Thanks for the info; the user you can’t remember is RU.08 - project link: http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/TPM-1080p-Theatrical-Preservation/id/17311
I helped him with LD captures, but it seems he left the project unfinished…
Do we need it? Don’t know, I’m here to hear your opinions…
Well, it seems that the HDTV has, somehow, a better quality than the DVNR’ed Blu-ray, so it could be interesting to use it as source for a project.
My idea is to try to recreate the Theatrical cuts of EP I, II (DLP) and III, and 1997 SE versions of EP IV, V and VI; using two HDTV broadcast sources for each movie, merged (to average compression and noise), deblocked, slight noise reduction and color correction, 35mm real grain added.
EP I will use two AVC source - because I was not able to find an MPEG-2 version, while for all the others I’ll use one AVC and one MPEG-2 - this is because different encoders gives different result, and should merge better - at least, according to the tests I made.
TB DVB (eventually LD) and a 1080P trailer will be used to insert missing parts of EP I; EP II should need not more footage - mechanical hand scene reconstruction seems impossible to do, and AFAIK no 35mm scan is available, that’s why I thought to do the DLP version, where the scene is the same of the DVD/HDTV; EP III does need just a wipe replacement from BD.
TB, G’Kar and Flunk will be used to replace the parts in EP IV; TB and G’Kar for EP V and VI - the problem is, they have a 2.25:1 aspect ratio, so, taller vertical image: I must decide if release a variable ratio version, stretch them horizontally, or add black borders to the sides… ideas?
SD parts will be upscaled using a mix of conventional and Super Resolution techniques; audio will be DTS Theatrical for all, LD DD for EP I, IV, V, VI, plus others to be decided.
This will not be a meticolous reconstruction, just a “simple” cut&paste from different sources; I’m aware there are other projects around similar to these but, as I was away for a long time, I wonder if this could be an interesting project, or simply a waste of time…
I still don’t see the point but I programmed in ANH and ESB. It says it’s Japanese-dubbed.
Well, if it’s not the 2011 version, could be useful for restorations; if indeed it is, it may have less DNR of Blu-ray (difficult, I must admit, but not totally impossible)…
Want to know the optimal encoding bitrate to achieve good quality?
Want to know if the quality of the source you would use in your project is right?
Wait no more - take a look at the Kush Gauge Calculator: http://blog.sporv.com/kush-gauge-calculator/
Which are the correct colors? Who knows! I prefer the laserdisc grading; to me, the colors are “right”, but it doesn’t mean they are the correct colors (read: as seen in theaters at the release date).
Well, you could always take a look at this website: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_73/the_thing_blu-ray.htm
Great, Molly, thanks!
Will it be a bit-perfect recording?
Lately I discovered new editions of Independence Day and The Thing (1982); again, they changed color grading…
While ID4 old edition colors were quite right, the new edition seems to “tealize” everything; plus, according to caps-a-holics screenshots, it seems video quality isn’t improved - I note more grain in the old edition…
At the contrary, The Thing has better quality, more grain, bigger frame, but colors maybe are worst than the previous edition… seems it’s time to do a “The Thing [spoRv]” v2.0!
Opinions? Other recent editions with different color grading - hoping that some new ones actually seems correct?
Now that a Scream Factory new release is available - that has a better image, more grain, bigger frame, but still “wrong” color grading - maybe it’s time to use it as source for a new version…
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode1.html
(november 20 00:00, 21 07:00)
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode2.html
(november 20 02:30, 22 07:00)
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode3.html
(november 20 05:15, 23 07:00)
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode4.html
(november 13 00:00, 14 07:00)
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode5.html
(november 13 02:15, 15 07:00)
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode6.html
(november 13 04:45, 16 07:00)
http://www.wowow.co.jp/movie/starwars/episode7.html
(november 26 08:00, 27 01:00)
Actually, I have two files:
Star_Wars__Episode_I_Die_dunkle_Bedrohung_15.02.20_20-15_pro7_165_TVOON_DE.mpg.HQ.avi.otrkey (1.35GB) I don’t know which version is this
Star_Wars_Episode_I__Die_dunkle_Bedrohung_13.06.07_00-25_orf1_120_TVOON_DE.mpg.HQ.avi.otrkey (918MB) this is theatrical version
I tried to decrypt them via the software found on the site, but I’m able to decode only recorded programs broadcasted after the date I registered there, today… if someone was registered before one of the previous file date, and would like to send me their login data via PM, I will be able to decrypt the files, and will release them into myinternalorganthatisnotmyliverbutanotherthatyouknowforsure
Thanks!
To whom it may concern: I have now in my HDD a PRO7 recording of EP1; don’t know if it’s the theatrical version, because it was recorded using an online service, and the file extention is .otrkey; sadly, don’t know how to decrypt it… any hint?
