dogdoctor

Harmy said:

Thank you guys!

I would keep the speakers and the player - the speakers do have proprietary connectors but they connect through standard audio cables - I know this for sure, because I had to extend the length of some of the cables.
And I do still need a BD player as well - for BD3D playback, for stuff that requires a menu, like bonus features and BD Live and stuff and I also need it for when my PC is busy rendering or something and I don’t want to put extra strain on it.

Another problem I have is that I need to still be able to use the normal PC speakers for when I’m not using the projector.

Harmy - I’m confused. What do you mean proprietary plugs and standard cable. If you go to a basic AVR that can handle HDMI and Coax Digital Audio Codecs - you will need traditional speaker wire and/or banana plugs and speakers that can handle the appropriate wattage. An AVR that we are talking about will not use the proprietary plugs you speak of.

Rereading your original post:

PC Audio Card -> 5.1 computer speakers.
PC Audio Card -> toslink -> Panasonic BD/HT Combo.
Panasonic BD/HT -> HMDI -> Projector.

Do you ever connect the PC to the projector for video? And if so how?

And what you want is:

PC Audio Card -> 5.1 Computer Speakers.
PC Audio Card -> HMDI OUT -> AVR -> Speakers.
Pansonic BD/HT Device -> HDMI OUT -> AVR -> Speakers/Projector

Correct?

Harmy said:

Chewtobacca’s NTSC DVD5 is now available through tehp.

Video: NTSC DVD-5
Audio: AC-3 5.1 at 448kbps (hairy_hen’s latest mix)
GOUT chapter-stops

Thanks as always, Chewtobacca!

Darth Mallwalker said:

~36 hours

Doh - You know I read Harmy’s post, but I didn’t recall when I read it. My search words must be off as was checking tehp and I know it’s not up on spleen yet (which I thought was unusual). Thanks for replying!

ebike said:

I agree. You could still (re)use your current system as a standalone blu-ray player, and/or connect your actual speakers to the new AV amplifier, but I think that a new set of good quality (and not necessarily expensive) speakers should be a better option.

I thought of that too - but since Harmy says he uses his PC for most of the blu-ray playback, the current player/receiver is kind of redundant. The issue with his speakers is that, from what I can tell, is that they appear to have proprietary male plugs to attach to the back of the receiver. Whenever I see that I have not ever seen standard speaker wire running to the speakers. That would cause me to worry about simply cutting the plugs and running these speakers on a new receiver. I’m with you - I would get a new set of speaker as well and use the sale of the old system to offset the cost.

The end results will be a much better system that is far more customizeable and upgradeable for when future hardware changes are needed.

Question: Can anyone point me in a direction if they know if RotJ v. 2.5 is out as a NTSC DVD yet? The Blu-Ray set is turning out to be awesome (thanks Harmy and FrankT). However, my truck has a DVD player for longer car rides and I’m going to make a set for the kids to have in the car. For those that have been around here a lot longer than I, after a new Harmy file drop - about how long did it take for the NTSC version to start showing up?

Harmy said:

I was hoping someone could help me with exactly that - what settings to use to get pass-through.
But it is a hardware issue as well, because you can’t get lossless 5.1/7.1 through toslink.

Harmy - this is the reason that most audiophile home theater guys break up their systems into separate the receiver/amps and speakers. When it’s an all in one system - it’s very hard to modify/upgrade and “future proof”. Looking at the manual for the device, don’t see any way for you to get your lossless sound from your computer into this system as there isn’t input that can handle it. I think you are stuck needing to buy a dedicated receiver with more inputs. Then comes the fun part of trying to decide if you want to reuse the speakers that are wired for this system or getting new ones. In my honest opinion - I’d sell/dump this system and get a dedicated receiver with new speakers/sub.

I’m with DeadPirateJosh - Denon’s intro receivers are very good for the $. I love the sound of the Harmon Kardons but frankly I had markedly less audio issues with the Denon and PS3/BD connectivity. I’ve been running a Denon 1909 now for what 6+ years and I haven’t looked back…yet.

