Star Wars Trilogy: Hyperspace Collection - 720p AVCHD Project Complete and Now Available! See Post 42 for final details! — Page 2

MKV DEMO AVAILABLE:
This short, 6+ minute MKV sample is taken from the early portions Star Wars.  The video reflects my current (hopefully final) processing settings.

Being from the beginning of the movie, it has the worst of the aliasing problems.  Unfortunately, unless someone has a solution I'm not aware of, I think this is the best it's gonna get :/

Also, the sound is a temporary track and does not represent the audio level of the final version.

EDIT:  Corrected link - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N4AJ9ZO6

IF IT AIN'T BROKE...:
I've decided to go back to my original plan to recycle the audio mixes from my Rebellion Collection.  Since I was planning to encode the new audio tracks at the same bitrate (224kbps), it just makes sense.  I haven't decided whether or not to include Rebellion's 5.1 upmixes as well.

Only premium members of Megaupload can download files in excess of 1GB.

*shakes fist*

EDIT:  Harmy beat me to it.

*shakes fist again*

Harmy said:

The file is too big for non-premium members to download. You'll need to split it up to under 500MB parts.

Whoops!  That'll teach me to not read the instructions ;)

I'll get a split RAR up within the next few hours.


EDIT:  Actually, it looks like I uploaded the wrong file.  This is based on my raw AVI, not the proper h264.

*Smacks forehead* No wonder it took me so long to upload.  The proper file (about 350mb) is uploading now.

Here's the updated link for the "real" MKV sample.  I'm also updating my previous post accordingly.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=N4AJ9ZO6

Looks just about perfect OmegaMattman.;) I wouldn't change a thing and I can't believe this originated from the GOUT DVD.

dlbsyst said:

I wouldn't change a thing and I can't believe this originated from the GOUT DVD.

Thanks, dlbsyst ;)

Just a brief progress update.  I've finished encoding my h264 masters for both Empire and Jedi and will upload MKV samples before the week is out.  Hopefully, I won't need to make any changes...because I'm getting sick of looking at GOUT ;)

Right now, I'm working on the disc of supplements to accompany the set.  I'm hoping to make it an AVCHD as well, but only partially in upscaled HD.  720p extras will most likely be limited to THX WOW and a collection of trailers.  All other (few) extras will be standard-def.

I had considered upscaling the Making of Star Wars documentary...but I'd like to use a source that isn't subtitled and isn't from VHS.  If anyone has a digital transfer of the US LaserDisc release, I'd love to take a look at it and "maybe" add it to the set.

Despite my lack of updates, this project isn't dead.  I started getting a bit burnt out, so I took a little time off.

Plus, I keep hoping against hope that Lucas' big announcement this week (5/4/11) will include the theatrical cuts.  After all, it seems GOUT was made as a response to all of the LD preservations that were popping up online, right?  With new projects like dark_jedi's V3 and Harmy's Partly Despecialized Editions generating some fan-buzz, maybe we'll see Lucas go ahead and make his move.

Oh well, time to hop off of my unicorn and come back to "planet reality" ;)

ONE IDEA BITES THE DUST:
I've decided to abandon 720p upscaled special features.  As I mentioned before, the only extras I was releasing in HD were some trailers and THX WOW.  Well, they didn't turn out as well as I'd like.  The trailers from the 2004 Bonus Disc have some minor compression issues that became more apparent upon upscaling.  Plus, I have no doubt there will be trailers on the "official" Blu-Ray.

As for THX WOW, it has some aliasing issues caused from Lucasfilm's slip-shot uprezzing to 16x9.  Unlike GOUT, most of the those I was able to resolve.  However, it also has some compression issues.  Nothing too nasty...but it just doesn't seem to be a noteworthy boost in quality.

BUT...for those of you who are interested in seeing it, I uploaded an MKV of my upscaled THX WOW for Harmy a while back.  If anyone else wants it, PM me for links.

AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGMENT...BUT IN A REALLY GOOD WAY:
Originally, I'd said Hyperspace would not be as feature packed as my Rebellion set.  Since I've abandoned the 720p features, I've decided to change that.

Hyperspace will include 2 DVD9s of extras with their own cover art.  These discs will include everything from Rebellion, with possible exception to the phone messages for The Empire Strikes Back.

Also included will be the THX Soundtrack featurette, a version of THX WOW with improved anti-aliasing (based on my 720p), and the 1981 alternate opening to Star Wars (though I haven't decided what source to use).

So, there you have it.  Right now, I'm working on the menus for the supplement DVDs...and I have no idea when everything will be finished.

Another change of plans.  Because of today's far-from-complete announcement on the official BDs, I'm making changes to the supplements.  The only documentary being ported over from Rebellion will be From Star Wars to Jedi, since the others will be included in the LFL set.  This means there will only be one DVD9 of extras, not two.

BRIEF UPDATE:

Got a bit sidetracked and haven't been making as much progress.  Right now, I'm working on authoring the bonus supplements disc.  All of the menu designs are complete.

WHAT'S IN IT?:

As stated before, the Supplements Archive disc will be a standard DVD (DVD9 format).  It will include:

1 - From Star Wars To Jedi: The Making of a Saga (based on the Dr. Gonzo DVD)
2 - An Exclusive Interview with George Lucas: Parts 1-3
3 - War Stories: An Interview with George Lucas
4 - The Star Wars Gallery: Narrated by Ralph McQuarrie
5 - The Lucasfilm Archive Tour with Don Beis and R2-D2
6 - Sound Advice: An Interview with Ben Burtt
7 - How the Walkers Walk: Narrated by Dennis Muren
8 - Flight Through the Asteroids: Storyboard Comparison
9 - The ABCs of Jedi Effects: An Interview with Dennis Muren
10 - Jedi Videomatics: Narrated by Ken Ralston
11 - Lapti Nek: Extended Music Video
12 - THX WOW: Demo Reel (in Dolby 5.1 and DTS)
13 - THX Soundtrack (based on the OCP DVD)
14 - Alternate '81 Opening to Star Wars (from the Rebellion DVD)

Sadly, the original trailers will be left off due to disc space concerns...which shouldn't be too big of a deal since they'll likely be on the "official" Blu-Ray release.

