The project is coming along and entering finals stages, but I'm having issues with joining files, if anyone can offer any help on this please let me know.
In truth I probably would have been done a long time ago if not for work and life in the way, but it's almost complete. While we all wait maybe someone could send me the If trailer so I can include it.
I may need somone's help. I'm having an issue with editng. There seems to be trouble combining two clips using Virtual Dub. I can't get the audio to sync.
I wish I knew how to use those programs and could help out. This is one release I'm dying to check out. I never heard about this film untill this thread came up. Hopefully someone here can help you out. Off hand when I have problems I always check out doom9 for starters...
When I wrote scope I meant to write "metroscope" which should not be confused with the other. Metroscope was a cropped flat "widescreen" system which had a recommended aspect ratio of 1.75:1 but was protected for cropping down to 2:1. The name Metroscope I believe was created by MGM, and the format was popular for a time in Europe (this bieng a film from the UK, the studio in this case is Paramount).
As far as progress, I guess you could say I have about 30% left to finish. I'm having an issue with correctly syncing the audio would I could maybe use help with.
Originally posted by: focuspuller When I wrote scope I meant to write "metroscope" which should not be confused with the other. Metroscope was a cropped flat "widescreen" system which had a recommended aspect ratio of 1.75:1 but was protected for cropping down to 2:1. The name Metroscope I believe was created by MGM, and the format was popular for a time in Europe (this bieng a film from the UK, the studio in this case is Paramount).
As far as progress, I guess you could say I have about 30% left to finish. I'm having an issue with correctly syncing the audio would I could maybe use help with.
Oh, Metroscope was only used on a handful of MGM's films. None of them were shot for 2:1, but it was MGM's way of pulling off a cheap marketing pull. The Dirty Dozen is on DVD in Region 2 (Europe) at 2:1 and it's very poorly framed. All were shot for 1.75:1 or 1.85:1.
It's sort of how SuperScope was a poor man's CinemaScope which used nothing but films meant for regular 1.66:1 or 1.85:1 showing, but were enlarged and cropped to 2:1 anamorphic. Invasion of the Body Snatchers was shot for regular 1.75:1, but the 2:1 enlarging added a lot of grain and made compositions tight often.
I think only Universal was having films framed for 2:1 from the start in the 1950's through the early 1960's.
This sounds very interesting. It's been years since I've seen "If...", but I remember it fondly - I wish I could offer more than encouragement - it sounds like a great project & i'll be looking forward to seeing it. Best of luck!
I'm posting now to simply recap. The project is very much alive. The long and the short of it is I've been stuck because of an editing problem. I've been working with combining video and audio from two different source, one is PAL converted to NTSC, one is already NTSC, so there has been a sych problem. Life and work has also gotten in the way, but I have srated over and am back at it. What I have ready so far.
If... (US version) If Photos which I will be converting into a nice motion gallery with music.
I do NOT have the trailer, so if anyone has it or knows someone that does please let me know.
I would like to thank all the wonderful people for the support and help that I have been given thus far.
What are some of the differences between the UK and US version? How long is each running time? How good is the quality of the VHS PAL version? What equipment did you use to transfer the US LD?
Originally posted by: Mavimao What are some of the differences between the UK and US version? How long is each running time? How good is the quality of the VHS PAL version? What equipment did you use to transfer the US LD?
I'm very curious!
The UK version is about 1h 52m, something like that. The difference in time between the 2 versions is only about a minute, minute 30. Slight cuts her made regarding nudity, there are also very slighty different shots in 1 or 2 scenes, other then that they are basicly the same. The quality isn't bad, I've cleaned up the sound and picture as best as I could.
Ok, I finished my work on the UK version of If... joining parts together, remastering audio, etc. BUT, in transfering the AVI I have been working on to VOB via WINAVI, it has created artifacts. Now the film I'm working with in this case is not from a dvd source, so I didn't really have the best to work with to begin with. But I think it looks pretty good considering. The artifacts are lite and frankly I've been stuck at this point so long I want to move to the next phase of this project, puting it all together and then releasing it. So I will either reencode it using something other then Winavi, or just move on call this a "beta version" if you will and see what you all think.
WinAVI? My experience with that program is that it's terrible. Maybe they've given it some nice upgrades but I always found it inflexible and fairly stupid.
Originally posted by: ShiftyEyes WinAVI? My experience with that program is that it's terrible. Maybe they've given it some nice upgrades but I always found it inflexible and fairly stupid.
How about CCE or TMPGEnc?
I've never had a problem with it before. It's always done exactly what I wanted until now. I'm not fimiliar with CCE, I have to check that out.
Originally posted by: Mavimao What happened to our Britannia Hospital talk!? I don't care about spoiling the end for others :-P
Isn't there a super a computer with a big brain at the end? I haven't seen the film in years, I have to pull it out.
On an If... note. I am pusing work to install a new 350g harddrive do I'm backing up files, etc. I will then resume and make a fresh avi to VOB transfer using a different program.
Don't know if this might interest you, but an Italian satellite channel just aired If... using an extremely nice master, possibly a new digital transfer. I can record it the next time it will air (I don't know when, since even this showing strangely doesn't appear on any tv-guide), obviously in English without any subtitle, but there are two problems: the channel's bitrate is a bit low, and it's panned & scanned. I know this is a big issue as I'm an aspect ratio freak too, but until a DVD release comes out I guess this is the best quality we can get.
I'm just letting everyone know that I'm leaving for Italy for 2 week and will be back then to continue this project. I really am sorry for not having this out sooner, I would have had if I had more free time. Anyway, I will be back in 2 weeks to continue the work.