Doctor M

User Group: Members
Join date: 1-Feb-2005
Last activity: 3-Jul-2025
Posts: 2,544

Post History

Post: #231976
Topic: Dr. M's Reinventing The Wheel Edition (PAL to NTSC+) (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231976/action/topic#231976
Time: 3-Aug-2006 4:09 PM

Yeah, it looks like the demonoid torrents are in need of a reseed.
Personally I'd like to see the old torrents killed and new ones started because I find some of the comments unnecessarily rude.

Post: #231133
Topic: Dr. M's Reinventing The Wheel Edition (PAL to NTSC+) (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/231133/action/topic#231133
Time: 1-Aug-2006 12:35 AM

ignore this

Post: #230822
Topic: <strong>The "ADigitalMan Special Editions" DVD Info and Feedback Thread</strong> (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230822/action/topic#230822
Time: 31-Jul-2006 1:17 AM

v2? Lol.

And how long has it taken someone to notice that?

Post: #230819
Topic: Doctor Who: The Ten Doctors (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230819/action/topic#230819
Time: 31-Jul-2006 1:15 AM

My sources tell me the BBC has yet to actually broadcast Doctor Who in high def, so any anamorphic DVD (from broadcast) is artifical from the get go.

I believe they go HD next year.

Post: #230729
Topic: 'So Fine' - Preservation Project (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230729/action/topic#230729
Time: 30-Jul-2006 9:03 PM

I'm just posting whether anyone responds or not.
I know there are always some lurkers who don't comment and I know that what I explain now may prove interesting to someone down the road who finds this thread by chance.

Post: #230689
Topic: 'So Fine' - Preservation Project (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230689/action/topic#230689
Time: 30-Jul-2006 6:02 PM

Heh heh, or not.
7 hours 40 minutes to encode 4 passes.
Ok, take the screenies below with a grain of salt. In motion clips always look different than stills.

Some of the shots I chose because the chroma artifacts are reduced, but a few frames earlier artifacts might still exist because the filter is temporal and hasn't turned on yet. By and large this IS representative of the final version.
Of course the final film is anamorphic, but both shots have been resized (and deinterlaced) equivalently for comparison.

Things to look for: rainbows around edges, interference patterns on small textures, black levels, white levels.
I still chose not to use a dot crawl filter to clean up the credits because the rest of the film's detail takes a hit. There's also color bleeding that I've yet to find a method of removing.
Top is the original raw mpg capture just resized, bottom is final re-encoded dvd video.

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf1.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf2.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf3.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf4.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf5.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf6.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf7.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf8.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/sf9.jpg

Makes you wonder if I can improve a movie this old this much, why the heck can't George Lucas?

Post: #230517
Topic: .: The XØ Project - Laserdisc on Steroids :. (SEE FIRST POST FOR UPDATES) (* unfinished project *)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230517/action/topic#230517
Time: 30-Jul-2006 12:49 AM

What about a dual-layer SUPERBIT version?

No I think he means: Will it be an overpriced recycled transfer marketed for know-nothing idiots?

Post: #230483
Topic: 'So Fine' - Preservation Project (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230483/action/topic#230483
Time: 29-Jul-2006 10:50 PM

Laserdisc capture performed by Suntech (thanks) and sent to me in high quality (about 8000kbps cbr) mpg with 256kbps mpeg layer 2 audio.

Original 24 frames reconstructed, 80%ish of noise from interference patterens and (edge enhancement?)/chroma artifacts removed.
Cropped and resized to anamorphic.
Black level lowered 7 points so black is black, white level brightened 20 points.

Both avisynth and virtualdubmod are being used to frameserve (I prefer different filters from each one).
Currently encoding at 500min/5130avg/8200max kbps in 4 passes with CCE 2.70 (q level one pass vbr estimate is 14, I can hit 1 if I don't use PCM audio but I will not go mpa -> wav -> DD).

Audio restoration so far is minor.
Since the audio is mono, both channels were combined and then re-split to average out any cable noise in the recording process and to equalize left/right volumes.
I'd like to remove tape hiss, but there are some really nice high frequencies in the movie that are lost in the process.
So far lead in and lead out hiss to the film is muted as well as some abruptness and popping at the side change.
More may come, but I want the video finished first.

Barring any posts on this thread from anyone besides me and Suntech, I'm not going to post any more project updates.
I feel like I'm just talking to myself.

Post: #230363
Topic: Fixing Chroma Artifacts?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230363/action/topic#230363
Time: 29-Jul-2006 3:54 AM

In my grand tradition of talking to myself in forums...

Here's the low down: avisynth's cnr2 and guavacomb are moderately successful at removing the color artifacts.
Many of these artifacts may be edge enhancement related.

