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Moth3r

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Join date
26-Oct-2004
Last activity
16-Jul-2017
Posts
4,892

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Post
#464595
Topic
I don't like Apple
Time

My (limited) experience of Apple products has not been good.

My mother-in-law has an iPod Touch. I offered to put some MP3s on it for her, thinking it would be a simple case of plugging it in to a USB port then dragging and dropping the files over.

But no, the iPod is not recognised as a USB mass storage device like a normal MP3 player. iTunes wouldn't allow me to do this either as it was synced to a different computer, I would have had to delete the tracks that were on the device already. I ended up having to install a piece of software called CopyTrans, and even then it required me to install a component of Quicktime to get it to work properly.

Talking of Quicktime, getting MOV files to play in MPC can be a pain sometimes. (But I dislike WMV just as much, so I'm neutral in that respect!)

Post
#464406
Topic
Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!)
Time

Puggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:

Harmy said:

Like I always say, the garbage mates shouldn't be there because they are a mistake created by the video transfer, not the original cinematography.

I tend to agree.  There is a difference between preserving the film versus preserving the video.  I don't ever remember seeing boxes around the fighters in the theater. I'm guessing some people did, but I think that they shouldn't have been visible in a properly configured projection.  Just because early video transfers exposed some things that wouldn't have been seen in the theater, doesn't mean that those artifacts are worth preserving on later, better home videos.

See also "The Emperor's Slugs".

Post
#463726
Topic
GOUT, Automated Theatrical Colouring, and a Reference Guide
Time

Doctor M is on the right lines, but has slightly misremembered the facts:

Doctor M said:

IIRC, the problem with DVD calibrations such as the THX Optimode is the method involved.

The Optimode calibration video/audio is intended to go through the same processing as the movie itself.

This is correct. Modern video card drivers have separate settings for the desktop and the video overlay. So if you use the THX Optimizer, DVE, etc. to set up your monitor for DVD playback in a media player, then look at a JPG on the internet, your monitor may give you different set of levels.

I would recommend you rip the calibration screens off the DVD and save them as BMPs. Also be careful because some MPEG-2 decoders don't give you accurate colours, ie avoid VirtualDubMod and use DGIndex or the latest VirtualDub w/MPEG-2 decoder plugin instead.

Once your monitor is calibrated for your desktop, leave the monitor settings as they are, then calibrate DVD playback by adjusting the video overlay settings in your graphics card drivers. 

As a result the Optimode for a given DVD is so you can calibrate your home theater so it is accurate for that DVD only.  It is not an absolute calibration for accuracy.

(At least this is what I remember reading way back when.  I hope they've changed that.)

This is incorrect. The THX optimizer screens on the Star Wars discs are the same as the Indy discs, etc. (I've checked!)

Post
#463447
Topic
Do you have a favourite stormtrooper?
Time

TheBoost said:

Moth3r said:

TheBoost said:

Anchorhead said:

 

 

His name is Waggo Borathyon.... ...

See, doesn't the EU make everything cooler!

You should go and correct Wookiepedia. They have it all wrong.

 Dear God. I tried to out-ridiculous the EU and failed. Who would have guessed that "Look Sir, Droids" was in fact the only man in the Empire who noticed that AT-ATs could be tripped by cables, and his career was sandbagged because of it. And later he did become a spy for the Rebellion because he feels spiritual kinship with Han Solo.

 

I suppose you contributed the part of the article about the female ronto in heat?

Post
#463432
Topic
GOUT, Automated Theatrical Colouring, and a Reference Guide
Time

Lee, referring back to my post on page 1, did you attempt a basic calibration of your display before making any colour adjustments? I can't stress how important this is. The X0 Project website used to have a tutorial that was useful, shame it's now gone.

This advice also applies to anyone who wants to make comments about someone else's adjustments (Zombie)!

Post
#463268
Topic
Star Wars 1977 70mm sound mix recreation [stereo and 5.1 versions now available] (Released)
Time

Errors of +20 ms (audio advanced) and -40 ms (audio delayed) are "detectable", and errors of +40 and -160 ms are "subjectively annoying"*.

A single video frame is displayed for 40ms (PAL) or 41.7ms (NTSC). A single-frame audio delay may be acceptable, but a single frame in advance is clearly not (this is because this is an unnatural condition - we are accustomed to a minor audio lag in everyday life due to the differences between the speeds of light and sound).

