It is currently 28 Mar 2024, 17:14




 Page 1 of 1 [ 19 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 12 Sep 2016, 00:59 
Genuinely interested
Genuinely interested
User avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2014, 23:16
Posts: 37
Location: Squirt Island, WA, USA
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 3 times
Hey all. LD is well-known for having the capability for high-quality audio, usually competitive with DVD and even Blu-Ray. I'm curious about what titles are generally regarded as being examples of high-quality audio, especially in the music department.

For example, the DTS version of Jurassic Park (1993) [43115] is frequently cited as being the paragon of what LD can do in the audio department. On a more-obscure note, the widescreen collector's edition of Pink Floyd: The Wall: Widescreen Collector's Edition (1982) [ML106344] apparently has a noteworthy AC-3 track (compared to other movie versions, that is), and the 1983 collection of music videos from Duran Duran: Duran Duran (1983) [PA-83-044] is also apparently regarded has having an audio quality that rivals or exceeds even CD sources.

What other LDs are out there with audio tracks that are regarded as worthy of note?
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 12 Sep 2016, 01:39 
Absolute fan
Absolute fan
User avatar

Joined: 01 May 2016, 06:38
Posts: 2040
Location: Australia
Has thanked: 334 times
Been thanked: 222 times
True Lies.
_________________
SONY MDP-355GX, DVDO iscan VP50, SONY KVHR-M36
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 12 Sep 2016, 16:52 
True fan
True fan
User avatar

Joined: 06 Nov 2007, 18:51
Posts: 426
Location: United States
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 1 time
I always liked to use two different discs to show people way back when what LD could do:

The opening scene to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

"On the Future of Aviation" by Jerry Goodman (from the LD music sampler "Private Music".



(This is not a terribly good copy of it.)
_________________
"I live now in a world of ghosts, a prisoner in my dreams."
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 12 Sep 2016, 22:54 
Advanced fan
Advanced fan
User avatar

Joined: 23 Jun 2013, 02:37
Posts: 722
Location: Germany
Has thanked: 116 times
Been thanked: 58 times
I really love the sound quality on the Image Entertainment / Orion release of The Bounty ( 1981 version ). It is extremely well mastered in my opinion and sounds considerably better than
the French or US Blu Ray. Since I am a huge fan of this fantastic movie with its phenomenal acting ( Hopkins is excellent in this movie, but so is Mel Gibson, too ), one of the best soundtracks
ever ( I even find it better than the Blade Runner soundtrack and that says a lot ) and great camera work.
Vangelis' music sounds excellent on this disc. I wish someone could just mix the audio from the LD with the video from the Blu Ray. That would be perfect ! I really do not like that 5.1 audio mix
from the Blu Ray releases however the video transfer is excellent and a real upgrad compared to the LD release.

I also like my Madonna's Like A Virgin ( 8 inch ) disc from Japan. It is really well mastered, too.

Usually, many LDs would sound really nice and much much better than their later rereleases on DVD with Dolby Digital 2.0 192 kbit/s sound. Forrest Gump ( German PAL disc ) has a fantastic audio
track, too. There are many good-sounding LDs out there.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 17 Sep 2018, 19:20 
Honest fan
Honest fan
User avatar

Joined: 15 Aug 2018, 02:00
Posts: 100
Location: United States
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 13 times
Giving this thread a bump on the flip side... I recently bought a pile of 20 analog only - 8" music LD's & all by looks I would grade all 6 or better, but an occasional pin hole rot on some. Since I have nothing to compare as I never had any analog 8" back in the day, what should I expect of the audio quality? Not sure why I should expect anything worse than regular 12", but I would have expected them to sound much better than what I am experiencing. My one and only 8" digital disk sounds much better. By chance are any of the old analog discs that should be on the noteworthy list? (or is this a known issue?)
Thanks!
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 17 Sep 2018, 22:32 
Jedi Knight
Jedi Knight
User avatar

Joined: 14 Jan 2010, 09:44
Posts: 5969
Location: Ann Arbor
Has thanked: 1273 times
Been thanked: 1090 times
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen an analog 8”. Are they PAL or something? IIRC 8” and digital audio hit the market at the same time. I’ve never seen a USDM player that could play 8” but not Digital Sound.
_________________
All about LD care, inner sleeves, shrink wrap, etc.

https://youtu.be/b3O-vHpHRpM
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 04:24 
Site Admin
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: 07 Aug 2002, 23:37
Posts: 4540
Location: Tokyo
Has thanked: 292 times
Been thanked: 1136 times
forper wrote:
True Lies.


DTS I suppose?

My go-to demo for newcomer to LD was usually Eagles: Hell Freezes Over - DTS (1994) [ID4065GF] - Hotel California. Since the song is so well-known, the added live 5.1 mix always caught people by surprise!

Julien
_________________
HARDWARE DATABASE
HLD-X0/9 LD-S9 OPPO 105/205 SL-1200G
LDD-1 MSC-4000 R2144 PONTUS II C45 MC257
Online
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 05:44 
Hardcore fan
Hardcore fan
User avatar

Joined: 28 Jun 2014, 05:59
Posts: 1451
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Has thanked: 415 times
Been thanked: 527 times
signofzeta wrote:
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen an analog 8”. Are they PAL or something? IIRC 8” and digital audio hit the market at the same time. I’ve never seen a USDM player that could play 8” but not Digital Sound.



It’s actually very common.

Many 8” music LD’s during the early to mid 80’s (I think) had only analog encoding. I actually own quite a few and they sound fine. Many of them did, however, get digital re-issues later on.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 08:43 
Absolute fan
Absolute fan
User avatar

Joined: 01 May 2016, 06:38
Posts: 2040
Location: Australia
Has thanked: 334 times
Been thanked: 222 times
admin wrote:
forper wrote:
True Lies.


