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alloneword

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7-Feb-2017
Last activity
29-Oct-2023
Posts
126

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Post
#1285846
Topic
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends UK Series 1-2 Original Broadcast Version Reconstruction (WIP)
Time

Just a little update;

Series is mostly done but I still need to do some freeze-frame credits but replacing the last two still credits with screenshots. It’s coming out well so far. All the DVD episode overlaying is done and I even reconstructed the Screen Legends promo as best I could. I could only do it with footage with didn’t have any effects done to the promo trailer itself. My only issue with the VHS footage is the shift in colour and brightness when it goes from DVD back to VHS (ie. even 2nd episode that leads into scrolling credits). I’ve tried dabbling with the colour corrector plug-ins but I wasn’t happy with my progress. Even if I got close with one episode, it would still be way off on another, so I just left them as they are for now. Like i said before, all warts aside, it’s still a huge leap in quality than just watching bare-bone VHSrips. I already did a remastered audio track for Series 2 via Audacity long before I attempted this (again, sourced primarily from 2004 DVD’s and AUS ToF) which has been ported over to this. So just a few more tweeks left for Series 2 and I’ll release it.

I’ve just started work on Series 1 with the first eight episodes, which is largly the same approach, plus thanks to AUS ToF, I can do some overlaying with some of the nameboard shots. One issue I’ve run into is the the framing on AUS ToF for these shots is shifted a bit, so it’s a bit of a job overlaying and matching seemlessly. The yellow line transitions at the begining of each episode (so far) is working as (unlike Series 2) the 2004 DVD maintains the footage in it’s barest form, so I’m able to crop the DVD frame-by-frame inside the yellow line/borders. Not bad for a newbee like me. The end of each episode doesn’t give me the option to do this, so it’s all VHS footage there. Opening credits for this will be just like Series 2 but the trouble here is the AUS ToF DVD has slightly fewer frames so the odd VHS frame will still be in there sadly. The theme tune, I want to keep it retro and true to how it sounded on VHS (the mixing/mastering of the theme varied between Series’) so that’ll be straight from AUS ToF.

As a break from Series 1, I thought I’d also attempt Series 3, buy restoring the original title’s and 1991 VHS freeze-frame credits for Episodes 1-16 and using the early MA narration. These will look the best as there’s no transisiton between the opening titles and the episodes and VHS will only be needed for episodes titles (except for “Mavis”, which will simply be ported over from “TLoF” AUS DVD in full), end credits and “The Video Collection” Ident. I’ve also ported over the “Britt Allcroft Company” ident from the “Peep Peep Party” UK 2000 DVD.

Post
#1284609
Topic
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends UK Series 1-2 Original Broadcast Version Reconstruction (WIP)
Time

UncutIsSuperior said:

alloneword said:

I’ve just started my own preservation of this seeing as I’m having more success now. Unlike UncutIsSuperior’s, I’m going to be using already existing sources rather than creating my own and overlaying DVD footage over VHS where possible and only using VHS footage when there is no alternative. So the “episode” footage will be taken from the 2004 DVD’s, the opening titles (except for the episode titles shots) will be taken from the “Truckloads of Fun” AUS DVD, and VHS for the episodes title shots, nameboards, Screen Legends/Pickwick video logos, scrolling credits and any transition effects. I’ve even gone as far as to overlay the Screen Legends promo which I’m quite impressed with so far.

I’ve started with Series 2 mainly for 2 reasons. One, all the nameboard sequences are the same order throughtout unlike Series 1 so less work there, and two, It’s my favourite season. So far, I’ve just about finished “Thomas, Percy and the Coal AoS” and will do the other two Series 2 VHS’s, then I’ll move on to Series 1, then I will redo Series 3. Series 3 for the first 16 episodes because as already stated, they all have an early prototype narration my Michael Angelis and the early VHS’s have Series 2-style freeze-frame end credits. The opening titles, like Series 1 and 2 will be lifted from “ToF” AUS DVD.

The only drawback is that the transitions between VHS and DVD will me noticeable and Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 doesn’t have a colour-match plugin but with the results I have, it’s a huge step up from my own VHSrips.