* Ref: International Telecommunication Union Document 11A/47-E, 13 October 1993

Post
#463244
Topic
Star Wars OT & 1997 Special Edition - Various Projects Info (Released)
Time

g-force said:

 -1

Everyone realizes that the script already has an 8% bump in saturation, right? I had a script at one point that did a 14% bump in saturation, and that was great for a few scenes, but looked like the SE DVD for alot of the scenes. (Lobster skin, neon yoda, electric R2...) The major problem with the GOUT is not the color, but the brightness/contrast, which the script also adresses.

-G

I can see the levels and hue tweaks, but not the saturation boost.

A saturation tweak was definitely in an earlier version but it looks like you took it out?

Post
#463230
Topic
Do you have a favourite stormtrooper?
Time

TheBoost said:

Anchorhead said:

At the age of 15 - and to this very day - this is the only Stormtrooper that ever stood out to me.  He changed the course of the entire story.  He overlooks that tiny piece - they leave the planet.  He found it - so our story began.

I love the way the shot is framed - the desolation, the sound, the voice, all of it.  A really fantastic scene that has moved me for 34 years.

 

His name is Waggo Borathyon. According to the EU he was the lost prince of a planet of sky-surfing hunters of giant flying fish. He returned to the Star Destroyer after saying "look sir, Droids" and eventually became enthralled in a conspiracy with an undercover rebel operative and the brain of an ancient Sithlord in a jar. He died 50 years later single handedly holding off part of an extra-galactic invasion by biological sadist aliens. His son is now a Jedi master working the reformed Empire.

See, doesn't the EU make everything cooler!

You should go and correct Wookiepedia. They have it all wrong.

Post
#462271
Topic
The Definitive Collection Flaw List (1993 Laserdisc Box Set)
Time

Reproducing this here for future reference, and because the original is now only available via the Wayback Machine or Google Groups.

Hopefully the forum will keep the original Usenet formatting (email addresses redacted due to being a copy/paste from Google):

************************************************************************
Star Wars: The Definitive Collection Flaw List (1993 Laserdisc Box Set)
Version 2.5 August 15, 1995

Assembled by Edwin M. Weiland
And assisted by *lengthy* contributions from:

Michael Arvallius (mic...@skom.se), Roy Batty (roy.ba...@cng.com),
William Cruce (w...@uhura.neoucom.edu) & Evan Daum (d...@aludra.usc.edu)
************************************************************************

Contents (* Denotes changes since last version, Version 2.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
THX Star Wars Trilogy in CLV Format Coming Soon!
*FAQ's Regarding the SW-THX Definitive Collection Box Set
Overall Box Set Complaints
Star Wars Flaws
The Empire Strikes Back Flaws
Return of the Jedi Flaws
Disclaimers and Specific Notes Concerning Certain Flaws

THX Star Wars Trilogy in CLV Format Coming Soon!
-----------------------------------------------
As some of you have heard, the non-THX CLV versions of Star Wars, The
Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi have been put on moratorium.
The THX box set however is still available. New THX-certified, CLV vers-
ions of the THX masters are being released in a few weeks. However,
in the most recent issue of Laser Flash from Sight and Sound, these THX,
CLV versions will only be available until Christmas 1995.

In the most recent issues of Curtco's Home Theater Technology (6/95 and
7/95) Image Entertainment has placed an ad for the new THX CLV discs.
The ad reads as follows:

"Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Individually available on laserdisc in THX, Widescreen, CLV editions
Coming to a galaxy near you August 29, 1995"

FAQ's Regarding the SW-THX Definitive Collection Box Set
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. This list is posted to rec.arts.sf.starwars and alt.video.laserdisc
periodically. Depending on what new information I receive, I
will post it accordingly. If at any time you require a copy of
the flawlist, please email me at .
If you encounter any items herein which you believe to be erroneous,
vague or missing, please email your comments to me. Feel free to dis-
tribute this list only in its original form without alterations.

2. Presently, The Star Wars Trilogy Box Set has only been officially
recalled for the following reasons:

A. Missing Seven Seconds from Empire Disc:
-----------------------------------------
These seven seconds of original footage are from Disc 2, Side 3
of The Empire Strikes Back. These seven seconds pertain to Leia
welding on the Millenium Falcon. If you have a copy of this disc
(the correct disc starts with Leia welding versus
starting with Leia hanging up her welder) Fox Video has reportedly
channeled these return issues to Image Entertainment. As of 7/26/95,
an Image rep. informed me that returns are to be handled by Lydia
(extension 210) at Image Entertainment. See Image phone number below.

B. Weak/Non-Existant Closed Captioning:
--------------------------------------
Secondly, in the past, Fox Video has replaced discs with a weak or
non-existant Closed Captioning signal. Present replacement procedures
are not known. In the past, Fox Home Video replaced discs directly.

