Fantasia - Special Edition laserdisc (Released)

I am on a mission to craft the “perfect” edition of Fantasia. For most of the video, there’s blu ray. For the Sunflower scenes, I got an HD film transfer. This can be inserted in the blu ray footage.

This leaves audio. The best edition for audio is this release: https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/03733/1236-CS/Fantasia:-Special-Edition

Not only does it feature Deems Taylor’s voice, but the LD audio is closer to Fantasound than the DVD (blu ray audio mix completely destroyed it)

Is there anyone here with the ability to get me that? Would appreciate this so much. Thanks!

Very interested in your project class316 - I was considering doing something myself there too as I’d just got a hold of the 35mm sunflower footage. I’m a bit of a novice though.

Silverwook - if you do manage to get the AC3 transferred, could I please trouble you for a copy as well? I’d really appreciate it!

Cheers
B

SilverWook said:

I have the CLV edition.
https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/03732/1132-AS/Fantasia
I can rip the digital tracks. It might be a few weeks before I can get around to it though.

Do you plan to edit down the Deems Taylor scenes, as the extra narration was lost, which prompted the complete redub in the first place?

Correct me if I’m mistaken, but this edition does not have Deems, does it?

I’m in communication with someone else regarding this, personally I think shorter scenes with Deems is enough. He thinks there should be a complete narration (in which case we can use LD for Deems and DVD audio for the rest).

But that is thinking too far ahead. Right now we need LD audio in usable digital form.

BenjaminG said:

Very interested in your project class316 - I was considering doing something myself there too as I’d just got a hold of the 35mm sunflower footage. I’m a bit of a novice though.

I wonder who has the full 35mm footage cause that’d be interesting to have.

Song of the South has so many different variations. LD copy, 35mm HD, BBC HD, hybrids of the above. Star Wars has 5 million different variations. Even THX-1138 has a few different versions out.

All these are wonderful don’t get me wrong. But it amazes me that Fantasia doesn’t get this kind of love.

The only thing I’ve seen (besides direct DVD and blu ray rips) is on myspleen. It’s the DVD video and audio with VHS quality Sunflower scenes inserted (though inserted VERY well).

For those interested in HD Sunflower (and a couple of other Disney things) check out my post: https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Disney-goodies-Three-Little-Pigs-The-Castaway-Fantasia-Sunflower-in-HD/id/64877

SilverWook said:

Both editions are the same 1990 theatrical reissue version with Deems intact. The only difference is the box set is in CAV format (which allows frame by frame access) and has supplemental extras.

Ok thought Deems wasn’t intact on that one. CAV is generally better quality, isn’t it? That CAV release is real cheap on ebay if we need to get it.

Also, it would be good to have the full LD transfer “as is”

I’m interested in this.

SilverWook said:

Depends on the player. There can be video gremlins CLV doesn’t get. CAV is only 30 minutes (or less) per side, so more fuss doing a capture. The digital audio capture would be separate from the video. I run the optical output into a CD recorder, and the end result is a CD-R with the untouched PCM LD audio.
I capture on different players as the one with digital sound processes the video too much. It’s impossible to turn all the processing off completely. My oldest machine, (now over 30 years old!) is as close to raw video output as I can get, also less prone to video anomalies like laser rot, but only has analog sound output. The video will have the analog tracks with CX noise reduction though. Video is captured into a JVC DVD recorder at the highest quality settings and one disc per LD side. The audio is recorded as PCM.

You seem to know best when it comes to this, so I’ll leave all this LD capturing process up to you. I guess the LD audio in best quality possible is the priority here. Whenever you get to it will be awesome! Thanks!

Impressive that your 30+ year old LD player still works!

SilverWook said:

It’s good old uncompressed PCM Dolby Surround, not AC3. 5.1 wasn’t a thing yet when the film was re-released in 1990.

Ah of course. I guess it was nearly 30 years ago. Would be really grateful if you can help out with that element. No rush, just when you have the time. Thankyou!

I have the CAV laserdisc, bought one cheap, still-sealed, mainly for the collectible swag that came with it. Not sure if the discs suffer from laser rot. I’d be happy to loan it unless the CLV is sufficient/reliable enough for a capture.

dbear said:

I have the CAV laserdisc, bought one cheap, still-sealed, mainly for the collectible swag that came with it. Not sure if the discs suffer from laser rot. I’d be happy to loan it unless the CLV is sufficient/reliable enough for a capture.

The double VHS set actually has better swag than the CAV LD. (though LDs look nicer than VHS). I thought of buying it but then I thought do I really need more stuff.

I, too, have the CAV boxset, and a decent CLD-97 player restored by Kurtis Bahr. I output audio in a similar fashion to SilverWook. If for whatever reason he can’t get to it, I’m happy to help out.

Peter Z

Thanks all for the support. We’ll wait for SilverWook and if he can’t get to it for whatever reason nice to know there are fall backs.

I am hoping 2019 finally gives us the “perfect” fantasia. Baffles me that with all the might and wisdom of the Internet that still does not exist.

SilverWook, any kind time frame as to when you can get us LD audio rip? Thanks.

SilverWook said:

Hopefully this month. I’ve been dealing with health issues, and we’re getting one storm after another out here in California. The last one caused some blackouts, which finally killed the battery on my UPS/surge protector for my vintage gear. I need to replace that or move stuff around and hook things up elsewhere.
The replacement batteries are so pricey, it’s actually cheaper just to buy a new unit.

Ok. Get well. Looking forward to it.

Does anyone have the Soundtrack CD that came out in the 90s? This uses the same mix as the laserdisc and the Pastoral track can actually be used to fill in the missing gaps of the LD audio (due to the censored bits). Perhaps someone can rip a HQ wav file from the CD.

Any updates from anyone?

SilverWook said:

The PCM audio capture is done. I just need to finish listening to it to make sure it’s good. If my internet gets upgraded next week as scheduled, I can try uploading it as I should have better speeds that I get with DSL, which is being phased out around here.

Will try to get to the video capture soon as I get the other player hooked back up to the DVD recorder.

You’re the best!

If this “perfect” edition isn’t the 1990 reissue edition with the uncensored Pastoral Symphony, I’d be much interested in making that one of my (admittedly very many) projects at some point in the near future.