spoRv

I have both the NTSC US box set(s), and several PAL trilogies, and, as I like to continue my SET (Special Edition Trilogy) project, I should decide if I must use the PAL laserdiscs - that, theoretically, have more vertical resolution - or the NTSC ones - that probably were mastered better.

I noted also that the NTSC image is less cropped at the sides and at the bottom, and, despite the fact that its resolution is 20% less than PAL, it shows more details… on the other hand, more different PAL edition could be used to average/median the captures, removing a lot of analog noise inherent of the laserdisc format itself. The soundtracks used will be of course taken from all the versions available.

Last thought: using the Pioneer HLD-X9 for NTSC capture, final result should be better than using any other PAL laserdisc player for capture, hence I think I will use the NTSC discs for the video part… or not?

Sorry, I didn't wanted to disturb anybody's mind... (^^,)

Now I'm going to edit my post!

The one I posted the comparison screenshot into the other Matrix thread?

Robocop: here you are my last attemp of cleaning and upscaling the Criterion laserdisc (67MB)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ybcp9p

***   ***   ***

Total Recall: test clip with BD, LD, ColourLikeFBF and ColourMatch (43MB) - ATTENTION: CONTAINS NUDITY - DOWNLOAD AT YOUR RISK! (^^,)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/qdecpb

and, without being too "salty", I admit I don't like very much the Mind Bending color grading - even if, after The Matrix BD, this is *almost* good...

poita said:

Are the scenes with the agent entering the helicopter pilot green on the DVD/BD?

Here you are; top BD, bottom DVD:

I vote for the grain plate!

But, what about a 1080p version? Too bad quality Vs 720p?

I need the help of all the ones that downloaded and actually watched "The Matrix [spoRv]"... I must find the residual shots with artifacts, and, as it seems I missed some of them because I use my TV as monitor, maybe I could not be able to spot them all.

So, please, write down the shots where there are some artifacts (start/end frame will be great, but min:sec will be OK too); then, I could start to replace them; meanwhile, I'm studying a better method for replace them - instead of upscaled DVD, even if many can't tell for sure where they are... I must reveal a secret: there are A LOT of upscaled DVD shots, a lot...

Version 2.0 is near... (^^,)

Now I'm working to improve my own ColourMatch script, instead using the HDTV for replacing the shots with artifacts; so, AntcuFaalb, the duty of restoring the HDTV version is all yours! (^^,)

...ehr, this is supposed to be my post (_,,,^..^,,,_) - infact, I POSTED it... but the system decided to call me "jimmi325" instead... admins, could you fix it? Thanks!

I've finished the ColourMatch lossless video, and it looks GREAT! Perfect? Well, no, but really close to the THX DVD... very very much close...

Now, when all the soundtracks will be available, I'll capture the laserdisc mono soundtrack, plus the commentary and isolated score, then I'll finish the project.

Meanwhile, if someone who's able to build up a BD menu wants to step in...

Yes, I know that is a re-encode of a re-encode... (^^,) but it was what I have to make a "quick and dirt" comparison...

Apart that, what do you think about the last test clip? Is it the right script to use? Your point of view is important, as you are a Disney expert.

There's something going on in the frame 124331... and I confirm that the final three frames of the spoon boy shot are missing, and replacing them with copies of the last frame doesn't show up, as the previous frames are almost identical.

Now I'm working to improve my own ColourMatch script, instead using the HDTV for replacing the shots with artifacts; so, AntcuFaalb, the duty of restoring the HDTV version is all yours! (^^,)

By the way, it will be easy to use all the [spoRv] soundtracks, plus the improved versions of the subtitles done by CatBus; just put the HDTV in sync with the [spoRv] - or the BD, as they have the same frame reference - and that's it.

JawsTDS said:

I'd really like to see someone preserve the SE Laserdiscs as I've always wanted to see the Jabba scene with the different animation.

If anyone has done this, let me know.

I've done it - only A New Hope for the moment... but I'm thinking about to re-do it, along with the other two episodes.

UPDATES:

Here you are the latest test clips

generic deghost script 1 + AnaloClean + MagicUp:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/aknlsi

generic deghost script 2 + AnaloClean + MagicUp:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/8z2nzw

LaserClean (=AnaloClean + new deghost) + MagicUp:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/qty1g6

I think the latest is the best, as it has the most details intact with the less possible ghost effects.

Here you are a comparison with Molly’s preservation (I know it’s not that fair, as her version is taken from a compressed MKV, while mine is from uncompressed capture, but it’s just to have an idea) - click for larger png versions

Molly’s MKV + MagicUp:

X9 LaserClean + MagicUp (color/brightness/contrast tweaked a bit):

Please download them all, take some minutes to compare, and post your own opinion, as I’d like to start the project ASAP.

