spoRv

101_303 said:

I have to assume this is on myspleen. Since apparently there's no way to get access there for us mere mortals (hint: help a brother out!) I could only locate and download "The.Matrix.Restored.Theatrical.Colors.Edition.1999.720p.BDRip.MULTIAUDIO.x264.DTS.AC3.Shadoe" which is a re-encode.

You know what? I'm happy my work is spread over the net; at the same time, it's sad that someone (me) worked to a project like this for months, and someone else "stole" its work without tell him something, or at least leave the project's original name inside the new re-encoded file... Yes, this is a free project open to all, but a simple "thematrixwhateverdescription[spoR].reencoded.by.Shadoe" will be better... as he's claiming he's my friend... who's "Shadoe"?!? If you are a forum member, please just p.m. me, so we could talk about it - don't worry, I just want some credits, not only for me, but also for the other members that helped me here, and in the other projects, as I suspect they maybe are aroud, too...

My observation is almost every time there's a "flash" (lighting, gunfire etc) that there are artifacts.

You are right; I wrote about it several times in this thread, and when this "flashes" are only 1 frame long, usually nobody will note it, and I left them there, as they are not so noticeable... but, of course, it will be better to have no artifacts at all... this is why I'd like to make a 2.0 version.

 PROJECT UPDATE

ALL soundtracks found; all subtitles found EXCEPT german... so, for completion's sake, I'd like to find the last missing subtitle file - .srt will be better... I should only fix a bit the other subtitles - hope to finish this evening; after the german subtitles will be into my HDD, I will release it in few days - the tim my old PC will take to process the video...

Just a reminder: I will release a version 2.0, but apart improve video quality, I'd like to drop all commentaries but the main one, and replace them with the german soundtrack. So, if someone is willing to share the german AC3 soundtrack - better if from BD - it will be really appreciated!

Well, after so many tests, and the opinions of all, I reached the conclusion that HaloClean2 + MagicUp is the best compromise (IMHO, of course) *in this very moment*... maybe in a month, maybe in a year, I will find a better solution - even if I'm pretty sure it will be hard, as I think it's quite impossible to do better than this, with laserdisc as video source.

The lossless video is ready; I just have to work with the soundtracks... this evening I'm really tired, so for the first time in some months, I will not touch avisynth and/or virtualdub... "Sacrilege!!!" someone will yell (-^,) I know, I know... but I'm human, after all (am I? or feline?!? dunno...) - I'll be back to work ASAP.

"de gustibus non disputandum est"...

Chewtobacca said:

Oh, I thought you were using the BD earlier in the thread.  I'll see if I can find the commentary for you and upload it.

Sorry, I intended english commentary subtitle... fixed post now!

Because I have not it... (^^,) I got only a low-res version to sync the LD video to it, and for soundtracks sync works.

No news is good news... so, I decided to go with HaloClean2 + MagicUp.

Now, I need only spanish and german subtitles (both for soundtracks and commentary), plus english commentary subtitle - not mandatory, but I really like to add them to the project; .sup will be preferred, but .srt will suffice.

First video processing to lossless version shall be finished tomorrow; I will post updates ASAP.

PMs deleted.

Yes, I know it's funny, but with I have a huge laserdisc collection, but a small (in comparison) DVD and BD one... so, I'm afraid I have no Halloween DVD or BD (yet), but maybe tomorrow I'll be able to grab a DVD... maybe... keep fingers crossed!

Hey, I AM multitasking... an old model, I must admit, but still capable to follow three or more projects at the same time... well, sort of... (^^,)

Sure, a new HDD (or two) and the *resurrection* of my other two PCs will help me to start, make, and finish more projects than ever... hope to upgrade ASAP, then you will see... I posted into my projects thread only the ones I could follow in the very near future... "I've... seen things you people wouldn't believe..." (-^,)

 PROJECT UPDATE

German soundtrack will be soon available; italian *probably* will be available tomorrow.... spanish is the only missing one...

Chewtobacca said:

Andrea, I'm uploading German DTS-HD MA 5.1 and DTS 2.0 tracks that I've synced to the 35th Anniversary BD.  I'll PM you with links when they're done. 

Wait! Another user wrote me that the quality of this DTS-HD MA 5.1 is not excellent, and only the DTS 2.0 is worth to download. So I need only DTS 2.0. Or... as Stamper sent me the center channel of a french 5.1 soundtrack, and it sound suspiciously similar to the laserdisc PCM mono, maybe the german 5.1 center channel will sound the same... further investigations are needed...