That would be nice, but do you even know how to do the yellow vertical line split transition in between episodes? If so, could you please teach it to me?

I don’t sadly. Like I say, I’m not “creating” or “recreating” any elements myself. I’m using VHS footage for the yellow line transition effects. One thing I have noticed is while I’ve been overlaying the DVD footage over the VHS footage of the episodes themselves (frame-accurate), the 2004 DVDs are missing the footage where the yellow line wipes would be anyway so for your project, even if you to figue out how to to the yellow line, you may run into some issues there as you won’t have the correct episode frames to apply it to. That’s what I’ve noticed for Series 2. May not be an issue for Series 1.

Post
#1284507
Topic
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends UK Series 1-2 Original Broadcast Version Reconstruction (WIP)
Time

I’ve just started my own preservation of this seeing as I’m having more success now. Unlike UncutIsSuperior’s, I’m going to be using already existing sources rather than creating my own and overlaying DVD footage over VHS where possible and only using VHS footage when there is no alternative. So the “episode” footage will be taken from the 2004 DVD’s, the opening titles (except for the episode titles shots) will be taken from the “Truckloads of Fun” AUS DVD, and VHS for the episodes title shots, nameboards, Screen Legends/Pickwick video logos, scrolling credits and any transition effects. I’ve even gone as far as to overlay the Screen Legends promo which I’m quite impressed with so far.

I’ve started with Series 2 mainly for 2 reasons. One, all the nameboard sequences are the same order throughtout unlike Series 1 so less work there, and two, It’s my favourite season. So far, I’ve just about finished “Thomas, Percy and the Coal AoS” and will do the other two Series 2 VHS’s, then I’ll move on to Series 1, then I will redo Series 3. Series 3 for the first 16 episodes because as already stated, they all have an early prototype narration my Michael Angelis and the early VHS’s have Series 2-style freeze-frame end credits. The opening titles, like Series 1 and 2 will be lifted from “ToF” AUS DVD.

The only drawback is that the transitions between VHS and DVD will me noticeable and Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 doesn’t have a colour-match plugin but with the results I have, it’s a huge step up from my own VHSrips.

Post
#1283631
Topic
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends UK Series 1-2 Original Broadcast Version Reconstruction (WIP)
Time

UncutIsSuperior said:

alloneword said:

If you want to recreate the OBV of those two episodes, use the Kaleidoscope 1985 VHS versions, or if you want to have a nameboard sequence, use the 1988/1992 versions.

I definitely want a nameboard sequence in between “Percy Runs Away” and “Coal”, just like every other pair of episodes from Series 1 and 2, so where can I find the 1988 or 1992 re-releases of the Kaleidoscope VHS tapes? Thank you.

I have the 1992 rerelease which is in the process of being uploaded. 😃

I’ll PM you when they’re up.

This is the version I have, but this is not MY upload.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OebTUorKJfI

Post
#1283582
Topic
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends UK Series 1-2 Original Broadcast Version Reconstruction (WIP)
Time

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS - SERIES 1, 2 AND 3 VHS PRESERVATION

QUEST

To restore the original UK VHS releases by replacing as much VHS footage with DVD footage as I can (plus a little bit of colour-correcting) and create the best quality versions of these releases possible. It will be as if DVD’s existed back in the 1980’s, this is what an officially release will pretty much look like. These will include both Ringo Starr’s UK and US narrations for Series 1 and 2, and both Michael Angelis’ 1991 (Episodes 1-16) and 1992 narrations for Series 3. There will be no George Carlin or Alec Baldwin.

I originally starting this project using Sony Movie Studio Platinum 12 but have restarted this project in 2021 using MPEG Video Wizard as that exports video/audio bit-perfect without any re-encoding. SMSP12 will still be used sparingly for any “effects” that need doing such as re-framing, etc. I tried preserving the yellow line transition effect from the VHS by carefully cropping the DVD footage over it but that just fried my brain after a while and I wasn’t entirely happy with my efforts so I’ll be leaving the VHS footage as it is.