What would be the significance in capturing this broadcast?
maybe this could be the 2004 version, and, as WOWOW quality is known to be very high, it could be potentially used for restoration.
I think I’m capable of recording from WOWOW, but right now I can’t seem to connect to the machine in Japan we use for that.
Not that it matters, because I can only schedule it a week ahead - remind me and I’ll see what I can do. No promises.
Great news!!! They will be broadcasted from the end of November, so I strongly hope you will be able to record all of them!
And, thanks in advance… (^^,)
I like the latest color grading!
It seems that WOWOW will broadcast Star Wars saga again - along with EP7… could someone record them?
http://www.wowow.co.jp/pg_info/detail/015202/index.php#schedule
Edit: Mediainfo about Episodes 4, 5, 6, 7 files are on the 4th page.
I’m just curious how your script combines the two sources. I have similar problems with my 2004 Saga project. Is it an average of the two, or some sort of weighted average. Are you processing before you merge them?
Just a simple merge with very minimal processing and color matching the two sources to have comparable colors; just that helps to reduce macroblocks and noise; then, the most of processing are done after the merge.
Here you are new screenshot comparisons:
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189694
(this used just TB as source)
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189695
(note how macroblocks are removed, like on C-3PO’s head)
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189696
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189697
(the famous Mos Eisley shot seems spot on, colorwise)
The previous shots have all important color correction - the first was really pink on GKar, while a lot better on TB; the others are similar in both GKar and TB, and I used the same settings for all of them.
For the rest of the movie, I just diminished the pink tint a bit, indeed difference is more subtle, but still noticeable in a direct comparison:
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189699
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189700
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189701
(look at the sky, macroblocks are greatly reduced, and a lot less visible in motion now)
I worked with hardware samplers, and 8bit samples are really rough, and don’t retain original quality… 12bit is almost acceptable, but 16bit is the “minimum” limit IMHO… VHS Hi-fi audio has a great quality, and used at the time as archival medium, because its quality was far greater than audio tapes.
Said that, if you have space, I agree that PCM is the way to go; alternative is to use a 384kbps AC3 stereo track - that is supposed to be transparent for everyone.
Thanks guys! I retrieved the color correction I developed years ago for my 1997 laserdisc project, and it fit quite well; I remember I worked a lot on it at the time… going to give it a try, who knows?
Wanted another screenshot? Here you are!
GKar bicubic Vs GKar + TB merge, denoise, grainplate
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/189560
Just relived my old PC, and played a bit with the latest avisynth script… what it does?
I like the overall result, but still a bit undecided about contrast… it boost some small details, but lose others; going to release a small clip to watch it in action.
Someone still interested in this project, anyway?
So you should buy a better player; a great NTSC (not MUSE) player could be found for about 500$, less if you are lucky.
MUSE laserdisc quality is not on par with BD; could (should) be better than an anamorphic DVD, but with some analog “flaws”… I’d love to have it preserved, but result could be not comparable with BD (and DCP, or course)… hence, I think it’s better to leave this idea behind, unless someone could provide me a MUSE decoder, the MUSE laserdisc, and an appropriate capture card - I’ll put the MUSE laserdisc player! (^^,)
Great project! I wonder if it’s finished now…
Links from last post don’t work… while the previous HDTV/BD do; please can you make some HDTV/BD comparison using http://screenshotcomparison.com ? Thanks a lot!
There are DCP versions of both trailers on the wild, but, despite their quality is very high, they are not standard - 2048x858 10bit 4:4:4, and difficult to play smoothly on a lot of old PCs - mine included… plus, they are spoken and written in Russian…
There are also very good 1080p versions around, but the quality of DCP is a bit higher, plus the color grading is different, and aspect ratios are not the same…
Trailer #1:
I took the best 1080p version around - rescaled to be the same as DCP - to replace the writings in Russian; DCP video is downscaled to 1080p but, as it was quite dark, and quality is almost near the 1080p, I decided to use the 1080p luma and the DCP chroma; I used the audio track as is, because it’s an English good multichannel one; comparison: http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/129163
m2ts 1080p (effective image 1920x816) 8bit 4:2:0 BD compliant 30mbps; DTS-HD MA track, 6ch 24bit; filesize 368.5MB
Trailer #2:
For video, I used the downscaled DCP, because the fades are different between it and the 1080p; as
there are no multichannel versions in English AFAIK, I’ve converted the PCM 2.0 English track in 5.1, to extract the few portions of English dialog to replace the Russian parts.
m2ts 1080p (effective image 1920x816) 8bit 4:2:0 BD compliant 30mbps; DTS-HD MA track, 6ch 16bit; filesize 461.8MB
Kudos to DoomBot for helping me with 1080p sources and DTS-HD MA conversion of #2
If someone is interested in obtaining those trailers, sign up on fanres (http://forum.fanres.com) and drop me a pm there (spoRv)