Wow Harmy Thanks! You do stay busy!

towne32 said:

Huh?

It’s the only source in existence that is the original film in high definition. Maybe I’m not understanding the question.

You answered it. It was a total NOOB question. I was just curious about the origins/reason for the sources used. I’m was not familiar with “35 mm LLP” as technical jargon. Thanks.

Harmy said:

LOL, yeah, I noticed that. And actually, no, in v1.0, I put a cut out video of Leia’s HD face from other frames over the GOUT footage used for the missing frames - it looks trippy for sure when swiching back and forth with the real thing like that but on it’s own it actually blended really well and because most everything else was out of focus, putting in Leia’s face in HD really helped to make the transtion less obvious.
I did the same thing with Luke later, which is why in v1.0 he’s smiling with his teeth in that comparison (Still291).

That is very trippy! Thanks for the explanation and a bit of trivia.

Harmy said:

dogdoctor said:

Now I didn’t go and post the numbers of every file that had some loss of detail, I tried to just pull out the ones that seemed to be most affected.

Yeah, I know. Most of the 35mm shots have slightly crushed blacks compared to the previous version and the GOUT but it’s only a small part of the movie and it’s nowhere near as bad as some people make it out to be. Someone on facebook said the new version looked “disgusting” because of the crushed blacks. Seriously.

OK. Well I certainly wouldn’t call it disgusting. But it’s all in what your memory recalls as being “normal”. I’m not 100% sold on the blacks, but that’s not going to stop me from appreciating everything you’ve done here. In fact, I really need to spend some time watching it on the big screen that I have calibrated vs. comparing images on my lowly laptop monitor. 😉 Again, I think it comes down to reprogramming the mind to accept the new “corrected” images as normal.

Image 176, Still 187 - that to me is normal. I’ve always recalled Leia’s jacket as being a brighter green than Luke’s. Just seeing the new (less green) images side by side is very hard for me to accept that as a new normal.

I did want to ask you - if you said that most of the scenes that caught my eye due to blacks/contrast were the 35 mm LLP - what is the technical reasoning behind using that as a source?

Harmy said:

Look at that and tell me if v2.5 has a blue tint 😉

Uh, no. Definitely no blue tinting.

Harmy said:

All in all, exactly like I said - 99% of the movie is brighter than v1.0, not to mention the BD.
A few newly despecialized shots are marginally darker but it’s nothing as tragic as some people make it out to be - there’s usually minimal shadow detail loss and a huge gain in fine detail, or it is dark, because it’s supposed to be so.

Yeah sorry for the confusion with the file numbers.

Now I didn’t go and post the numbers of every file that had some loss of detail, I tried to just pull out the ones that seemed to be most affected. But if you feel that if those changes/losses are in fact the way it is supposed to be viewed (based on all your viewings of the movie and source material), then I will accept that. Your work, and your knowledge of the films is truly amazing.

Harmy said:

He’s definitely wrong in that v2.5 is darker than v1.0 - there’s a couple of scenes in v2.5, which are a bit darker, because from what I can tell from the 35mm LPP print and Puggo’s 16mm print, they were originally darker but generally v2.5 is definitely brighter and has less crushed blacks.
Actually, here’s a comparison gallery showing v1.0 vs v2.5:

http://picsurge.com/rrGUtW

For best comparison, I recommend downloading the whole gallery and viewing it in full screen mode in your image browser.

Harmy - I definitely see what you are saying with regards to many parts being lighter, but in some frames, even if you lightened a portion of the frame, you really lose the shading detail in the blacks (if I am correct in that is what is defined as black crush).