For Series 1, I’m aiming to restore the two original 1985 Guild Home Video releases which had 13 episodes on each. I was originally going to recreate the three Kaleidoscope/The Video Collection releases that replaced them but I changed my mind for a few reasons. I want the nameboard sequence between “Percy Runs Away” and “Coal”, which only ever appeared on the “Further Adventures of…” VHS/Betamax. Secondly, the Guild Home Video releases are extremely rare now (I think they were withdrawn very quickly in favour of the three Kaleidoscope tapes) and I liked the idea of preserving these instead. I’m also preserving the 1992 “Thomas Goes Fishing and other stories” VHS (Episodes 9-17) which includes the split-stereo “error” which has the complete mix on the left channel and the instrumental/no-narration dub on the right channel. I’ve chosen to restore this one as well to preserve the instrumental version as a separate audio track and the double-bill version of “Thomas, Terence and the Snow/Thomas and Bertie”, which were split between the two 1985 Guild Home Video releases.

For Series 2, I’m aiming to restore the 1987 Screen Legends versions with the ident and trailers for Series 2 and Henry’s Cat.

Then for Series 3, it’ll be The Video Collection versions. I have also included a little tribute to Michael Angelis at the beginning. These will also include both his early narrations only found on initial pressings and the final re-narrated versions found on later pressings and DVD’s.

Series 4 had 8 episodes where MA’s narration and sound effects was tweaked to remove any breathing sounds. The initial VHS release of “Rock ‘n’ Roll and other stories” had the original mix which I have preserved. I’ve only done custom audio tracks for these and remuxed them into the 2004 DVD versions as standalone MKV’s. I’m not sure if I will actually preserve the actual VHS itself. The first 3 series (Series 1 and 2 in particular) require the most work and has given me far too much of a headache so far so any further work on Series 4 will be on the backburner for now.

Series 5 (I assume) had no alterations when released on VHS in 1998 (year of production/broadcast) or on the 2004 DVD so I don’t believe that one requires any work here. I stopped watching Thomas during Series 4 so I’ve no interest in working on the rest of the “Classic Series” and I have zero time for the CGI era or the “Magic Railroad” Movie.

SOURCES

*Various UK PAL VHS releases of Series 1 and 2 released between 1985 and 1992, mainly for nameboards, episode titles, Series 2 Clearwater Features logos, TVC/Screen Legends/Pickwick Video idents and yellow-line transitions that are unavailable in higher quality.
*“Thomas & Friends: The Complete Series 1, 2 and 3” (2004 UK PAL DVDs) - Restore ‘episode’ footage and audio.
*“Thomas & Friends: Truckloads of Fun” (2005 Australian PAL DVD) - Restore Series 1 and 2 opening titles, nameboards and Series 1 Clearwater Features logos (where possible).
*“Thomas & Friends: Peep Peep Party” (2000 UK PAL DVD) - 1991 Britt Allcroft ident for Series 3
*“Thomas & Friends: Cranky Bugs & Other Thomas Stories” (2002 US NTSC DVD) - Series 2 nameboards.
*“Thomas Gets Tricked/Percy’s Ghostly Trick” (2010 US NTSC DVD Double Feature) - “Thomas & Gordon” opening titles as they’re slightly different to the rest of Series 1, Ringo Starr US narrations and more Series 1 nameboards.
*Alternate audio tracks - Ringo Starr US narration (Series 1 and 2) and Michael Angelis early 1991 narration (Series 3, episodes 1-16) and early 1994 narration (Series 4, 8 episodes) sourced from Youtube.

REQUESTED SOURCES

-Good quality versions of the 1985 Guild Home Video and Screen Legends idents.
-More Nameboard and Clearwater Features idents, ideally sourced from DVD’s. I have some already but more would be appreciated if possible.
-Any Scandinavian DVD releases of Series 1 and 2.

RELEASE DATE - When it’s done.

