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the ugnaught

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Join date
4-Nov-2005
Last activity
17-Jan-2022
Posts
156

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Post
#561372
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

Video Collector said:

retartedted said:

If you guys could take a look at them and offer any advice or criticism that would be good.  To get out before I upload the entire series.  Also any odd audio crackles or VHS defects I likely won't be going back and editing out.  I barely have enough time as it is :P

 

Ted, these links aren't working for me. All I get is pop-up ads. Would you please consider uploading to Rapidshare, a site I'm more comfortable with?

Please?

Sorry, I would have used a more popular site but the file size was too big.  I think Rapidshare has a 300Mb limit.  I would have to zip/rar/7z the file first.

I can just split it into 2 parts and upload them separately.

Post
#561224
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

Here is the output from MediaInfo to save you the trouble...

 

 

General

Unique ID                        : 87692329119291521909277764923099031789 (0x41F8EDA2146944588DD7AB476115A8ED)

Complete name                    : D:\Droids Project\FINAL\Droids.ep.1.The.White.Witch.mkv

Format                           : Matroska

Format version                   : Version 2

File size                        : 375 MiB

Duration                         : 23mn 39s

Overall bit rate                 : 2 217 Kbps

Writing application              : HandBrake 0.9.5

Writing library                  : libmkv 0.6.4.1


Video

ID                               : 1

Format                           : AVC

Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec

Format profile                   : High@L3.0

Format settings, CABAC           : Yes

Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames

Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC

Duration                         : 23mn 39s

Bit rate                         : 2 020 Kbps

Width                            : 720 pixels

Height                           : 480 pixels

Display aspect ratio             : 4:3

Frame rate mode                  : Variable

Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps

Standard                         : NTSC

Color space                      : YUV

Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0

Bit depth                        : 8 bits

Scan type                        : Progressive

Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.244

Stream size                      : 335 MiB (89%)

Writing library                  : x264 core 112

Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2020 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=3 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Language                         : English

Default                          : Yes

Forced                           : No

Color primaries                  : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M

Transfer characteristics         : BT.709-5, BT.1361

Matrix coefficients              : BT.601-6 525, BT.1358 525, BT.1700 NTSC, SMPTE 170M


Audio

ID                               : 2

Format                           : AC-3

Format/Info                      : Audio Coding 3

Mode extension                   : CM (complete main)

Codec ID                         : A_AC3

Duration                         : 23mn 39s

Bit rate mode                    : Constant

Bit rate                         : 192 Kbps

Channel(s)                       : 2 channels

Channel positions                : Front: L R

Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz

Bit depth                        : 16 bits

Compression mode                 : Lossy

Stream size                      : 32.5 MiB (9%)

Default                          : Yes

Forced                           : No

 

Post
#561222
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

I think the plan moving forward is to just release a high quality MKV set of Droids now as a version 1.0.  If/when I get the Mexican tapes and can make a nice transfer of Coby and Heep then I will release a 4 DVD set.  It may take a year or two, but that is why I am going to release an MKV set now.  

Here is the first episode to show you guys what the quality will be like for episodes 1-8 and 10-13.  I have made a few MPEG2 files and compared them to the MKV's and I honestly can't see a difference with the naked eye.  After all, these are VHS rips.

If you guys could take a look at them and offer any advice or criticism that would be good.  To get out before I upload the entire series.  Also any odd audio crackles or VHS defects I likely won't be going back and editing out.  I barely have enough time as it is :P

 

Link 

http://www.2shared.com/video/7CDUcwtG/Droidsep1TheWhiteWitchBETA.html

Mirror

http://jumbofiles.com/2y0t7flhqh4f

 

Post
#559979
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

darth_ender said:

So I came here to tell you what I found on myspleen, but then I read the comments and see you already noticed.  Glad to know you're getting closer.  Can't wait for a good copy of The Great Heap to surface.

How's the baby?  Hope he/she is coming along well :)

I tracked that guy down somewhere and told him about MySpleen.  We were sort of working on a trade but I think he fell in love with the site and decided to upload the DVD.  More fun for everyone!

I plan on using that Coby episode (with some Avisynth and VirtualDub filters) for my set.

I just built a brand new workstation after the holidays and it is just ripping through VirtualDub and Vegas encodes so I shouldn't be much longer.  I am having to knock the dust off of my brain after putting this project on hold for so long.

I do plan on recapturing all of my English audio to dub over the Japanese episodes, but that shouldn't take very long.

It is looking like the fastest method to finish the set and get it uploaded is to make an MP4 set.  It was either that or MKV but everyone always seems to complain about MKV's (I love them).  But the difference in quality is negligible. 