5.1 HYPERSPACE:

I have also decided to include the 5.1 upmixes from Rebellion for all three films.  Not really a big deal and not really the best mixes...but I figured I might as well, since Hyperspace is edited to match Rebellion.

I loved the Rebellion Collection and I am very, very much looking forward to this. Thank you so much for your efforts, keep it up!

Thanks, hupraeha :)

And, sorry to everyone for taking so long to finish Hyperspace.  I should have been done by now, but life keeps throwing a wrench in the works.  It will probably be finished and uploaded sometime before the end of June.

Just a brief update.  I've finshed authoring all of the discs (3 AVCHD, 1 DVD) and am just finalizing the artwork before I upload to the usual places.  Everything should be finished sometime next week.  I'll post all of the final details then.

I'm REALLY looking forward to moving onto some other, non-Star Wars projects ;)

That is great news OmegaMattman. I look forward to checking these out. Should be awesome.;)

FINISHING LINE:

The Star Wars Trilogy: Hyperspace Collection for AVCHD (with bonus DVD) is finally complete.  It can currently be found over at TehParadox and I'll be adding it to Demonoid shortly.

FINAL DETAILS:

Prepare to experience George Lucas’ epic STAR WARS trilogy the way it was originally seen by audiences worldwide. This special Hyperspace Collection restores all three films to their theatrical versions, digitally remastered from the best source materials available and newly converted to 720p high definition.

Plus, explore the saga behind the saga with an exciting Supplements Archive DVD, featuring rare interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and more. It’s unlike anything in your galaxy!

Full credits for the sources and software used are included on the Supplements Archive DVD.

DISC 1: Star Wars
- AVCHD format (DVD9)
- 720p High Definition, Widescreen
- THX Home Video Sound Mix (Dolby 5.1 & Dolby 2.0)
- Original Theatrical Stereo Mix (Dolby 2.0)
- Restored Theatrical Mono Mix (Dolby 1.0)

DISC 2: The Empire Strikes Back
- AVCHD format (DVD9)
- 720p High Definition, Widescreen
- THX Home Video Sound Mix (Dolby 5.1 & Dolby 2.0)
- Original Theatrical Stereo Mix (Dolby 2.0)

DISC 3: Return of the Jedi
- AVCHD format (DVD9)
- 720p High Definition, Widescreen
- THX Home Video Sound Mix (Dolby 5.1 & Dolby 2.0)
- Original Theatrical Stereo Mix (Dolby 2.0)

DISC 4: Supplements Archive
- NTSC DVD format (DVD9)
- From Star Wars to Jedi
- War Stories: An Interview with George Lucas
- The Star Wars Gallery (Narrated by Ralph McQuarrie)
- The Lucasfilm Archive Tour (with Don Beis and R2-D2)
- Sound Advice: An Interview with Ben Burtt
- How the Walkers Walk (Narrated by Dennis Muren)
- The Flight Through the Asteroids (Storyboard Comparison)
- The ABCs of Jedi Effects: An Interview with Dennis Muren
- Jedi Videomatics (Narrated by Ken Ralston)
- Lapti Nek: Extended Music Video
- An Exclusive Interview with George Lucas (3 Parts)
- THX WOW: Demo Reel (Dolby 5.1 and DTS)
- THX: Soundtrack (Featurette)
- Alternate 1981 Opening to Star Wars

This is great news. Downloading now.;) I have been wanting to compare these to captures that I have made using the GOUT DVD's scaled to 1080i from a DVDO Edge and captured to a Hauppauge HD-PVR using a HDMI to component convertor.

Looking forward to seeing this. I really liked the Rebellion Collection. How do these compare? Can you post screen caps?

I'll try to post some screencaps whenever I can (hopefully sometime tonight or tomorrow).  Unfortunately, once this project was completed, I deleted everything but the most essential backup files, which included the raw, compressed H264 files.  I'll have to see if I can extract them from the final ISOs when I get the chance.

But, the screengrabs on post #17 of this topic do accurately reflect the new color timing.

Hi there, 

Just seen these been posted and I'm quite interested, however I play all my media on the ATV2. 

Do these ISO's contain H.264 video stream? I mean, ideally I would like to convert them to M4V format and keep the 720p res without further encoding. 

Just wondering if you had an idea what I would need to do in order to play these. 

I believe that Handbrake now has support for AVCHD format but i'm not too familiar with this format and again, would prefer not to re-encode if possible!

Top job by the way!

Thanks!

OmegaMattman said:

I'll try to post some screencaps whenever I can (hopefully sometime tonight or tomorrow).  Unfortunately, once this project was completed, I deleted everything but the most essential backup files, which included the raw, compressed H264 files.  I'll have to see if I can extract them from the final ISOs when I get the chance.

But, the screengrabs on post #17 of this topic do accurately reflect the new color timing.

 Great thanks!

Here are 4 selected comparisons from TESB.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2941/esb1.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/1679/esb2.jpg

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7303/esb3lr.jpg

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/1012/esb4.jpg

Nice, thanks!