Progress Report
Series 1 - In production
Series 2 - Nearly done, still some VHS colour-correction to do
Series 3 - Complete (1991 & 1992 Narrations for Episodes 1-16 and freeze-frame credits)
Series 4 - Complete (1994 Narration synced with eight 2004 DVD episodes)

This is a labour of love for old-school Thomas fans and while I’m not going to be precious about sharing my work, all I ask is you legally own the official DVD’s/VHS’s and do not sell my work for profit.


I’d love to see a project like this. Tried attempting something like this with Sony Movie Studio Platinum a little while ago taking my VHS transfers and overlaying the episodes with the DVD footage but no luck. I did however remaster the audio by overlaying the VHS audio with that of the 2004 DVD’s which was something.

For the “episode” footage, might I suggest using the 2004 UK DVDs (which use the 1998 remasters) rather than the current Restored versions as they more closely reflect the broadcast/VHS versions.

Another good source for this project would be the 2005 Australian “Truckloads of Fun” DVD which oddly enough uses the original Clearwater masters Series 1 episodes, plus “Tenders and Turntables”, “Trouble in the Shed” and “Off the Rails” even use the CW logos and nameboards as they appears on the 1985-1992 VHS releases. The original masters for the other Series 1 and 2 episodes are also used but they are the singular TV rerun versions with no nameboards and CW logos replaced with the 1991/2 Britt Allcroft Company logos. The episodes from this DVD have been uploaded on YouTube but a couple of episodes have been blocked by HiT Entertainment;

Truckloads of Fun (AUS DVD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOdYxZaASO4&list=PLonGtgtV8MRdkv3qsbdDoYiYkIyQQt_-K

Also on a side note, Series 3 had an “early narration” (by Michael Angelis) for the first 16 episodes which were only released on the original 1991 VHS tapes then later redone for TV broadcast and later VHS/DVD releases, as did 8 episodes from Series 4. I’ve already done a preservation of these myself but they’re also on YouTube;

Time for Trouble and other stories (Early Narration)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h2Y7ZzXx90&t=193s

Trust Thomas and other stories (Early Narration)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64bYN8csEfA&t=297s

Rock and Roll and other stories (Early Narration)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg0UjeyL5VI&list=PL1XR64NRWmn5pZT8xj1RERC0T5yDxdjwz

Back to your main goal, I really hope you pull this off and I’d love to help any way I can. I’ve already transferred my Series 1, 2 and 3 VHS tapes to DVD which I’m happy to share with you if they’ll be of any use. Also, Series 2 needs to have the “Screen Legends” ident included!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TskJ-lKo0o

I apologise for how long it’s taking. As you can appreciate this is quite a big project and I want this to be a decent effort. I have also been taking extended breaks from this thing due to not really being fully committed and in the right space all the time so I thank you all for your patience. 😃

Post
#1279945
Topic
Thomas & Friends - Classic Series NTSC Preservation (US dub) (a WIP)
Time

I don’t know how this compares to the sources that you’ve been using, but some of Ringo Starr’s US dubs were released on CD as part of an audiobook read-along set by Random House, sourced directly from the TV episodes themselves (not re-read like the 1985 UK Ladybird audiobooks). A few slight drawbacks with those is there’s a ‘beep’ whenever you need to turn the page and some lines of dialogue differ from the Strand VCI home video versions.

Here’s an example, “Wooly Bear” with Ringo Starr US Narration sourced from Random House read-along CD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-v8X2yVjM0&t=91s

Post
#1279210
Topic
Ghostbusters - Criterion PCM Track (see Jonno's post; plus lots more info) (Released)
Time

Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II 35th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray SteelBook with Bonus Disc is out June 11th, 2019

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ghostbusters-and-Ghostbusters-II-4K-Blu-ray/240094/

Both films include original stereo tracks. Would they be the same as the Criterion PCM Track?

Post
#1267334
Topic
The "Is it in HD somewhere because I can't find it" thread.
Time

“Guest House Paradiso” (1999) aka, “Bottom: The Movie” starring Rik Mayall and Ade Edmunson.

“Nil By Mouth” (1997) by Gary Oldman, starring Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke.

Only DVD exists for both of these. No HDTV rips or digital versions out there. Probably not films that would look much better in HD but would be nice to have.