Thanks go to The Aluminum Falcon for letting me know that you needed German audio.

Well done, TAF!

Chewtobacca, I'm warning you... you must be careful in the future... you should subscribe to all my project threads... (^^,) (^^,) (^^,) well, at least to the ones you like!

AntcuFaalb said:

zeropc said:

laserdisc featuring the original mono mix is this u.s. ld.

Wait... isn't that the time-compressed one?

#1007 (vs. #1007-LV) is not time-compressed, but uses the same cover.

JEDIT: http://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/48525/1007/Exorcist-The-(1973)

I have to check out what version is present into my collection... but first I have to find it! IIRC it's the not time-compressed - I strongly hope so...

Jetrell Fo said:

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

I was following this thread in silence, but someone talked about me, so I was forced to post... (^^,)

Okay, now this is too funny right?  Speak his name and he shall come ..... LMMFAO!!!

Thanks for the giggle Andrea

:)

No problems, I'm always around for things like this... (-^,)

I'd like to obtain them BEFORE release; with all the soundtrack needed, I could calculate the best bitrate for the video... just three languages, c'mon guys, search'em out & find'em all!

Stamper said:

It looks like there's more image at the bottom in some shots on the Blu-ray. Will you adjust that too?

Is not possible to use it, as the small "slice" on the bottom of the HDTV is missing... like the following example:

see the missing piece in the bottom right? Unless there is some method to "invent" the missing piece using surrounding images...

How about using the Blu-ray as the main source and just adjusting the colors, instead of using the HDTV?

ColourMatch is good, but not perfect; so, it's better to use the untouched HDTV for 97% and the ColourMatch'ed BD for the 3% slice than using the ColourMatch'ed BD for the 97% of the whole image and HDTV for the 3% slice... got the point?

I was following this thread in silence, but someone talked about me, so I was forced to post... (^^,)

I have The Exorcist on laserdisc (only pan & scan) - could be useful for its soundtrack, and the PAL DVD director's cut - don't know if its color grading is the same of the BD or not.

Well, if I have understood well, the video of BD is good except color grading, and the final scene; the audio could be taken from the P&S DVD, plus a laserdisc soundtrack is not a bad idea; the colors from 1997 LB DVD; the final scene from Terror in the Aisles... I think we have a restoration project, guys!

Thank you all very much!

I tested further; second test clip needed different settings for different shots; just four settings works for the whole test, but I'm quite sure I have to find several other settings that will work for the whole movie... nevertheless, first results are promising:

(OK, here sky is violet instead of blue... but for the final release it will also be possible to invert color grading, mantaining the wider picture.)

My problem: I have only one PCI-E slot, and is occupied by the video card; I have other free PCI slots, but there are many good capture cards that are only PCI-E... Maybe I found a solution:

don't take in account the upper card; the important one is the lower... this was tested into a PC, same model of mine, and worked flawlessy.

Now, my question: is the ATI 750 the same height of the upper model? Looking at many pictures online, it seems so, but I'd like to receive an answer from an actual owner.

Also, if other capture cards will fit, I could consider on of them too.

Here I am!

I tested all the methods found into the link Doctor M pointed me to (and several others); the next ones are from the same frame, processed with different scripts;

AnaloClean + MagicUp (best details, noticeable ghosting, much dot crawl)

HaloClean2 + MagicUp (good details, almost no ghosting, residual dot crawl)

HaloClean3 + MagicUp (poor details, almost no ghosting, no dot crawl)

I prefer HaloClean2; details are almost intact, and dot crawl often not shows up, and is barely noticeable only in few frames; it's the best compromise IMHO; AnaloClean has too much ghosting, while HaloClean3 loose too much details for my tastes.

Opinions are welcome.

...me too! (^^,)

zee944 said:

If those six copies are actually from three different transfers, you're in luck already. There may be just two different transfers. To use that median/average magic properly you'd have to use image registration technique first, which also takes a lot of dedication. The result could be easily better than the NTSC DVD yes, but it doesn't contradict with what I have said: it'd still be DVD quality.

More tests are needed anyway...

Noone can tell how the BD would turn out. But having a flawed, high resolution BD version to work with is a much better situation than having only SD materials.

...if it will be flawed, it must be seen which flaws are present, and if they could be fixed... for example, if the CGI effects will be "improved", those scenes cannot be fixed and should be taken from another source...

kk650 kindly provided me a clip of the DVD, EE BD and HDTV to test.

BD ColourMatch'ed to DVD is really good; no need to do it with the HDTV, as it's quality is really high, that I'm thinking about using it directly, or apply its chroma over the BD luma...