For some comparison frames:
Stills: 57-58 - loss of detail to Luke
Stills: 149-150 - loss of detail to emperor clothing, architecture, and Vader’s helmet.
Stills: 155-156 - smaller ship is absorbed into space
Stills: 181-182 - loss of ship detail behind Luke.
Stills: 183-190 - crushed detail in vegetation shaded areas
Stills: 223-224 - loss of architectural details, emperor’s robe detail
Stills: 241-242/245-246/243-244 - loss of Vader lower mask/chain patterning detail

Performed my first MKV muxe to BD ISO tonight. Simple and fast and worked like a charm. Kids are already engrossed in the newly burned Blu-Ray as I do the dinner dishes. Awesome!

Skyfocker said:

mheath182 said:

analog said:

Video will be slightly higher (slightly higher bitrate), but the biggest difference is audio - the MKV includes higher quality main soundtrack (lossless, I believe - at least in the cases of SW and ESB) and several more tracks for different languages.

So not REALLY worth the investment in a Blu-Ray burner then? Sound isn’t amassive issue to me as I only play through a sound bar or TV Speakers anyway.

I work in a theatre and got some friends together to watch SW 2.5 AVCHD on the BIG screen. I couldn’t A-B it with the MKV, but I seriously had ZERO complaints. Not sure if it’s worth the investment. Unless you want the extra gigs to be able to have a BR with a fancy menu and extras, etc…

I burned my first Despecialized trilogy just over Thanksgiving off the AVCHD to DVD-DL and I have to say it is pretty amazing (especially when you buy the inkjet printable DVDs and a Pixma printer) which I did just for this project. So just after getting back from Walt Disney World where my kids got to meet Darth Vader, have a light saber battle with him, and I was chosen as the Rebel Spy in Star Tours…I just knew I needed to do this right. I picked up an external USB 3.0 Pioneer BD Burner off Amazon for not a lot, downloaded some freeware, bought some cool glossy liquid defense plus printable BD-Rs and will be testing the burning process from the MKVs very soon. I would go BD Burner - they are really not that expensive, and I can see the drive getting used in the future for other projects.

Downloaded: Odd. Shows a MKV file of 19.2gb, not the listed 17.8gb in the notes.

EDIT - Audio quirk is on my end.

Darth Lucas said:

Only at 40% on the spleen =.=

I’ll seed overnight when I have it though.

I started, what 10 min after you…closing in on 92%. I plan on letting it run for quite some time.

Darth Lucas said:

Starting my download from Myspleen 😃 can’t wait to see, Harmy! Thanks for all that you do

Starting right behind you!

RDPlissken said:

came to yell that it has hit tehparadox, but you already know that…

I must be blind or don’t know the exact search criteria. I just don’t see it on there either.

Wazzles said:

When someone downloads it from wherever Harmy uploads it to then uploads it themselves. So it just depends on how long it takes them to download it, really.

Ah. I thought Harmy just did a direct drop to the main sites. But that explains why the various versions there are not all uploaded by the same user. Makes sense now. Thanks for the clarification. Back to patiently waiting…

My first time watching for a drop release. When does it normally hit places like myspleen and tehparadox? Thanks so much Harmy…been refreshing all day. 😃

of course, first post, and I get a triple post - doh.

of course, first post, and I get a double post - doh.

stardork said:

I’ve been mostly lurking here for a bit, and have read enough to know not to beg for a MySpleen invite. I got SW 2.5, ESB 2.0 and RotJ 1.0 off public trackers, and have been very happy with them. I don’t need to get this right away, but if anyone could offer some advice over PM how best to get it once the initial rush quiets down, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.

Yeah when I started this process of learning about Harmy’s editions back in November (I still can’t believe I was living under a rock all this time), I realized that MySpleen wasn’t going to happen either. So I followed the alternate download instructions (checked a couple of youtube videos before doing it) and jumped in headfirst into tehparadox.com using jdownloader2. It definitely was a learning curve, but in just a few nights I had my first printable dual layer DVD - then I had to buy a new printer too. Now I’ve got a new laptop, a BD burner, and some new downloads to make. I can’t wait!! We (as a family) are so thankful for all the work Harmy has put into this project.