UPDATE - Both films released on Blu Ray as of 2023.

Nil By Mouth - https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Nil-By-Mouth-Blu-ray/225848/

Guest House Paradiso - https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Guest-House-Paradiso-Blu-ray/342838/

Post
#1258078
Topic
Harmy's STAR WARS Respecialized Edition '97 - AVCHD and MKV Released
Time

Chris358cp said:

alloneword said:

Adywan has done a “The Empire Strikes Back 1997 Special Edition” which might be worth getting.

I’ve been looking for this version, but all I could find was his ESB:Revisited.

I’m not sure how or where you’re searching for it but if you simply search “Adywan”, you should be able to find it. There’s a 14gb version and a 8gb version. They may not be obviously labelled as the 1997 SE’s so best read the file descriptions.

Post
#1256921
Topic
Help: looking for... 'The Lion King' - Laserdisc & DVD Rips
Time

stretch009 said:

Avatar_Emil_Borg said:

I know you can find a laserdisc rip on Rutracker.

I found two there.
Search: lion king ldrip (which is an xvid avi)
-and-
lion king laser (which is a laserdisc transfer to dvd5)

There’s also an MKV which appears to be identical quality to the DVD5 version and, unlike the DVD5, is anamorphic. I’d take that over the xvid avi.

Post
#1256654
Topic
Wallace & Gromit in "The Wrong Trousers" - Original Audio Preservation (Released)
Time

Pepsi said:

Just listening to the official soundtrack of the opening theme to A Grand Day Out, the speed/pitch matches that of the Blu-ray, so wouldn’t that mean the Blu runs at the correct speed?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHEkTnFPR0Y

Was the soundtrack ever offically released?

I did a search for the soundtrack on YouTube myself and found this;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDw40l-hsas

In the description, the uploader said he had to speed the audio up (from a source uploaded previously by another user) by 4% to make it accurate. Maybe that link you found was sourced directly from one of the 24fps Blu Ray audio?

Post
#1235381
Topic
Idea: Red Dwarf - Back To Earth
Time

I have recently found BBC HD 1080/50i rips of the “TV” version on UseNet. All of which have a 5.1 AC3 track. Might be useful if you’re still trying to put together a complete, full-length version.

The reason I thought this might be beneficial is because all Blu Ray releases of Back to Earth are converted to 23.96fps despite originally being shot at 1080/50i. The only downside to to the BBC HD versions is the logo.

Post
#1222670
Topic
Harmy's STAR WARS Respecialized Edition '97 - AVCHD and MKV Released
Time

BrightestDayFan2814 said:

So This Is Harmy’s STAR WARS Respecialized Edition '97, But What About Harmy’s STAR WARS Respecialized Edition '97 v2.0, Harmy’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Respecialized Edition '97, & Harmy’s RETURN OF THE JEDI Respecialized Edition '97, I Hope Harmy Can Make Them

Adywan has done a “The Empire Strikes Back 1997 Special Edition” which might be worth getting. Don’t know of any RotJ 1997 Special Edition HD preservations/restorations though.

Post
#1202495
Topic
"Doctor Who" (1996) at proper speed [AUDIO FINISHED; VIDEO SECOND PASS IN PROGRESS]
Time

ChainsawAsh said:

That’ll get it to run at the correct speed, but there’s still a ton of ugly interlacing artefacts that will need to be fixed. That was my biggest issue when working with the DVD.

Unless they somehow fixed them for the BR, which I doubt…

I’d offer to take a look but as I said, I don’t own the BD so I don’t feel comfortable doing so until I do (and, of course, there are forum rules to take into account).

That’s fair enough.

I’m probably not as eagle-eyed as a lot of other people here but I couldn’t see any noticeable issues after the slowdown. I haven’t watched it from start to finish yet since my re-edit but even if it does suffer from said issues, it’ll certainly do for now until it ever gets officially mastered properly. It’s still nice to hear Paul McGann’s voice as it should be. Maybe if slowing down the Blu Ray isn’t the ideal solution for now, the audio at least could be pitched down by about 4% even if the speed is still kept at 25fps.