Now I'm really tired, going to sleep; tomorrow I'll continue to test further, and post some result here.

As promised, here you are some more Matrix laserdisc screenshots:

http://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=373&start=1620

OK, they are only pictures of the screen, but they give you an idea... for example, the agent Smith interview with Neo is white-greyish! Mmmhhh, something to think about...

zee944 said:

...there can be a lot of problems. Color matching. The framing could be slightly different each scene and it'd take a rather complicated method to match them. Also 2014 will be the 25 year anniversary, and that means a little higher chance for it to be released officially on BR. Does it worth to risk all this work to end up with a still DVD quality result?

About framing: sometimes I'm impatient, and for this I asked for help; if someone is willing to do it for me, the rest will be a "piece of cake"... Color matching, I think there will be no problems - and I repeat *I think* (but I'm not sure)...

The only risk is to have spent some (a lot of?) time to do something I (we) love to do... *maybe* the final result will be only DVD quality, but are you (we) sure about it? DVD of "The Abyss" is not anamorphic - as laserdisc; DVD has the same vertical luma resolution of the LD, but a better (in theory) horizontal resolution; DVD horizontal chroma resolution is at least twice than the LD, while the LD vertical one is twice than the DVD; plus, add SIX copies of the same movie (2x each version, TC, DC AC3, DC box set) with some median/average magic, and a little enhancement, *maybe* the final result will be better than the not-over-the-top NTSC DVD... the anamorphic DVD is another thing, that could be interesting to watch and see if it could be improved a bit or not - bigrob, could you tell us something more about that?

And, after all, I like challenges... the more difficult, the better - if I could achieve a good result at the end... (^^,)

Last thing: the eventual BD release will be "right"? The color grading will be the same found onto the LD - or a "better" orange and teal will take its place? The soundtrack will be the original one - or a "better" new remix will take its place? The "ancient CGI" effects will be left intact - or a "better" improved/replaced will take their place? For "The Abyss", rumours of the BD release are around from 2010, so...

For example, I decided to NOT do the Robocop restoration project based onto the Criterion CAV and CLV laserdiscs, because the BD release was announced for January 2014. I must wait only two months, and as I am good guy... I will give it the "benefit of the doubt" until its release... then, maybe my decision will be definitive, or maybe I should reconsider to do it.

zee944 said:

I'm not trying to be negative, I'm trying to be ethical here. Sure as hell I'd get, watch, and enjoy the improved version. But the effort it takes better "spent" on another movie that I don't even like..., but has better quality sources to work from.

As for now, I learnt a big lesson: first test, test, and, did I mention it? TEST! I will test the technique to use for a project with small clips (one/two minutes); then, after some feedback, if the technique needs improvement, I'll make my best to improve it. And again. And again. This is because it's quite easy to do it with a one minute test clip, show it, and improve it, and (eventually) repeat it. It' thougher to do it with an entire movie!

And, I will ever do a restoration project based only on a movie that I like!

Stamper said:

For certain the original 1.95:1 LD with the original sound mix will NOT be coming on Blu.

Just restore it.

The same thing bigrobe wrote into my thread... at least there is THIS version that deserve a preservation!

Disclaimer: at the present moment, I have still NOT decided if I will do an Abyss preservation project... I'm still looking for feedbacks about it; I'm glad there is some interest in it!

Well, before start the project, I'd like to make same tests to see it this solution is feasible; then, you could watch both captured versions (1.95:1 and 2.35:1) to set the margins - they should be made pixel perfect, so it's a HARD and BORING work... (^^,)

Here you are an example; green is the theatrical 2.2:1 (70mm), red is 2.35:1, blue is 1.95:1:

It is still possible to do two versions, one theatrical 1.95:1, the other extended, 2.35:1 (with or without the help of the 1.95:1 version to improve final resolution). Plus, there is a third possibility, "a la Batman"... use the 1.95:1 version "as is" for the theatrical scenes, and 2.35:1 for the extended scenes.

If you feel corageous enough to try to accomplish this task, you are welcome!

bigrob said:

ah! you saw my suggestion :)

Would love to see the alternate 1.96:1 ratio and original Stereo soundtrack get preserved :)

Yes I did... (^^,) but thought to post a possible solution here, to find a broader public.

drngr said:

I have a feeling reframing varying randomly in some scenes will make it impractical.

If it is like this, I will need definitely a "partner in crime" with a lot of patience and time, who will check the framing of both... bigrob? (-^,)