AntcuFaalb

msycamore: How's it going? Any update(s)?

The Leitch DPS-290 arrived today and it's in great shape. The cables arrive tomorrow, so I won't be able to know if it works until then. I'm going to have to buy a component cabinet for all of this stuff!

Is there a GOUT-sync'ing how-to somewhere on OT? I would like to GOUT-sync my '92 Letterbox captures after I'm done with PS78.

I'm sorry that this project has been all over the place. I've been working on it while waiting for equipment needed for PS78.

I've been experimenting with using affine image registration (alignment) in ImageJ to spatially line-up the Technidisc SWE to GOUT. "Why?!", you may ask. Well, doing this allows me to merge the Technidisc SWE's luma into GOUT without ghosting, creating an interesting hybrid with the following properties:

1. No DVNR smearing (since the luma is from the Technidisc SWE)
2. Consistent color, i.e., no rainbows and mid-video saturation changes (since the chroma is from GOUT) [1]
3. Unclipped black/white levels (since the luma is from the Technidisc SWE)
4. More detail than the Technidisc SWE; less detail than GOUT [2]

[1] GOUT's washed-out colors can be tweaked to acceptable values later in the process.
[2] Merging 75% (as opposed to 100%) of the Technidisc SWE's luma into GOUT helps to recover some detail while still eliminating the DVNR smearing.

russs15 said:

AntcuFaalb said:

Good point(s). I may pick up the 1995 THX (Faces) Widescreen and P/S releases as well.

Seeing as you mentioned it, below is something I threw together 6 or 7 years ago (Yes, I am a file hoarder!!) regarding the US NTSC tapes which may be of use. The information mostly came from the now defunct DavisDVD site so trust the information as you see fit.

My assumptions came following my work on the PAL VHS releases.......

 

Star Wars

1  1982 Rental Fullscreen

2  1982 Fox Video Fullscreen

3  1983 CBS Fox Fullscreen

4  1984 CBS Fox Fullscreen

5  1985 CBS Fox Fullscreen with 1985 remix audio

6  1986 CBS Fox Fullscreen + Trilogy commercial

7  1987 CBS Fox Fullscreen + Tenth Anniversary commercial

8  1990 CBS Fox Fullscreen with new package design

9  1992 CBS Fox Widescreen "Special Collector's Edition" with new package design

10  1995 Fox Video THX Fullscreen "Faces"

11  1995 Fox Video THX Widescreen "Faces" 

I think this works out to 5 unique releases. 1-4, 5-8, 9, 10 and 11 

Empire Strikes Back

1  1984 CBS Fox Fullscreen

2  1986 CBS Fox Fullscreen + Trilogy commercial

3  1987 CBS Fox Fullscreen + Tenth Anniversary commercial

4  1990 CBS Fox Fullscreen with new package design

5  1992 CBS Fox Widescreen "Special Collector's Edition" with new package design

6  1995 Fox Video THX Fullscreen "Faces" 

7  1995 Fox Video THX Widescreen "Faces"

I think this works out to 4 unique releases. 1-4, 5, 6 and 7

Return of the Jedi

1  1986 CBS Fox Fullscreen + Trilogy commercial

2  1987 CBS Fox Fullscreen + Tenth Anniversary commercial

3  1990 CBS Fox Fullscreen with new package design

4  1992 CBS Fox Widescreen "Special Collector's Edition" with new package design

5  1995 Fox Video THX Fullscreen "Faces" 

6  1995 Fox Video THX Widescreen "Faces"

I think this works out to 4 unique releases. 1-3, 4, 5 and 6

The DavisDVD site is archived here...http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/index.htm" target="_blank" title="web.archive.org/web/20070923101917/http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/index.htm">http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/index.htm" target="_blank" title="web.archive.org/web/20070923101917/http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/index.htm">http://web.archive.org/web/20070923101917/http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/index.htm

I'll acquire the 1990 Fullscreen, 1995 Fullscreen, and 1995 Widescreen for now. I'll have to hold off on the 82-84-86 release(s), as they're expensive, and I do want them sealed.

The '92 set arrived yesterday. It's in great shape and, as the seller said, ANH and TESB are still sealed. ROTJ looks like it was only played once.

frank678 said:

AntcuFaalb said:

Should I grab a new copy of the 1990 P/S release as well? Any interest?

 If you can get it at a reasonable price why not, since you're in the process of putting together a quality set-up seems a shame to limit it to one or two tapes.   

And even if say someone else had done a tape from a release run doesnt mean you might not make an improved transfer on your copy/set-up

 

Good point(s). I may pick up the 1995 THX (Faces) Widescreen and P/S releases as well.

Pheran said:

AntcuFaalb, I wish I had seen this thread earlier as I have a copy of this in my basement that should be in very good shape - the tapes were played very few times.  I don't have a use for it, so I would be happy to ship it to you for any kind of preservation effort.  Any reason you need a second copy?

Thanks, Pheran. I appreciate the offer! Let's first see what kind of shape mine are in when they arrive.

Should I grab a new copy of the 1990 P/S release as well? Any interest?

I don't think I'll have to bite my tongue again by saying that the Leitch DPS-290 is high-end.

Some Hyperlinks

1. The eBay listing I won
2. Technical Details

I'm sorry for the silence; busy weekend. Anyway, here's an update: I've purchased a Leitch DPS-290 TBC/Synchronizer for $41.00+S&H! It should arrive soon.

V8 is GOUT-sync'd too, I think.

doubleofive said:

I read that almost like a poem. It almost worked too.

Wow... you're right!

X9 (ANH, TESB, and ROTJ) is GOUT-sync'd after applying Darth Mallwalker's IVTC script(s).

