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.: The XØ Project - Laserdisc on Steroids :. (SEE FIRST POST FOR UPDATES) (* unfinished project *)

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 (Edited)

PROJECT UPDATE - See this post for the latest project status: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/The-X-Project-Laserdisc-on-Steroids/post/461494/#TopicPost461494

Welcome to the second edition of the XØ Project discussion thread. The original thread can be found here.

This thread will primarily be used to discuss the project and our official web site. <span>Please do not use this thread to inquire about when it will be finished or how you can get a copy.</span> We will reveal this information when/if it is evident.

What’s an XØ?

The XØ Project gets it’s name from the Pioneer HLD-X0 (that’s <span><span>X-ZERO</span></span>) Japanese NTSC laserdisc player – quite possibly the best LD player ever made. It easily outperforms any of the American ‘Elite’ series players like the CLD-97 and CLD-99.

The XØ Project will be spearheaded by MeBeJedi and Zion. Our third member, who wishes to remain anonymous, is another amazingly talented videophile who contributes more than his fair share. Laserman, who started the project, is no longer involved due to health issues and personal reasons.

So, What Are You Guys Doing?

First and foremost, the project aims to be an archive preservation of the Original Star Wars Trilogy laserdiscs in the best quality possible. We are culling video from a number of different sets. These include, but are not limited to, the US Definitive Collection set, the US “Faces” set, and their Japanese equivalents.

Every single frame will be looked at and corrected. Fixes will be limited to dirt and film damage removal, color correction, and stabilization. Wherever possible we will be using the actual celluloid film for reference.

Glitches including matte lines, saber colors, and frame jumps will not be fixed in the initial version. A possible second version could include fixes to matte lines and garbage mattes, but keep the rest of the “glitches” intact.

The finished archive will form a perfect base for any future restoration project or fan edit we might do afterward.

What Will Your Final Output Format(s) Be?

Possibilities include an uncompressed letterbox master copy for posterity, DVD-9 for daily viewing pleasure, and 720P anamorphic for largescreen/projector viewing.

What Equipment Are You Using?

A project of this magnitude and intricacy demands a lot of specialized hardware and software. It all starts with a properly calibrated video chain – LD player, capturing system, and monitors. Software being used includes AviSynth/VirtualDub, Combustion, and Boujou. We will go more in depth on this on the website.

So What’s On the Website?

Our website is our main hub for everything that’s going on with the project. Updates to our progress usually pop up on the website before anywhere else. We also send out a periodic newsletter with the latest news about the project.

The other intent of the website is to educate people on how to do their own transfer through informative articles. We want it to be a haven for other enthusiasts to learn the tricks of the trade and produce results similar to our own. The theme is obviously centered around the transfer of the Star Wars LD’s, but these ideas can be applied to many other projects.

How Can I Help?

A project like this leaves very little room to skimp on materials. In addition, we have to be able to ship things between each other. If you feel compelled to contribute to the cause, you can do so by contributing monetarily. We accept donations through PayPal on the website.

My Projects:
[Holiday Special Hybrid DVD v2]
[X0 Project]
[Backstroke of the West DVD]
[ROTS Theatrical DVD]

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This is a fantastic project and I'm so glad that it's being done right. I don't just mean using the xØ but in the way you are processing the image. I have a fair amount of experience in this field myself but my help isnt needed in the slightest because you are doing things exactly the way I'd do them if I had the time and resources and this makes me very happy.

Keep up the fantastic work - this is the most exciting preservation project going and I for one can't wait to see the final results.
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Wow, that is surprising that Laserman has dropped out. I thought I just read a couple of days ago that he was going to do a "cleaned up" version (i.e. color corrected sabers) once the project was finished. Kind of dissapointing. Either way, I hope he feels better in the future and I'd like to say thank you for his contributions.

p.s. Nice job starting the thread over, Zion. It feels so fresh and clean. Ha.
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Oh, Laserman is not walking away from the X0 capture - he just won't be in cahoots with the X0 project.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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O.o i just got it. Cool i like the touch up of the luke and c3po pics its definatley not as fuzzy and luke's not sunburned anymore lol
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That's from using our SPF-100 filter.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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(SPF=Sun Protection Factor...i.e. suntan lotion )

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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That was great work on cleaning up that frame. I can't believe the difference.

Patrick
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." - Tuco from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
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Cool, Im excited to know that work on this project continues.

aka nostromo777 on myspleen

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zOMG, touching myself! Ok, not really....but almost. hehe. Very nice clean up indeed. I am most impressed by the naturally clear and colourful capture of the HLD-X0 - breathtaking. Keep it up guys, and don't be afraid to make the raw capture available (ahem!)
sigs are for teh gheys
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Originally posted by: zion
What's an XØ?

