I've got the old Blu-ray, and would imagine it'd be easy to sync to the new transfer. That is, is the new transfer that much better?
Truly in my top ten films here...I'll probably get it regardless.
THX just posted this on their Facebook page…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151522574287443
Thoughts?
Speaking of E.T...
What is the definitive mix? LaserDisc? Blu-ray? I honestly always enjoyed the DTS 5.1 track on the DVD (1982 version). The Blu-ray 7.1 seems fantastic, but is it accurate? They have a 4.1 track but something feels strangely wrong with it.
I never had the LaserDisc and would be interested to know how it sounded. The film did have a 70mm 6-track release.
The prints of Gladiator were Dolby EX and the DTS discs were ES. EX and ES theatrically are 6.1 but use matrix encoding to get the 6th channel. No discrete center surround on 35mm. Source:
http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/f1/t000919.html
The DVD of Gladiator has a discrete DTS 6.1 track.
Never saw it theatrically, and I have no film print for reference. It's anyone's guess how accurate it is. It has the feel of a mid 80s action/sci-fi film though. It feels period accurate. The MPEG2 version that is...
Count me in as always interested too. I'll help any way I am able.
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The MPEG2 Predator, while not perfect, is perfectly watchable and better than anything else available. The audio is a lot of fun.
3D? Yikes...it's going to look like shit in 3D.
I haven't had the chance to check out the Matrix yet, so no opinions there.
Regarding the Phantom Menace, even with the level adjustment, I still find the LaserDisc to sound "better". I've done an a/b of them both with level matching too. YMMV.
I think the other lure of this project is that the DTS discs contain a verified, undisputed copy of the theatrical track. There is no doubt what it is. Home video formats are always open for debate and scrutiny.
I do remember years ago a friend had just gotten DVD and surround sound...and I remember Predator being the disc he demoed. I remember it being really awesome. Of course, my I'm looking through rose colored glasses...
Anyone know what's up with Predator? Looks like both the original Blu-ray and the "re-mastered for plastic" update have both a 5.1 DTS-HDMA track and a Dolby 4.0 track.
The film had 70mm blowup, so 4.0 sounds like it could be an original mix. Anyone ever take a listen?
I can vouch for Temple of Doom on LaserDisc: it is unbelievably good. Great low frequency. The mine cart sequence is a knockout. Very aggressive track.
One track that did frustrate me, and perhaps I need to re-visit it, was the LPCM on Back to the Future's LaserDisc. It didn't sound nearly as good as the 35mm Dolby A I heard on it about a year ago. Talk about a great track!
Just a note...
Playing around with some DTS LaserDiscs tonight, and both GoldenEye and Independence Day's have the non zoomed DTS digital experience trailer, and both are in scope.
Very lovely both of them.
Twister also had a full bitrate DTS release. It was a great track. Wish I had kept it, as the Blu-ray to my ears isn't nearly as good as that was, nor the AC3 LaserDisc. That track has some oomph.
I have the original issue of Batman Returns on DVD. I'll have to give it another listen.
I have Lost in Space...no gear to capture successfully. :(
Despite color changes, it might be best to sync to the Blu-ray since it is the most readily available for those wanting the theatrical DTS audio.
Scope has always been the "bigger" format. Since most of the films I show are scope, a 2.39 setup is ideal. For flat, I shrink it down and window box it. I don't have side masking, yet. But scope images are full wall to wall in my setup. The effect is dramatic.
If only we had 6 or 8 channel sound for that puppy. NICE!
Clarification: I never saw a scope DTS trailer on LaserDisc, only DVD. Same goes for the Dolby trailers.
It'd be nice to at least get the AC3 audio preserved from the THX LaserDisc trailer because on most titles, it sounds REALLY good. Mission: Impossible Comes to mind.
Maybe we should start making a definitive list of all the variants of each trailer. For instance, Dolby City. We should find a flat and scope version (may have to make a scope version with some masking). Also, some LD versions of City had the Dolby Surround AC3 Digital instead of just Dolby Digital or even Dolby Stereo Digital (like on the Dolby Train Trailers). Not sure if any of them had wildly different audio. Train has some variants in audio. Temple and Canyon are the only other ones on LD I remember...both sounded amazingly good.
It'd be nice to get a full set of Dolby and DTS snipes, in flat and scope, upscaled and with the best sound possible available. I've got most of them in DVD resolution but nothing better. I say flat and scope so that folks with common height setups (like me) can play the most appropriate format for a given feature.
What software are you both using to produce these?
That too can depend on the film. Take Batman Forever. The PCM mix is great, but lacks the spatial characteristics of the AC3 mix. Both great, but the AC3 is truer to the intent of the film.
The Lion King? Yeah, PCM hands down.
A lot of folks also prefer the PCM track of Top Gun to the AC3 version. I surely don't. I think the AC3 one rocks big time. There's a preservation that is worthy!
I remember the Hi-Fi tracks from old VHS tapes like Braveheart, Outbreak, and even the GOUT sounding pretty awesome for what they were, so long as the tape is in good shape.
The idea of having AC3/DTS/PCM LaserDiscs tracks to sync to Blu-ray makes me happy.
But let's be careful to still evaluate and not assume just because it's LaserDisc that it is better. GoldenEye's AC3 LaserDisc track has bloated LFE, which was fixed on the DTS LD. I always felt the PCM track for the Lion King was better than its AC3 track. Forrest Gump's AC3 track always confused me: the surrounds don't seem to be active at all (unless that is by design). Early DTS titles, including both JP and Apollo 13 had levels set incorrectly for the LFE and Surrounds.
That being said...I'll still take a LD track of a catalog title over most Blu-rays and almost any DVD out there.
Awesome work guys! This will play nicely in front of Jurassic Park now and forever!
PM's sent. But it looks like not much work needs to be done to get this to work. Awesome sauce!
Hopefully when I get home from work tonight I can respond to both of you!
Thanks for the help!