And the baby is doing well, since we have checked out of the hospital we haven't had any issues. Thanks for asking.  :)

Post
#552186
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

Sorry I haven't been very active on this as of late.  I recently just had a very premature baby and the little tyke has been pretty much the main focus of my time :)

Concerning the Coby sources, I actually have the DVD-R of the full episode as well as the full DVD-R of the SciFi episode already in hand.  As well as the OTRV DVD that has great audio.  The full episode is actually a recording of the original ABC airing with commercials and is "OK".

Concerning the spanish version, the user "swccmty" that has been posting in this thread is actually the owner of that site and has already provided me with an xvid copy of the episode that is one of the better ones I have seen.  But there was some odd framerate problems and blending in his capture.  So I was waiting to hear back from swccmty concerning another go at capturing his VHS tape but I haven't heard from him in about 2+ months. 

I really wish I could get my hands on the Mexican VHS tape with Coby.  That combined with the Great Heap Mexican tape and we would be 100% done.  All IVTC'ed perfect episodes.

But as it stands now I may just have to move forward with a version 1.0

Hopefully my schedule will open up here soon after the new year to complete it.  And I WILL complete this set eventually.  If it is the last thing I do! :)

Post
#534261
Topic
Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!)
Time

I honestly thought that I would hold my nose and buy the sets in the end...but I just canceled my order on Amazon.

Strike up another one for 'life long fan that just can't take it anymore'.  

Hell, I even had a Star Wars themed wedding in Vegas.  I have probably spent 10k+ on official merchandise since the 80's.  Easily.

But I am done.  Not another penny until Lucasfilm releases the OT in theatrical form and actually pretends like they give a shit with the presentation.

I know that this is a crappy thing to say and even think...but maybe we will just have to wait until Lucas dies.  

How did it come to this?

Post
#532273
Topic
Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!)
Time

Asaki said:

adywan said:

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/8454/vlcsnap2011090610h38m46.th.png

Seeing this shot in HD really makes one appreciate just how truley awful the special effects in the Prequels really are =)

 

There is practically no depth to that shot.  

The Fambaa (or whatever the hell it is) looks like the closest object in the entire shot.

Post
#532056
Topic
Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!)
Time

Laserschwert said:

Some of the first leaked screens from TPM looked horrible (extreme denoising causing a wax look), although some other ones looked really good.

HERE'S one of the worst ones (and HERE'S the HDTV-version as a comparison).

Holy amateur hour Batman.  

That is horrible.  There are off-the-shelf solutions that can do better noise reduction that that.

Post
#531542
Topic
Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!)
Time

none said:

Budwhite wrote:

Harmy wrote: See, the guy is using the Premiere broadcast captures, while the German HDTV captures were supposedly higher quality, I'd really like to see some comparisons of the BD with those.

The colors of this person's Premiere cap look similar to the Cinemax'06 captures.  Premiere is the same as Sky?  So these would be the 2007 capture?

Anyway here are those two shots from the German'07 (19.1gb)

Star.Wars.IV.A.New.Hope.1080p.h264.dd51.de.en.dc.ts

Ben: http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2498/starwarsivanewhope1080p.jpg

Rebel: http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/2498/starwarsivanewhope1080p.jpg

(Note: people have had issues with some of my past screen caps.  VLC --> SnapzProX)

Thanks for the screencaps none.

The BD still looks like the winner to me.  

I am really not much of a Lucas homer, and the first to admit that most anything done with Star Wars post-80's is crap.  But the BD screens just look a smidgen better.  

What we should also probably be looking at is comparison shots of heavy action scenes, where the compression of an HDTV broadcast would really work against it.

Post
#531349
Topic
Star Wars coming to Blu Ray (UPDATE: August 30 2011, No! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!)
Time

Harmy said:

Yeah, I'm now definitely decided to stick with the broadcasts as sources. The difference is so small, that it would be practically imperceptible in motion and I do not want to buy those Blu-Rays.

And what source did you use for the broadcast pics? It may be that there is an HDTV source that would look even better.

Maybe I am looking at something wrong, but the Blu Ray looks just a notch better to me.  The blacks are just slightly more crushed in the HDTV screenshots posted by budwhite.

Also, I just noticed that Luke's scream after jumping in Cloud City has been removed. Not sure if this is the first release with it removed or if the HDTV broadcasts or 2004 DVD set did the same.

Post
#523018
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

Well this project is sort of stalling while I wait for the best possible sources of the two remaining Droids episodes (Coby and Heep).  Swccmty is having some problems with his PC which he will need to sort out before he is able to capture Coby again.  Concerning The Great Heep, I actually have a nice S-VHS PAL player en route that I can use to make the Great Heep transfer with.

So, would anyone be interested in just the SciFi channel set for the time being?  I already have all of the parts for that and it is just a matter of cleaning them up.  The drawbacks would be that each episode is edited down by 3-4 minutes and the quality of the recordings are about a 7/10 compared to my complete set made from commercial sources which will be closer to 10/10.

I could probably get that wrapped up in about a week (to do it right). And then maybe just throw an mp4/mkv set up on MySpleen.  Sounds interesting?