The XØ Project gets it's name from the Pioneer HLD-X0 (that's X-ZERO) ...
If it's a zero, why have you started using the Scandinavian vowel "Ø"?

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So when will it be finished? And how can I get a copy?

(ain't I a stinker?)

But seriously, glad to see the project continuing. The Starfield Recovery comparison is fascinating-- it's like the first image was squeege'd and put through the wash to get the crisp final one. And thanks to Laserman for his efforts, and best wishes for good health.
We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
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I just read the 2nd newsletter and I have to say that cleanup work is amazing. Keep up the fantastic work guys and your commitment to this project. Also, keep us updated on whether or not you are in dire need of funds and we can keep contributing.
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Originally posted by: bongloads I am most impressed by the naturally clear and colourful capture of the HLD-X0 - breathtaking.

Yes it really is good, I think the X0 must more or less be the only player that can reproduce the full bandwidth of laserdiscs without much (any) noise or artefacts in the picture.

Also very nice cleanup work, by removing as much dirt as you can the picture will be much more enjoyable even though a laserdisc will never look as sharp as a dvd. But by all means keep the original ('glithces') if you can distinguish them.

I'm very sure when we get to see the fully color and brightness corrected result of the X0 project, it will almost look like a real dvd and certainly be just as enjoyable

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~LiveStrong Laserman~


I've almost finished my own transfer but every time there was a new screenshot from the X0 project I thought what the hell am I doing it for!!!! With this new newsletter it's the same again... Nobody can beat that!
But you've only been working on A New Hope so far right (cleanup I mean)?
Fez: I am so excited about Star Whores.
Hyde: Fezzy, man, it's Star Wars.
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XØ 'ers

Read through the 2nd newsletter and the cleanup is pretty impressive. One thing I was curious about is if you plan on using any fo the P&S discs to impove on detail. Now granted you can't do this for every scene but when the majority of "important information" is within the P&S frame couldn't you mask it over the full 2.35 frame and do some appropriate blending. I have no idea how dificult this would be or if it would look disjointed, but I thought I'd throw it out there since now you're looking at doing a 720p transfer at some point
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Hi,
Wondered what the progress was on the t-shirts?
I'm not sure how you were thinking of pricing them but you should price them so most of the profits made from them would go towards funding the project as a kind of donation so to speak.
I'm sure this probably was your intention anyway, but i just wanted to bring to your attention that fans of yours like me are itching to buy them.
I guess you guys have got so much on your plate at the moment you haven't had time to sort this out, but i think you'd get alot more funding from this than just donations on the website.
Sorry if i'm not the first person to point this out recently but I haven't been on this website for about a year and discovered the xO project a few weeks ago and being a 2004 DVD hater it has really ignited my love for the old trilogy again.
cheers
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I was on the list for the first one but have not received the new newsletter yet. What gives?
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Originally posted by: Moth3r
If it's a zero, why have you started using the Scandinavian vowel "Ø"?

Because we're all Scandinavian.

Originally posted by: Arnie.d
But you've only been working on A New Hope so far right (cleanup I mean)?
Yep, haven't touched ESB or ROTJ yet. Though from the looks of things there isn't nearly as much to clean up on those two.

Originally posted by: dumb_kid
Read through the 2nd newsletter and the cleanup is pretty impressive. One thing I was curious about is if you plan on using any fo the P&S discs to impove on detail.

We have kicked this idea around a little bit. It would be difficult to do to say the least. We'd have to author some sort of script that could overlay the P&S and keep it in the correct position, blend it seamlessly with the letterbox footage, and keep the color tones consistant. Of course, this is all assuming the quality of the P&S LDs is good enough to use -- there are no THX P&S discs to my knowledge and the pre-THX ones have their own issues.

Originally posted by: mstrchf
Wondered what the progress was on the t-shirts?

We've come up with a few ideas for new designs, but what we're thinking of doing is running a contest where anyone can submit their own design. The old thread had a few good ideas submitted that were pretty cool. The winner could receive fabulous prizes like an all expenses-paid trip to Scandinavia to find out what sound "Ø" really makes.

Originally posted by: weapon
I was on the list for the first one but have not received the new newsletter yet. What gives?

You have a pm. Anyone else not receiving their newsletter please double-check that you have confirmed your email address with the system (clicked on the link in the initial subscription email) and that the newsletter didn't find it's way into your junk mail folder.

My Projects:
[Holiday Special Hybrid DVD v2]
[X0 Project]
[Backstroke of the West DVD]
[ROTS Theatrical DVD]

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PLEEEEEEEASE can someone email me the first edition of the X0 newsletter, I missed the boat to sign up for it first time around.

my addy is kevingham [at] fastmail [dot] fm

thankyou in advance to the lovelly people who can help me

newsletter 2 is great btw, thanks guys!

www.bardothodol.net