Idea: Ralph Bakshi's 'Lord of the Rings' - original audio preservation?

I’ve had a VHS conversion on my mind for a good while.

I want to watch the original version of Ralph Bakshi’s LOTR. I’d need to capture/preserve the VHS audio/video (PAL would be best right?) and then probably replace the video with the Blu-Ray image.

I don’t own a VCR anymore and don’t really know where to begin. Ideally I’d want to buy some sort of cheap conversion unit that magically did it all, with no technical fuss.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

Let me get this straight, you want to make a VHS preservation, but are using the blurays as a source anyway...if all you want is a theatrical sound mix that the bluray lacks, wouldn't it be better to use a laserdisc copy?

Danfun128 said:

Let me get this straight, you want to make a VHS preservation, but are using the blurays as a source anyway...if all you want is a theatrical sound mix that the bluray lacks, wouldn't it be better to use a laserdisc copy?

 Probably but then I'd need to convert that somehow too.

Why is this in off topic?

Bakshi's LOTR only hit LD in Japan and is hard to come by even today. An NTSC Betamax copy might be a good source for capturing the soundtrack. Was the Blu Ray mix that bad?

SilverWook said:

Why is this in off topic?

Wasn't sure, as my questions are quite vague right now. Just figuring out what I want to do, as much as how.

Where should it be? "How-Tos-and-Technical-Discussions"?

SilverWook said:

Bakshi's LOTR only hit LD in Japan and is hard to come by even today. An NTSC Betamax copy be a good source for capturing the soundtrack. Was the Blu Ray mix that bad?

There are copies on eBay I see. I've heard unconfirmed rumours that the sound and video are different on the UK TV cut. Which is why I was leaning towards the old PAL VHS. It's decades since I've seen a VHS of it, so I couldn't be sure without comparing it to the Blu-Ray.

However, I'm 100% sure the final voiceover was totally re-recorded and ruined (IMO) for all post Peter Jackson VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray releases.

I just want it to sound like I remember, goddammit! ;-)

I can move the thread if you like?

Is there any way you can borrow someone's VCR? Capturing audio is the easiest route, as you don't really need the video.

The LDDB entry seems to back up your memory.

http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/13849/SF098-5061/Lord-of-the-Rings-The-%281978%29

Alas, the only copy for sale on there is not cheap!

SilverWook said:

I can move the thread if you like?

Yes please.

Ebay have a copy that (so far) is a lot cheaper and nicer looking than that Japanese version. This one...

http://www.lddb.com/ced/01055/02009/Lord-of-the-Rings-The-%281978%29

You do know that CED and laserdisc are completely different, right?

Whoosh!

Since we are talking about audio preservation, I suggest a title change as well.

Ryan McAvoy said:

SilverWook said:

I can move the thread if you like?

Yes please.

Ebay have a copy that (so far) is a lot cheaper and nicer looking than that Japanese version. This one...

http://www.lddb.com/ced/01055/02009/Lord-of-the-Rings-The-%281978%29

 CED's do not age well, (I tinkered with them for a while in the 90's, and they are prone to scratches and skipping like records) and I'm not sure who has a working player around here these days. Early CED titles are mono, even if the movie was stereo originally.

If had a nickel for every Ebay seller who couldn't tell the difference between a CED and an LD. ;)