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Zion

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Join date
23-Sep-2004
Last activity
17-Jan-2024
Posts
1,992

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Post
#68537
Topic
Info Wanted: The laserdiscs vs. The best bootlegs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/68537/action/topic#68537
Time
"I realize the LD technology is analog, but what about the optical digital-out ports that were on many models, including my old Sony? Would those conceivably help with a higher-quality output?"

Only if the source LD's have a digital audio track on them. The newer players had those ports because LD's started to come out with Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks on them. These audio tracks were actually digital, not analog like the rest of the disc. So, in theory, playing the digital audio through your toslink or rf digital output would yield higher quality playback because the soundtrack is already digital.


Yes. Think of it this way - if you were to record a song onto audio-cassette and onto the computer (as a .wav file), you would have much higher fidelity from the computer. Thye cassette takes the analog waveform and saves it in an analog format. The computer takes the analog waveform and saves it in a digital format, but it is still an analog waveform. This is why PCM soundtracks (on laserdisc or CD) are so large - it's the whole signal with no compression. In fact, PCM stands for "Pulse Code Modulation". Pulses (with their rise and fall) versus digital bits.

Analog and digital are two completely different animals. If you capture analog audio onto your computer, no matter how high a sampling rate, it will never be the same quality as it's analog source. When the source is converted to digital using modulation, a sample is taken so many times per second -- much like a video camera captures so many frames per second. The higher the sampling rate, the higher the quality, but it can never be the same as the original. PCM audio files are represented on the computer as waveforms, but it's only a graphical representation of the digital samples. If you look at a compressed mp3 file in the same way, it is still represented as a waveform.
Post
#68088
Topic
Info Wanted: The laserdiscs vs. The best bootlegs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/68088/action/topic#68088
Time
I think Ash and Jay pretty much said it all. The faces set is definitely more colorful, but in my comparrison shots, it looks like the black levels are a little lighter on the faces set as well. I'll post some pics when I get home from work.

Capturing from LD's is not an easy process and there is a lot that goes into making the video look good. Since it is an analog process, you can get things like video noise and ghosting introduced into the signal quite easily if you're not careful (and even if you are). But with the amount of filters and color correction tools available, it is possible to make that analog capture look incredible on a 65" digital plasma screen.

To capture my LD's, I use a Pioneer CLC-V2600 player. As far as I know, it was a commercial model and one of the best quality available. As a former home theater salesman, I use only high quality Monster video and audio cables as well as a high-end Monster power center to minimize any signal noise (no sales pitch intended ). It works wonders and makes processing the video much easier.

The other thing that hasn't been mentioned is the issue of "laser rot". For those of you who have LD players, you know what I'm talking about. I don't know if it has something to do with the age of the discs, or just the way they were manufactured, but a lof of the Definitive sets out there have rot on certain discs. The set I borrowed from a friend is almost worthless because rot spots are inherent on over half of the discs. I've also seen some of this on the Dr. Gonzo dvd's.

Something I've recently discovered and will be doing for my DVD's is a process called TOOT, which basically compares three different sources of video to eliminate any rot spots or other noise. I'm currently looking for one more set of the faces trilogy so if you've got a set you wouldn't mind letting me borrow in exchange for a set of DVD's, send me a PM.


Post
#67800
Topic
Info: OT Bootleg DVDs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/67800/action/topic#67800
Time
Originally posted by: Cassius76
Zion, how on earth did you create the ESB menu? It's extraordinary!
That was the result of teaching myself how to use Adobe After Effects. Not bad for a first attempt eh?

Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
[Monty Python] "It's just a model" [/Monty Python]


Sorry...

lol

Originally posted by: BadAsh71
Zion is using the "Faces" LDs as I believe MeBeJedi is as well.

The "Faces" set is the same as the Definitive but cleaned up a little more (especially ANH).

I believe MeBeJedi has been playing around with both.

Yeah, I've noticed that my "faces" capture is a lot more colorful than my definitive capture. I'm doing some color correction in Premiere right now and you won't believe how much better it looks. Screencaps coming soon...
Post
#67158
Topic
Info: OT Bootleg DVDs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/67158/action/topic#67158
Time
Originally posted by: OB-1
Originally posted by: zion
Here's a new one I just did off the faces version of ESB. Considerably less noise and better color than my definitive capture last week:

Thoughts?


Alright, now....'fess up. How much time did you spend touching those up in Photoshop, hmm? Seriously, those caps look pretty awesome. Now how the hell am I supposed to decide which set I should add to my collection?


I spent three seconds on each one. One second to paste it into photoshop, one second to resize to the correct aspect ratio, then one second to save as a jpeg.

So yeah, I guess you got me. I shoulda resized with AVIsynth.
Post
#66864
Topic
Info: OT Bootleg DVDs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/66864/action/topic#66864
Time
Originally posted by: RATLSNAKE
Menu looks awesome, but the few stills he has uploaded here http://www.aptirrelevance.com/videoprojects/otcapture.php , the quality he has achieved is insane. Just plain unimaginable.

Looks like yet another kick ass set is on its way.

RATLSNAKE


Thanks for noticeing! I just put that page up earlier this week and somehow I get three people emailing me with compliments. I'm not sure how you guys found it, but I'm greatful for your comments.

Well, hopefully my set will be kick ass. I was originally just making it for myself and a few friends, but it looks like this thing may become a bit more popular than that.

MeBeJedi, your latest capture looks awesome man. It appears that you took my advice about tweaking the color upon capturing.