C. Some Erroneous Early Pressings:
---------------------------------
Recently, Image Entertainment has been reported as replacing a comp-
lete box set (only LD's) that exhibited the missing 7 seconds of
Empire as well as all of the first-pressing flaws (flaws that are now
corrected.) This is by no means a recall by Image. However, if you
think you are a candidate for such an exchange, contact Image Ent. at
the phone number and address below. Kym, Kirk and Lydia seem to be
individuals/contacts in charge of handling exchanges. Good luck.

3. Phone numbers and snail mail addresses of the parties involved in
producing the Star Wars Trilogy Box Set:

Fox Home Video............................310-203-3195
P.O. Box 900; Beverly Hills, CA; 90213-0900
Image Entertainment.......................800-473-3475
9333 Oso Ave; Chatsworth, CA; 91311-6019
ATTN: Kym, Kirk or Lydia
Lucasfilm THX Department..................415-662-1900

Overall Box Set Complaints
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note that these complaints reflect the initial pressings of
The Star Wars Trilogy box set. I do not claim to know whether or not
all, some or none of these complaints can be attributed to the newest
pressings.

1. Large individual sleeves falling apart due to inadequate glue.
2. Early editions of the box set exhibited a much too snug fit of
the LD's, the Creative Impulse book and supplemental liner notes.
3. Scrolling, horizontal waves throughout the entire box set's picture.
These waves scroll upwards and can be most easily seen in those
areas where the picture is gray or dark. (They are very hard to see
in bright scenes.) SPECULATION as to the waves' source points to
AC's 60 cycles/second versus television's 59.97 cycles/second. This
difference in frequency coupled with AC interference during the
mastering stage, could be the source of the scrolling lines.
Fox and Image Entertainment were both notified concerning this.
Refusing to admit to a pressing error, they blamed incorrect tele-
vision brightness settings as the problem. NOTE: The brightness
settings do very little to mask these annoying waves.)
4. Seemingly rushed supplemental section; not as informative as other
supplemental sections (eg. Cameron) for films of the same stature.
The THX "WOW!" disc has been reported as having a few informative
notes on the Star Wars trilogy; maybe Fox should have taken
note of this when The Definitive Collection was compiled.
5. Weak Closed Captioned signals. Though most LD owners did not check
to see if the CC worked or not, the CC on the initial pressings was
very weak.
6. Faint text bleeding through on opening black levels of Empire and
Jedi. This text seems to be a 'control screen' of some sort. Some
box sets experience this text throughout the Empire discs but are
only visible during dark/black scenes. (Contributed by Tom;
sztes...@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu)

Key to Flaws:
-------------
In recent pressings of the Definitive Collection, some flaws evident in
the first pressings were fixed. With help from others on the internet, I
have identiified those flaws that currently exist in the set. The follow-
ing identification scheme will be used to describe flaws:

Y = Flaw still exists in newest pressing
N = Flaw does not exist in newest pressing
BN = Barely noticable flaw

Star Wars Flaws (Sides 1 - 6)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Side 2: Misprinting in the liner notes: Analog track
Chapter 18 interview is listed for Chapter 19, but the
(Y) actual interview starts on Chapter 18.

2. Side 2: Lightsaber ghosting effect: At times, two
Frames 8750-9116 lightsaber blades can be seen as Luke swings.
(Y) (See note 2 below.)

3. Side 3: A loud "click" is heard as the scene changes
Frame 33250
(N)

4. Side 4: Misprinting in the liner notes: Analog track
Chapter 19 discussing 'mythology in Star Wars' is listed
(Y) for Side 4: Chapter 19, but the actual
interview is on Side 2: Chapter 21.

5. Side 5: Misprinting in the liner notes: Analog track
Chapter 1 interview is listed for Chapter 2, but the
(Y) actual interview is on Chapter 1.

6. Side 5: Missing liner notes for the analog track
Chapter 18 interview with Ken Ralston starting at the very
(Y) end of Chapter 17 and continuing mostly on
Chapter 18.


The Empire Strikes Back Flaws (Discs 4 - 6)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Liner Notes: The Empire section of the accompanying liner
Empire Section notes states that Empire was released on May 25,
(Y) 1980. However, other sources designate May 21,
1980 as the official release date of Empire.
(Ref: The Jedi Masters Quizbook; Del Rey, 1982)

2. Side 2: Frame noticably lightens.
Frame 601
(BN)

3. Side 2: Trailing ghosting effect on the Rebel Transport
Frames 3884-3935 and X-Wings. (See note 2 below.) Other example
(BN) of this flaw with a Star Destroyer:
Frame 20745>

4. Side 3: Missing 7 seconds of original film content of
Beginning Leia welding. (Fox has replaced this defect in
(N) the past. See 'Important Notes' section.)

