njvc-
THANK YOU for your efforts in bringing Harmy’s Despecialized Edition to Blu-ray in a beautiful way…
Here are a few thoughts:
- With an eight(8) audio track limit, I think “official” is definitely the way to go and I like your list
Yes. I should be able to add subtitles using multiAVCHD too. I’m thinking I’ll keep the audio options ‘official’ for the 50gb version, which would be:
English DTS 5.1 (1977 70mm mix)
English DTS 2.0 (1977 35mm mix)
English DD 2.0 (1993 Laserdisc mix)
1993 Laserdisc Audio Commentary
2004 DVD Audio Commentary
2004 starwars.com Audio Commentary
2011 Blu-ray Audio Commentary
Music-only Audio Track DD 2.0I personally like the comedic/fan/podcast commentaries, but they will still exist on the 25gb release.
…but with clutchins suggested revision:
I would probably want the mono mix over the '93 mix. Perhaps the extra commentaries and leftover audio mixes could be placed in a BD-ROM folder of some kind.
- As addressed (in part) above, to be successful I believe your task with this project is to thoughtfully select the BEST available versions of only the BEST content and then assemble it all together as seamlessly and with as little degradation as possible into a pretty Blu-ray package. As you’ve already identified, this means bringing unaltered, FULL res DESPECIALIZED releases (current and future) to Blu-ray format WITHOUT the need for transcoding OR compression (and I’d make the exact SAME argument for your bonus content, as well).
- So, with #1 and #2 being said, three(3) 50gb releases (one for each movie) is definitely one viable and good potential distribution route…but ESPECIALLY with one (and quite possibly more) revision to EACH of the DESPECIALIZED films (at BD50 sizes, that’s A LOT of bandwidth for you AND for those who might prefer your Blu-ray formatted packaging). That being said, you MIGHT do well to consider separating your main feature content from the rest of your bonus content and adopting a four(4) OR six(6) Blu-ray release model.
The benefits to adopting this approach? You could KEEP your BD25 release format for the main features (WITH your improved set of 8 “official” audio tracks…ADD the current/full set of Project Threepio subtitles) ALL at full resolution WITH your kickass menus, scene selection and whatnot. As [b]Harmy[/b] provides us with future DESPECIALIZED releases, update the relevant BD25 feature movie disc(s) and done. (MAYBE consider including Harmy’s Sources documentary on the Star Wars Feature disc…MAYBE include the trailers to each film on their respective discs, BUT, I’d advise you to keep any BONUS content that’s NOT directly tied to the main feature all goes onto a separate disc).
Like I mentioned, having well organized and nicely packaged kickass BONUS content assembled together as seamlessly (and WITHOUT) compression would THEN begin to make a whole lot more sense (…and could totally accommodate the addition of Jamie Benning’s Star Wars Begins, Building Empire, and Returning to Jedi) as part of a 4 OR a 6 Blu-ray release model approach (IF you’re looking at roughly 50gb of COMBINED non-feature movie BONUS content, consider releasing it onto a single BD50…or if your looking at roughly 25gb, or so, of BONUS content for each film, then make ONE bonus BD25 disc per film). In EITHER case, you could always update your bonus content disc(s) as you so choose, BUT that content would no longer be directly tied to a specific DESPECIALIZED release (and that could help to save significant bandwidth AND media).
I hope that helps (and DEFINITELY looking forward to seeing the fruits of your further effort)! 😄
Kind regards,
-A.S.
p.s. There is (of course) a TON of what may considered for BONUS materials out there…again, I would advise that you include a good offering but please be mindful of QUALITY over quantity. IF you were to go for a six(6) disc model, if you can’t fit your BONUS content for each film onto it’s own BD25 without compression…then it’s probably TOO MUCH!
p.p.s. I love the Holiday Special (WITH RiffTrax commentary) as much as the next guy (AND totally commend and am excited by the restorative efforts that have been made in that direction)…BUT, I would suggest that’s a GREAT example of something that has no place on a polished DESPECIALIZED in Blu-ray format with companion BONUS disc(s).