverse telecine. process of converting framerates was incorrect.
INTERLACED = black lines on movement as the field order is incorrect.
DUPE -
Dupe is quite simple, if something exists already, then theres no reason for it to exist again without proper reason.