Anyway, during fast motion some serious posterization occurs. It's rare, but so bad I can't use those filters.

I switched to VirtualDubMod's Chroma Noise Reduction filter and it work beautifully. It removes 80-90% of all the colors crawling along edges, interference in small textures, and overall improves the picture without softening it. The artifacts are few, far between, and absolutely tolerable in comparison.

This is the second time I've found VD's filters to be superior to the "recommended" avisynth equivalent (the other is Vdub's Levels filter vs. ColorYUV(off_y=0, gain_y=0) ). And I'm talking quality of output. Avisynth may have the edge on speed, but I'd rather encode slower and have better output.

So anyone else that needs to clean Chroma artifacts: try VDubMod's Chroma Noise Reduction Filter. I set YUV to wide and moved the U and V percentages to about 40%.

Cheers to anyone else that gets use out of the hours I spent toying with this. Screenies will follow (maybe).

Post: #230149
Topic: <strong>The "ADigitalMan Special Editions" DVD Info and Feedback Thread</strong> (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230149/action/topic#230149
Time: 28-Jul-2006 10:13 AM

Actually I was interested in the Heresy mix(es) as well, are you sure you can't do a torrent instead?

Post: #230148
Topic: Info: The LID Project: Laserdisc is dead.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230148/action/topic#230148
Time: 28-Jul-2006 10:11 AM

Which bad news is that?
That the transfer will suck or that it will blow?

Post: #230147
Topic: Doctor Who: The Ten Doctors (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230147/action/topic#230147
Time: 28-Jul-2006 10:03 AM

Check out Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) in De-Lovely too...

Post: #230082
Topic: Fixing Chroma Artifacts?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230082/action/topic#230082
Time: 28-Jul-2006 12:37 AM

Update: I just took a good look at the opening (laserdisc) logo (as opposed to the original one that's part of the film), and that lacks all of these chroma artifacts.

I guess this disc was a second tier release passed to some intern chimpanzee to do.
Sigh, I'll fix what I can, I hoped for some brilliant help to save the day.

Post: #230081
Topic: Doctor Who: The Ten Doctors (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/230081/action/topic#230081
Time: 28-Jul-2006 12:34 AM

Check demonoid.
There's lots of great Dr. Who torrents there including DVD format.

David Tennant broadcasts are also there in DVD format if the torrents are still up.
If you can make do with smaller, absolutely go with anything from MadMartha, she(he?) is an absolute stickler for quality (and next season will be releasing full resolution x264 releases instead of Xvid). MM's torrents might be more active at their new home: http://tracker.reprobate.se/

Cheers on the stupid factor on this one.

Post: #229799
Topic: Inverse Telecining: Best method for restoring original frame rates
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229799/action/topic#229799
Time: 27-Jul-2006 12:29 PM

Know anything about chroma artifacts? I start a new thread with a question about that.

Edit: Oops, didn't merge the full project. Still the telecine seems consistent across the whole film (I trimmed a few black frames between the side changes so the telecines match up for both sides).

Still, thanks for the input guys, completely bang on advice.

Post: #229742
Topic: .-The Matrix Hacked-..:Completed:.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229742/action/topic#229742
Time: 27-Jul-2006 3:57 AM

Ell: I'm a bit disappointed by your statement.
I can understand financial issues, but requesting trades is pretty much contrary to the whole Pay It Forward system.

Post: #229733
Topic: Fixing Chroma Artifacts?
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229733/action/topic#229733
Time: 27-Jul-2006 3:16 AM

Continuing a laserdisc preservation, I have a capture with color artifacts.
Below are screen shots.

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/1764raw.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/4192raw.jpg

http://adventureclub.postrock.net/temp/5018raw.jpg

I've tried:
Cnr2("xxx",4,5,255)
GuavaComb(Mode = "NTSC", Recall = 75, MaxVariation = 25, Activation = 40)

But it mostly seems to wash colors out, with some slight improvement in later frames with interference artifacts (such as the pearls).

I tried color shifting but that doesn't seem to be the problem.

Any suggestions on this?

Post: #229725
Topic: Inverse Telecining: Best method for restoring original frame rates
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229725/action/topic#229725
Time: 27-Jul-2006 3:02 AM

I quick test of one chunk of about 10 minutes looks like I can get away with:
doubleweave()
Pulldown(1,3)

Is it common to see light/mild ghosting on occasion with those filters? I'm not talking interlace artifacts, it almost looks like a temporal artifact of some sort.

Post: #229147
Topic: The Crow Edit (* unfinished project *)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229147/action/topic#229147
Time: 25-Jul-2006 7:49 PM

Some of the episodes are on Demonoid, but unfortunately not all of them.
Btw, the Skull Cowboy appears kind of late in the series, and is more hip than spooky.