5. Side 3: Two "chirping" noises in the left channel.
Frames 23892-23920
(N)

6. Side 4: Misprinting in the liner notes: Analog track
Chapter 17 interview is listed for Chapter 16, but the
(Y) actual interview is on Chapter 17.

7. Side 4: Misprinting in the liner notes: Analog track
Chapter 18 interview is listed for Chapter 17, but the
(Y) actual interview is on Chapter 18.

8. Side 4: Soundtrack flutter/miscue during scene change.
Frame 28665 (Original CLV versions do not experience this.
(Y) CLV Reference: Side 3; Time: 9:04)

9. Side 6: Upside-down, still frame in the supplemental
Frame 47235 section.
(N)

Note: Side 1: Frames 29380 - 29420 featuring Leia in the Hoth command
center after the destruciton of the probe droid experiences an
abrupt shift in picture. The CLV version experience the same
picture shift, therefore it is likely a master flaw. (CLV refer-
ence: Side 1: 19:45 - 19:46)

Return of the Jedi Flaws (Discs 7 - 9)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Side 1: Change in original aspect ratio from 2.10:1
(BN) to approximately 2.25:1. (See note 1 below.)

2. Side 1: Subtitle misspelling of "Wookiee."
Frame 21895 (Spelling has been corrected.)
(N)

3. Side 1: Subtitle misspelling of "Bantha."
Frame 30350 (Spelling has been corrected.)
(N)

4. Side 1: Subtitle misspelling of "Wookiee" again.
Frame 41090 (Spelling has been corrected.)
(N)

5. Side 3: Bright, digital ghost-image of the Imperial
Frames 3248-3251 Shuttle. (See note 2 below.)
(N)

6. Side 4: Digital noise on Chewbacca. (See note 3 below.)
Frames 22743-22746
(N)

7. Side 5: Digital noise on Luke's face.(See note 3 below.)
Frame 5025
(BN)

8. Side 5: Digital noise on Luke. (See note 3 below.)
Frames 15487-15489
(N)

9. Side 5: Digital noise on Falcon. (See note 3 below.)
Frames 23894-23896
(BN)

Disclaimers and Specific Notes Concerning Certain Flaws:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
These flaws are reflective of various pressings of the Star Wars
Trilogy Box Set: The Definitive Collection. Current editions may
exhibit all, a few or none of the above flaws. However, the Y, N
and BN designations have been instituted to try and show the status
of the most recent pressings.

Note 1:

From the Video Watchdog, Issue #21: "Jedi has been recomped from
a previous widescreen aspect ratio of 2.10:1 to about 2.25:1,
lopping about 10 scanlines from the top of the image. I think
this might have been done mostly to correct a problem that's
been driving them nuts all these years, one that shows up only in
Jedi's opening shot....there was a small hair sitting mid-keel
of the Imperial Star Destroyer....the shmootz is gone, but so
are about ten uppermost scan lines..." (Contributed by Roy Batty;
roy.ba...@cnb.com)

Note 2:

This note refers to those flaws which can be explained by
a remastering technique known as 'dirt concealment.' Dirt
concealment entails covering bright spots in a given frame
with information from the previous frame. According to Paul
Almanzan in the April/May 1994 (Volume 3; No. 2) issue of
Widescreen Review this technique was used on The Definitive
Collection. (Contributed by Michael Arvallius; mic...@skom.se)

Note 3:

This note refers to those flaws which could possibly be
explained by dirt concealment. These errors seem to be different
in nature than those in note 2. (Contributed by Michael
Arvallius; mic...@skom.se)

Note 4:

Paraphrased from The Video Watchdog, Issue #21: The 1989 Special
Widescreen Edition of Star Wars (LD) contains a line of C-3PO's
dialogue in the Death Star control room just after R2-D2 begins
scanning for the tractor beam control locations. On that LD,
immediately following C-3PO's line "He'll try to make the precise
location appear..." he goes on to say "The tractor beam is coupled
to the main reactor in seven locations. A power loss at one of the
terminals will allow the ship to leave." This line did not appear
in the original theatrical release of SW, thus it is not really a
SW THX flaw. However, it did appear in the original script for SW.
Further speculation has revealed that it is possible the added dia-
logue first appeared in the 1978 theatrical re-release of Star
Wars. (Contributed by Roy Batty; roy.ba...@cnb.com and Josh Ling;
joshu...@scf.usc.edu)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please send any comments to saw...@psuvm.psu.edu
"It's not a miracle, it's thermodynamics!" THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------