Thanks to everybody!

Doctor M said:

My thoughts on the sample clips.

Well accepted as usual.

Best is the Analoclean with magicup.  The Magiclean turns the noise into a frozen noise pattern that looks like your watching it through a screen door.

Agree.

You may want to find out what upscaler Dark_Jedi using on his SW project since he is getting great results.

I don't think he will share his secret...

I certainly wouldn't use bicubic when a superscaler is needed.  Spline36 in a pinch.  I've never heard of magicup, I'm assuming that it is a superscaler.

magicup is my own upscaling script.

The other thing is the ghosting.  Not as in DNR, but as in the old analog noise.  There is a double image around everything.  Is that in the master or is it something in the analog equipment/wiring?

I noted this, but I don't know what could be... I should try to capture the same disc with another player, and see if it's the player; or change the cable, and see if it's the cable.

There is also another possibility: recently I replaced the old video card with a new one. Don't know if could be the case, but I read somewhere that even that could cause some interference during video capture. If this is the case, I should replace it, but I must test each model if it afflict the capture quality or not...

Seriously though, if the analoclean+magicup was your final release I'd be pretty damn happy with it.  It's really clean but looks like there is still some grain. Finally, and I know it's only a short clip, but the black levels (and possibly the white level) need a bit of a tweak.  It doesn't quite bottom out at 16 like it probably should.

Here you are the last attemp:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/1ugrfb

grain reduced, levels adjusted, ghosting still present of course, as the capture is the same of the other test clip.

Let me know what do you think about; if only I could get rid of the ghosting problem, the final result will be spectacular, thinking about the fact that the source is a mere laserdisc.

OK, I'm waiting for the soundtrack!

Guys, thanks to all for the appreciations and the constructive critics; thanks to AntcuFaalb and YouToo for discovering the real HDTV resolution; it's to be discovered if it's the same for mine (russian without closing credits), and if the HDTV frame is fixed in comparison to the blu-ray, or "floats" up and down (or maybe left and right) as it seemed to me in one of my previous post.

Stamper said:

Which French dub do you want ? I'm not sure if the french mono is available, but I can check it out for you.

If available, the original mono soundtrack from the PAL french laserdisc; if not, any other mono soundtrack from DVD or BD will do.

Other languages are needed, too! In particular, german and spanish, as I think I could manage to find the italian one myself.

The idea of actual film grain is great!

Curiosity: how a grain plate is captured? From actual empty 35mm cell frames?

Sorry, I intended the cropped final frame, to match the BD... sometimes the top border should be cropped more than the bottom, the scene after the contrary is true... I thought to do a crop-once, to match the BD, but it is not the case...

By the way, the HDTV I'm talking about is a russian one, 1080i mpeg2 29.97fps hard telecined, divided in three .mpg files. And it seems that this one has not tiny black borders on the left, apart on few scenes (like the one in the last image in my previous post) where there is a 4-pixel border on the left.

...ooops... done!

Here you are some new screenshots; top image is HDTV, second DVD, third ColourMatch (not tuned), bottom BD luma and BD ColourMatch'ed to DVD chroma (click for large version):

The fact is, when the sources have any clipping whites, the filter works flawlessly; I'm testing it with Halloween, and, even if it's not 100% color accurate, it *seems* that there is no artifacts. Obviously, if the clipping whites are present, you'll find something like the last image...

The HDTV cropping shifts wildly from scene to scene, so it's not possible to do a crop-it-all; it should be cropped scene by scene...

Thanks CatBus, really appreciated; they will be used when (if) the V2 will be released.

@CatBus: even if I prefer subtitles out of the picture, I think many people don't; so, if you want to provide adjusted subtitles for the V2, you are welcome!

@AntcuFaalb: can you explain better your technique?

Despite the fact that I LOVE the laserdisc format, I must admit that I'd like to use it only when necessary - e.g. when there are no other HD available version... for example, I thought to use the BD for BATB instead of LD, but then I discovered that the BD is messed up... so, I reverted back to LD.

For BTTF, there are some HDTV rips that could be used; LDs could still be used as color references, plus of course for their marvelous soundtracks!

I agree! It could be really helpful to use it in a 2.0 version...

Well, I didn't realize people was still interested in project with laserdisc as the video source... and I'm happy! (^^,)

About BTTF [ruLes]: who knows, maybe if anybody else is interested... but I should receive the spanish, german and french soundtracks - even if I'm pretty sure someone is more than willing to do it, you know who I'm talking about, right?