Capture #1 is done. The results are fantastic, but I'm not entirely happy with them. The flicker is gone, but there's still a luma fluctuation issue that I believe can be attributed to AGC Pumping. SilverWook suggested looking into an external TBC; more details to come.

SilverWook said:

AntcuFaalb said:

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, everyone! The image I posted is from my first full-length capture test with PS78 and the Panasonic AG-1980.

I'm going to have to do the captures sans audio because VirtualDub's "Sync audio to video by resampling the audio to a faster or slower rate" resync mode doesn't work well with the ATI Theater HD 750 (it's well-documented) and I don't want to mess with the video by resampling it or adding/dropping frames. Don't worry -- I plan to capture the audio separately and sync it myself.

I've decided to use AviSynth's TooT() filter, so I'll have to do three captures. I'm going to post screenshots of the various settings involved (including a picture of the Panasonic AG-1980's front panel) tonight for everyone to critique. I think they're fine, but I'd like the experts here to chime-in.

Does anyone have any tips for setting the tracking on the Panasonic AG-1980?

The 1980 has pretty good automatic tracking, if the tape isn't giving you any problems, you shouldn't have to mess with it. I only ever had a couple tapes give me trouble over the years, and that was mostly keeping the Hi-Fi track from dropping out on poorly made pre-recorded cassettes.

If you are having tracking issues, repeatedly press the + or -  buttons and see if the video gets better or worse, This will adjust the tracking in finer increments than simply holding the button down. Keep in mind ejecting the tape will reset the tracking from whatever "sweet spot" you find.

Thanks for the information. I think it's tracking fine. I might just be mistaking jitter that's on the VHS for tracking issues.

I've heard that holding down + and - resets the tracking. Is this true?

Is there something similar to AviSynth's TooT() for audio?

I now own a like-new copy (ROTJ opened; ANH and TESB sealed). It should arrive on Tuesday, 10 July. I'll capture it whenever I'm finished with PS78. Yay!

russs15 said:

AntcuFaalb said:

Is this set worthy of a Panasonic AG-1980 capture? Does it have any special and/or redeeming qualities?

Following earlier comments, you will not be surprised to learn that I believe this is worth preserving even though it is no more special than any other VHS release

It is the first and only pre-THX Widescreen/Letterbox US NTSC VHS release (the other is the Faces set which is also worthy of a transfer).

It is "assumed" to have the 1985 remix soundtrack for ANH so include the tractor beam line. The truth is, we do not know for sure until someone tells us.

What I found with my PAL VHS transfers is that I did not find the reason to do the transfers until I had actually done them!!

 

I found one set that was a different film length for each film, different colourings, different pan and scan shots and different intros of the FOX logo or the logo missing completely and no fanfare

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/OBITUARY-Star-Wars-Fullscreen-Pan-and-Scan-versions-RIP/topic/13517/

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/PAL-VHS-Archive-Collection/topic/3829/

http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/OBITUARY-Star-Wars-Fullscreen-Pan-and-Scan-versions-RIP/post/552473/#TopicPost552473

 

Once I had the setup to do what I wanted - however limited - I took the chance to transfer as many versions as possible.

In truth, there is not a lot of resource for US NTSC VHS out there but here is what I know of...

http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/ep4.htm">http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/ep4.htm" target="_blank" title="web.archive.org/web/20070923102254/http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/ep4.htm">http://web.archive.org/web/20070923102254/http://www.davisdvd.com/misc/starwars/ep4.htm

and of course   http://swonvideo.com/

 

 

Thanks for the information! I agree that it's definitely worth preserving.

I'll make my first attempt at obtaining a new set tonight.

Moth3r said:

The drivers for my old capture card ignored the macrovision signal, but I've heard that ATi drivers do respect it, and will disable capturing if macrovision is detected.

FWIW: Click Here

frank678 said:

Did you find a way round the Macrovision thing? Did The Phantom Menace defeat your new set up?

Edit: I just realized in my haste I completely blanked the original topic. apologies. if you are tackling this set I was eager to find out if you managed to tame the macrovision thing that seemed to have killed the PM tape or were you able to get round it

Don't worry about it!

My setup chews right through TPM's Macrovision. The image is crisp and stable; almost as good as a DVD!

Is this set worthy of a Panasonic AG-1980 capture? Does it have any special and/or redeeming qualities?

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, everyone! The image I posted is from my first full-length capture test with PS78 and the Panasonic AG-1980.

I'm going to have to do the captures sans audio because VirtualDub's "Sync audio to video by resampling the audio to a faster or slower rate" resync mode doesn't work well with the ATI Theater HD 750 (it's well-documented) and I don't want to mess with the video by resampling it or adding/dropping frames. Don't worry -- I plan to capture the audio separately and sync it myself.

I've decided to use AviSynth's TooT() filter, so I'll have to do three captures. I'm going to post screenshots of the various settings involved (including a picture of the Panasonic AG-1980's front panel) tonight for everyone to critique. I think they're fine, but I'd like the experts here to chime-in.

Does anyone have any tips for setting the tracking on the Panasonic AG-1980?

This is what Han has to say about the Panasonic AG-1980...

Moth3r said:

AntcuFaalb said:

frank678 said:

I forget, did you determine whether the light trails you see following the ships in space and following some of the motion was already present on the tape or was only in the transfer. I wonder if its on the tape whether theres a way to reduce it to a degree through post processing, when the time comes

It's not on the VHS. It's the Toshiba DVR620's fault; i.e., false MacroVision detection.

Macrovision's analogue copy protection does not cause motion trails. Sounds to me like a temporal noise reduction applied somewhere in your chain.

I didn't fully read frank678's post prior to replying to it. I now realize that I don't know what he's talking about, but I'm certain I didn't have any temporal NR filters in my chain.