Or would you guys rather just wait for the complete set it pristine quality?  I don't want to flood the landscape with Droids episodes.

Post
#520505
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

Sorry to hear about The Great Heep.  That really sucks.

That copy looked very nice Swccmty.  Again it was 30fps progressive and of a lower quality encode.  This one being Xvid.

But you had said that this was from a year ago, so I am very much looking forward to a second capture of Coby if you are still up for it.

There is still a lot of frame blending from using 30fps/progressive as you can see in this frame.

It is somewhat hard to remove those bad frames once they have become progressive.  Much easier when they are still interlaced. 

On a side note, swccmty do you know where someone would buy these mexican VHS tapes?  I would like to try capturing some myself if possible.  I might try and get a copy of The Great Heep if possible.

Post
#520290
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

I think that your tape looks very good!  And I definitely think that they can be used for the DVD set if we change up the capturing methods.  I know that you had said that you would try a new capture, so I just wanted to give you a few hints before you try :)

Right now the encoding is:

  • 640x480
  • 30fps
  • progressive (frame blended)
  • WMV

 

What would be best for the DVD set would be:

  • 720x480
  • 29.97fps
  • interlaced
  • AVI.  But if you want to upload to the internet you can convert to MP4/MKV to preserve more of the quality.

 

Again, I think that your tapes look great and you have a nice vcr and capture card.  It is just the WMV encoding that makes it difficult to use in a DVD set.  The video looks good small and on a computer screen but then when you blow it up to a large TV it will look pixelated. 

Here are some examples...

You overall picture looks pretty good from the VHS, VCR and capture card.

But when there is a lot of activity on screen it can tend to get blocky.  And this is a direct result of the encoding (WMV) being used.  These artifacts will not be present when using a higher quality encode such as AVI (and to a certain extent a high quality MP4 encode).

And example of the "blended frames" is when you see two frames at the same time.  This can be the result of not using the proper frame rate as well as the progressive encoding used.

I am having trouble telling if those are the exact same blended frames as the PAL set or not.  

Here is an example from my captures, this is from episode 2 where there is a dark background with a very bright and active laser moving around on the screen.  I am definitely trying to keep the blocky noise down.

But at the end of the day this is VHS we are talking about.  There are going to be bad frames and noise all over the place.  So it will never really look perfect. :P

Either way, the Coby episode would still be an upgrade from anything else that we currently have.  And I am sure that we are all very interested in seeing that :)

Thanks again Swccmty, for sharing this with us.  I know we are all very excited to see this DVD set!!! 

Also, if you do a raw AVI capture I would be more than happy to send you some sort of flash drive to mail back to me in the USA as well as giving you money for shipping.  The file sizes can sometimes get to be too much for most upload sites. :)

Post
#519550
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

There are NTSC copies of most of the Ewoks episodes from Mexico.  Shouldn't have the blending problems that we see on the PAL tapes, but I have yet to get my hands on any of them.

http://swccmty.page.tl/Los-Ewoks.htm

He also has the Droids tapes. http://swccmty.page.tl/Los-Androides.htm

I would love to see those tapes, but it looks like the Mexico tapes are the hardest to come by from ANY country.  I have had better luck tracking down Japanese tapes and those sucked as they don't even use our alphabet! :P

I sent the guy that runs the site an email and have started to talk to him.  He seems like a pretty nice guy so we will see what happens.

VideoCollector, I think that I am good with the bumpers.  I was more looking for the Ewoks/Droids Adventure Hour intro.  But I haven't been able to find a complete one of those.  Oh well :(

If you do get the chance would you maybe just throw them up on sendspace.com (or something similar?) they should be small enough to where it is easy.  And would save on postage.

Post
#519381
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

pittrek said:

Retardeded - I love your sample. To be honest, I like it so much, that I would recommend a new strategy. What would you say, if I would leave Droids completely to you (I can provide you with a PAL -> NTSC conversion of Fritz's Great Heap capture) and I will concentrate on Ewoks, what would you say ?

That works for me as it was more or less what I was already planning on :)

It would be a wise use of resources too as then you could focus on Ewoks while I worry about Droids.  Both being large undertakings.  And this would get the complete sets released faster.

If you could get me a copy of your 'The Great Heep' that would be awesome! You could convert it or just leave it as PAL and get it to me and I can worry about the blended frames later. I would probably rather get it untouched just in case we find a better way to do it down the road.  And it is easy to just send each other Avisynth scripts and whatnot.

Post
#518925
Topic
Info: Droids and Ewoks, anybody ?
Time

pittrek said:

RetardedEd - is this your raw capture or have you done some noise reduction already ? Also I haven't noticed any blended frames, good good good good good :-)

This is what has been done to that sample...

IVTC

Crop/Resize

Slight levels adjustment to increase brightness only

Light de-noising.

 

So it is more or less what my final product will look like.