Info: Re-mixed audio tracks on video releases — Page 6

Update: I was able to cleanly recapture the bad spot on the VHS, so there's enough to patch the bad part. The tape glitched in a new spot a few seconds later, so something is moving around on there at a microscopic level!

The sound quality beats the old analog LD tracks by a mile.

Was someone planning on taking these captures of mine, and doing something with them?

I'd like to see someone take that a step further, and restore the original Paramount logos as well. Bad enough they replaced the original fanfare at the beginning of the movie.

We could call it the Original Theatrical Edition, or the Hickey from Kenickie Edition. ;)

Would there be any interest in a capture of the mono track for Vertigo? Turns out the early 80's Betamax release was recorded in Hi-Fi.

Ought to sound better than the Laserdisc, which only had analog and no CX according to the LDDB.

There's a Beta copy on Ebay at the moment. But I won't take the plunge unless somebody speaks up. :)

It's being reported that the 5.1 on the new BD will be a remix with less overpowering foley.
(Not to mention that they seem to be forgoing the Harris-Katz restoration!)

Recently listening to the degraded mono on the 2005 DVD was much more pleasant than I thought. Essential actually. I've pondered getting the '85 LD but is it the same damaged audio? And how bad would the track be being non-CX analog? I've got a few discs from that era, my similar Universal analog only Double Indemnity doesn't sound bad.

This track does need to be preserved at optimal quality if possible, and I seriously doubt Universal will ever allow it out again. If necessary VHS or even that Beta might be the best way to salvage it. I only have the restored VHS, but I'll keep an eye out for anything else.

Early LD's have all sorts of rot problems that can affect the audio, and non-CX encoded tracks have varying levels of noise depending on the quality of the video master. Had the unrestored Vertigo been remastered on LD with a digital track, it would be a whole different story.

After going through three dodgy copies of Grease in search of a decent track, I'm not eager to repeat that experience. Beta was first out of the gate with Hi-Fi, so there are more early releases that have it. Most of the old beta tapes I've encountered actually have aged gracefully.

Aluminum Falcon, are you sure your VHS copies are not the restored version?

Okay, I've seen a non THX full frame version of the restoration with different packaging on Ebay, (with "stereo" on the label) so it never hurts to make sure. ;)

Hi-Fi audio quality for both VHS and Beta sound about the same to me.

It appears there are three VHS releases of Vertigo that began with the 1985 Hitchcock issues by Universal. These use the same art for Beta, VHS, and LD. All the VHS titles simply credit Dolby system with the Dolby logo and no hifi mentioned anywhere. The beta Silver mentioned may be the same as this VHS in audio. Then there is the purple Hitchcock Collection VHS which IIRC is from about 1995 or so.

I think this one is hi-fi. The third is the restored version which I have. Any one of these early copies could have the mono, and I'm betting it's the same source as what was used for the 5th generation DVD mono-but you never know..maybe we could pull more quality out and maybe there aren't so many dropouts.

Thanks for saying that AF. I always thought when looking at comparisons that the supposedly bad first DVD actually looked better in places and like the 35mm restored print. It was probably directly print sourced for the LD then ported, and the later versions from a HD scan retimed and tweaked for DVD. I think the correct is a compromise between the two. Who knows what the studio will put out. They seem to have neglected these films since 1985.

http://www.hitchcockwiki.com/wiki/Vertigo_colours

Here's a closed auction where you can see the markings on the Beta release.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190700757239?nma=true&si=x3ytb%2FEKHv4QDdctJOmbgmnM5AY%3D&rt=nc&_trksid=p4340.l2557&orig_cvip=true

Ah! All my '85 VHS copies just have Dolby system but are otherwise identical looking (too bad I don't have Vertigo this way.)

Yeah, they seem to have been slow to go Hi-Fi with VHS for some reason.

Early VHS Hi-Fi decks were pricey compared to linear stereo models with Dolby NR, so that may have been a factor.

TServo2049 said:

I found the deluxe laserdisc box set of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for 10 bucks at a Half Price Books. I'm not sure if it has any extras missing from the DVD/BD releases, but I do know that it has a lossless version of the original mono mix, which is only at 192kbps on the current DVD/BD. It's only in CX analog (with the stereo remix on the digital track), but it is the only uncompressed version of the original sound mix ever released.

I'm confused:

Lossless = digital data compressed with a lossless codec, e.g FLAC, WavPack, etc.

Uncompressed = digital data that is not compressed, e.g. PCM

Analog = analogue :-)

^ Weird... didn't know that, thanks for the info TServo! And thanks for keeping this thread going!  Keep 'em coming... :)

TServo2049 said:

Wow, I really screwed up, didn't I? I guess I meant to say, it's the only version that's *not compressed to 192kbps.*

Another thing which needs to be captured is a PCM mono track from an LD of The Wizard of Oz (perhaps the "Ultimate Oz" box set?). All DVD/Blu-ray releases from 1999 onward have a weird error in the parlor scene in Kansas; before '99, Dorothy said "Oh, Toto, don't..." but in all the DVD/Blu-ray releases except for the original MGM one, it cuts off mid-sentence. Even the "restored" mono track on the more recent releases has this problem.

Again, the original MGM DVD has the mono track as it used to sound, but it's compressed Dolby Digital. An uncompressed version can only be found on laserdisc.

IIRC, someone over at the HTF claimed this was a mistake made by those restoring the soundtrack for the last major theatrical reissue, and it's been carried over ever since.

I captured a 1983 Oz  LD just for fun, (before putting it into the donation box) as it was an unrestored print with black and white Kansas scenes, but the soundtrack was very noisy. I do have the 50th anniversary LD which I will be keeping in my permanent collection though.

Another preservation I've been contemplating is Danger Diabolik. The Laserdisc features a different English dub than the DVD. All the actors save John Phillip Law and Marisa Mell have different voices,  and the lines are often said differently between the two versions. Not the mention I dig the Italian credits on the LD. ;)

If you ever saw the movie on MST3K, the most infamous line is not on the DVD dub!

late to the party but would LOVE to hear Vertigo's mono in action!

TServo2049 said:

Another thing which needs to be captured is a PCM mono track from an LD of The Wizard of Oz (perhaps the "Ultimate Oz" box set?).

 The audio track I usually enjoy that film with is Dark Side of the Moon B)

quick question, has anyone managed to get hold of just the mono audio from Vertigo in the masterpeice collection set (only way to get it)

was going to try and add it to a rip of the legacy version

i was just wondering

I got my Jaws BD the other day (stunning i might add) the 7.1 audio is really good but the remixed sound fx stills bugs me

i know there is a mono track on there but it's standard DTS. I was wondering if there was a better version on a Laserdisc somewhere (a bit along the lines of the current Terminator mono project)

Vertigo's new BD is supposed to have the mono in standard DTS but it may be just a folddown like the 2008 DVD. The mono track as is is very worn and seems to be the same track from the analog 1985 LD. (I think. Don't have it to compare.)

Jaws I have on the 1991 laser and it sounds spectacular, betters the cleaned up mono on the 30th aniv. DVD. However there is some replaced music and effects on this LD that should be fixed on the Signature edition.