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Droids Series Complete Set. Reconstruction from multiple sources. V1.0 is out! (Released) — Page 3

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I'd like to chime in with my excitement about this project as well.  Droids is very nostalgic for me, yet I know it isn't something that I won't be able to appreciate on its own merits as an adult, since it still resonated so well with me when I watched most of it again as a teenager during its SciFi Channel airing.  I look forward to enjoying this properly for the first time since I saw it as a child in the 80's (and I clearly remember being VERY upset once when we had to leave the house while Droids or Ewoks was on).

Haha, considering my milestone ages at which I've watched this show, at this rate, there'll be an official, high def release of Droids on schedule for release by my golden years, so I can re-experience it all over again, just really old.

retardedted, do let us know as soon as you get that tape in and if the quality seems usable, I'm eager to hear progress updates, considering how close this project may be to completion.

 

(And yes, I own the official DVDs, but they're blasphemy.)

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I recently made a rough cover for a DVD set to house 6 DVDs (3 for the Droids series and 1 for The Great Heep) and possibly a sixth for bonus materials (but this material could probably be added to one of the other DVDs).

This design is for one of the 6X DVD cases that are roughly the size of an old VHS case. I think the 4X cases are the same size. Also, one of the CD holders can be removed from a 6X set if you only have 4 DVDs.

This design is not my own. I found it on the net some place and altered it to suit my purposes. Many of the Droids DVDs I have at present are very poor quality (just AVI files converted to VOB), so I am looking forward to a complete Droid's restoration!!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/droidscover1.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/f/15/droidscover1.jpg/

I admit the quality of the cover is not the best. It clearly needs work and could definitely use better quality images. This was all I had available at the time.

 

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Whenever You finish this how do I download it? Thanks. What is the torrent site for it.

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Superb project and job well done! :)

Too bad there's not one for 80's Transformers and G.I. Joe cartoons. All DVD releases (except Maverick's release of season 1 episodes, first five episodes of season 3 and season 4 episodes) used test prints which feature errors that weren't present in the broadcast version.

 

Even old Ninja Turtles could use one thanks to the poorly done transfer. The judder on the DVD's is just shocking!

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I was under the impression this wasn't done yet.  I sure am looking forward to it, but I think he can't find a couple of tapes, though I wouldn't mind a Mark I set spliced from different sources until he can find the ones he's looking for.

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Thought I'd pop in and see if there might be any progress update you could give us on this preservation?

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I was emailed that there was activity on this topic and got excited for a minute...  :-(

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Sorry guys.  I'll give you an update of where I am at.  Really no excuse for taking this long though.

So originally I had two copies of all of the UK Droids tapes and sent off the best of each looking tape to ringwraith to capture audio/video from a professional service.  This was in the very early stages of the project (before I made this thread).  This is when we discovered the horrible frame blending problems and realized we had to go another route. 

I started to buy my own equipment and track down different sources.  I got the Japanese tapes and was using the UK audio on top of them.  All was good until I got to the UK Droids 3 tape and the copy that I was still holding on to was all chewed up.  I am still waiting on my other copy from ringwraith.  Droids 3 just so happens to be the one I had the hardest time tracking down and haven't seen the UK tape pop up again anywhere else.  Point5 here on the forum sent me a copy of his WAV file but I am having some sync issues with that.  I would prefer to make the capture on my own where I control the whole process.

In the meantime I have a few other sources that are apparently in transit.  I have also been talking to a couple of memorabilia dealers in Mexico about tracking down the Mexican tapes.

This is turning into a looong project trying to track down all of the sources. On top of that I am still pretty busy in my personal life with family and all.

I may just release the episodes I have finished (9 out of 14) on myspleen here soon if that is what everyone wants.  Better to have some than none right?

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I would agree that 9 out of 14 is better than nothing.  If there is anything anyone can do to help you get this done, please let us know.  We know this has been a lot of work for you, and we want to help make sure you get this done to your satisfaction. :)

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Ed - what if I send you VERY raw unfinished captures of the remaining episodes ? Or did videocollector send you his tapes already ?

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Happy to see activity on this thread again.  It is a shame you're having to deal with such issues getting the source material you need.  I do agree it would be nice to have what is already completed, and heck, improved episodes like this floating around could (who knows) stir up some extra interest and resurface more sources (kind of like how OT.com brought Mexican episodes out of obscurity).

Might I inquire which specific episodes are being held back?

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I am eagerly awaiting this set. Droids is really the biggest hole in my collection, I feel. I love this series and desperately want to replace my VCD-sourced DVD. 9 of 14 is better than none, and will tide us over while we patiently wait for the other 5.

Many thanks for all your hard work so far, and in advance for the work ahead. Can't wait to see the results!

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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Pittrek, I'm still hoping you would do a PAL set of the Droids episodes. I think the quality of your Ewoks set was excellent, blended frames or not.

As we have seen from the screen captures, the PAL transfers are different enough from the NTSC transfers to warrant a preservation of their own.

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benduwan said:

is there a german audio track?

I am pretty sure neither RetardedTed or Pittrek has plans for it.

I have the German releases, which could in theory provide an alternate soundtrack on an eventual PAL set from Pittrek. The problem is that the tapes are Macrovision enabled, so I can't capture them with my equipment.

Visit my *NEW* Star Wars on Video Collection site:

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retartedted said:

I may just release the episodes I have finished (9 out of 14) on myspleen here soon if that is what everyone wants.  Better to have some than none right?

I second the suggestion of a partial release at this time.

I'm sure they will be received very well and that way you will get some feedback and praise for your efforts. You're planning to release just separate episodes anyway, right? Not complete DVDs?

I for one would be very grateful even for just the episodes you have.

Visit my *NEW* Star Wars on Video Collection site:

http://www.swonvideo.com

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I'm sure most of the people here would be happy to see you release the episodes as you get them done.  Besides, you may get some useful feedback regarding the process on the episodes you completed so far that will help with your work on the other episodes.

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I don't know if this would help, but I recorded the entire series off of Sci-Fi channel in the 90s...

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Treadwell said:

I don't know if this would help, but I recorded the entire series off of Sci-Fi channel in the 90s...

What's the quality ?

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Treadwell said:

I don't know if this would help, but I recorded the entire series off of Sci-Fi channel in the 90s...

Doesn't those have a watermark?

And in the time of greatest despair, there shall come a savior, and he shall be known as the Son of the Suns.

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Treadwell said:

I don't know if this would help, but I recorded the entire series off of Sci-Fi channel in the 90s...

If you have the "missing" Episode 9 "Coby and the Starhunters", we are always looking for new/better sources for that. We'll have to live with the Sci-Fi channel identifier in the lower right corner.

Visit my *NEW* Star Wars on Video Collection site:

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I have some pretty good copies (s-vhs) of the SciFi episodes.  The only problem being that they are edited and have a watermark.  At least a good minute or two from each episode is cut in those versions.  Shame really.  But to be honest it cuts out a lot of the slapstick nonsense from the episodes and can make them more watchable.

I have a copy of the original ABC airing of Coby that is decent. I am in the process again of performing an IVTC and slight cleanup with some updated tools.

Hopefully in the next few weeks I should have a torrent up with a majority of the episodes done.