Post: #229146
Topic: .-The Matrix Hacked-..:Completed:.
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/229146/action/topic#229146
Time: 25-Jul-2006 7:48 PM

I just figured if he can survive being unplugged while still in the Matrix in the first two films AND the Matrix gets rebuilt, why couldn't he just pull himself back together (or get rebuilt with the Matrix like everone else)?
That's only his Avatar in the Matrix. The films make it perfectly clear to us that whatever happened there couldn't hurt him.

From what I understand, the Matrix Online, supposedly canonical and written by the Wachowskis were going to bring Neo back again.
So theoretically he wasn't dead at the end of the theatrical cut of Revolutions either, we all just didn't play the crappy MMORPG to find out otherwise.

Post: #228940
Topic: The Crow Edit (* unfinished project *)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/228940/action/topic#228940
Time: 25-Jul-2006 2:11 AM

Crow Stairway to Heaven was better than all of the Crow movie sequels put together.
And they had a Skull Cowboy that was great.

Can anyone tell me the source of the CD-Rom? How was it sold?
I'd also like detail on the "fan made" film.

Also, has anyone ever seen Wings of the Crow? I've heard it's absolutely terrible, but I've not been able to track it down.
It's a straight up remake, except the lead is now female: Rock singer Erika is murdered with her cop boyfriend on the eve of Halloween. Then exactly one year later she is resurrected by a mysterious crow to exact vengeance on her attackers.

It sounds so bad it's got to be worth watching.

Post: #228402
Topic: The Crow Edit (* unfinished project *)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/228402/action/topic#228402
Time: 23-Jul-2006 4:33 PM

Hmm, so a "fixed" or originally-intended-edit sound great, but obviously not what Spence is looking to do.

Also, it seems NOBODY has their hands on the full Skull Cowboy footage of any sort of quality. For some reason it's never been released or leaked.

Audio and SFX would need to be added to those scenes.
It's a rather daunting project assuming you could even get the footage you needed to start with.
I suppose the workprint could be used as a guide for the restoration.
This is starting to sound much more up OCPMovie's alley.

Post: #228362
Topic: STAR WARS: The Torrents thread
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/228362/action/topic#228362
Time: 23-Jul-2006 1:34 PM

I gotta say I'm not thrilled with the '3dguyz' loser on Demonoid trying to explain to people how to remove the first page of my SW discs.

It sounds like he's the kind of lamer who'll sell it on eBay. Don't help him out guys. Unfortunately nothing he says is offensive enough to be reported for removal.

I think maybe it's time for us to move back to MySpleen.

I'd like to see him with my Matrix edit. That page is part of the movie's title.

I knew I should have done that to the SW films too.

Post: #228286
Topic: The Crow Edit (* unfinished project *)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/228286/action/topic#228286
Time: 23-Jul-2006 1:34 AM

Little of the Skull Cowboy footage was finished or released.
What I've seen is low quality (quicktime), very raw, and lacking special effects.

I tried to find decent footage of it myself for an edit a year or so ago. I was looking to make an expanded cut.

bigrob: What PC CD-Rom are you referring to?

Scenes featuring Michael Berryman the "Skull Cowboy" were cut. When Eric is dead, he is visited by the skeletal character. In early scenes, he merely tells Eric to "Follow the crow", but later he explains why Draven is "alive", namely, to kill the bad guys and reunite with Shelly. A problem: "You work for the living and you bleed." After Sarah is kidnapped, the Skull Cowboy appears to Eric for the final time and tells him that it is time to return to the land of the dead and give up the concerns of the living, Eric refuses, and Skull Cowboy tells him. "Then choose and be damned!!!" This is why Eric gets hurt at the end, not because of the crow being shot. (This one was previously located under scenes cut unrelated to Lee's death, but Jim Timko informed that they were in fact cut precisely because of it. Apparently, O'Barr felt it would be in poor taste to leave them.)

The Collector's edition DVD does contain several extended scenes that could be added back.

More change details here: http://ishmaal.spitfire.com.au/html/edited.htm

I just remember how well the Skull Cowboy worked in the TV series and wished they'd put it back in the film. Maybe some anniversary edition.

Edit: YouTube clip of Skull Cowboy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciDeoMDAPMA

Post: #228276
Topic: 'So Fine' - Preservation Project (Released)
Link: https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/228276/action/topic#228276
Time: 23-Jul-2006 12:54 AM

Jack Warden 9/18/1920 - 7/19/2006

So Fine may not be considered his finest movie, but some of us appreciated his work.