DTS I suppose?



I don't know, I just play it in stereo on my setup.
_________________
SONY MDP-355GX, DVDO iscan VP50, SONY KVHR-M36
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 12:25 
Jedi Master
Jedi Master
User avatar

Joined: 03 May 2004, 19:05
Posts: 8093
Location: Dullaware
Has thanked: 1218 times
Been thanked: 841 times
forper wrote:
admin wrote:
forper wrote:
True Lies.


DTS I suppose?



I don't know, I just play it in stereo on my setup.

:clap: :clap: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 15:16 
Honest fan
Honest fan
User avatar

Joined: 15 Aug 2018, 02:00
Posts: 100
Location: United States
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 13 times
ldfan wrote:
signofzeta wrote:
I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen an analog 8”. Are they PAL or something? IIRC 8” and digital audio hit the market at the same time. I’ve never seen a USDM player that could play 8” but not Digital Sound.



It’s actually very common.

Many 8” music LD’s during the early to mid 80’s (I think) had only analog encoding. I actually own quite a few and they sound fine. Many of them did, however, get digital re-issues later on.


Here's an analog only from my collection. (One of the few that has both Front & Back cover picture):
Thomas Dolby (1984) [PA-84-M011]

Thanks ldfan. When you say they sound fine, how would you say they compare to the same songs on vinyl? (...because mine are not close! :cry: )
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 15:39 
Jedi Master
Jedi Master
User avatar

Joined: 03 May 2004, 19:05
Posts: 8093
Location: Dullaware
Has thanked: 1218 times
Been thanked: 841 times
It all depends on the original source like any other format of movies or music.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 18 Sep 2018, 18:09 
Hardcore fan
Hardcore fan
User avatar

Joined: 28 Jun 2014, 05:59
Posts: 1451
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Has thanked: 415 times
Been thanked: 527 times
remav wrote:

Thanks ldfan. When you say they sound fine, how would you say they compare to the same songs on vinyl? (...because mine are not close! :cry: )


I really couldn’t say since I don’t spin vinyl at all (still considering getting into it as I did re-acquire my brother’s vintage JVC unit). However, people have noted that analog audio on LD is about the equivalent of VHS/Beta HiFi which I do concur appears close (I might give the latter the edge since HiFi doesn’t require any sort of noise reduction like CX used on LD analog audio).

In any case, I have a lot of analog only LD’s and I do recall some anime titles like Cyber City Oedo and Laputa (original Japanese releases) sounding fantastic (especially with Dolby Pro-Logic engaged).

But rein-o does have a point; source material can easily play a part on why LD analog audio may or may not sound great.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 19 Sep 2018, 15:45 
Absolute fan
Absolute fan
User avatar

Joined: 18 Apr 2012, 18:02
Posts: 1614
Location: United States
Has thanked: 71 times
Been thanked: 88 times
For analog LD audio, Disclord pointed out a batch of early 80's titles with very good sound quality, including the eponymous Duran Duran video disk and Queen's Greatest Flix. They used a very good master tape.
_________________
Happycube Labs: Where the past is being re-made, today. [meep!]
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 19 Sep 2018, 21:45 
Honest fan
Honest fan
User avatar

Joined: 15 Aug 2018, 02:00
Posts: 100
Location: United States
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 13 times
While I'm mainly just happy to be able to see some of these old videos, I'm pretty sure the original quality just isn't there. (still interested rein-o? :shifty: )
Disappointing as they really are in good shape just looking at them. Thanks everyone.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 19 Sep 2018, 22:06 
Jedi Master
Jedi Master
User avatar

Joined: 03 May 2004, 19:05
Posts: 8093
Location: Dullaware
Has thanked: 1218 times
Been thanked: 841 times
remav wrote:
While I'm mainly just happy to be able to see some of these old videos, I'm pretty sure the original quality just isn't there. (still interested rein-o? :shifty: )
Disappointing as they really are in good shape just looking at them. Thanks everyone.

I guess you haven't seen them back in the day on MTV, the PQ was pretty s****y even then.

Don't forget, these were shot sometimes with at the time top of the line stuff but that would have been video tape camcorders which
were not the best even then.

Can you imagine a VHS camcorder recording a music video back in the day :crazy: Well they did it.
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 19 Sep 2018, 22:26 
Genuinely interested
Genuinely interested
User avatar

Joined: 06 Jun 2017, 21:58
Posts: 53
Location: United States
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 2 times
I've got 12 or 13 8" music discs. All the original pressings with analog audio only. Most are pretty good quality, some haven't aged as well.


I remember the THX release of Terminator having absolutely killer audio. I was shocked after the movie when I saw it was mono. Terminator 2 is great as well.
_________________
Pioneer CLD-99, CLD-97, DVL-700,CLD-D704
Mitsubishi M-V7057
Pioneer VSX-47TX, VSX-39TX
Pioneer 151FD
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 19 Sep 2018, 23:03 
Jedi Knight
Jedi Knight
User avatar

Joined: 14 Jan 2010, 09:44
Posts: 5969
Location: Ann Arbor
Has thanked: 1273 times
Been thanked: 1090 times
Now that I think about it I have a pro deck with a tray that takes 8” but not CD. That must have been the window.

And yeah, many music videos were terrible quality. Usually shot in the dark too. On a 13” b/w TV over VHF you wouldn’t notice. :)
_________________
All about LD care, inner sleeves, shrink wrap, etc.

https://youtu.be/b3O-vHpHRpM
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: LaserDisc titles with noteworthy audio/music quality
PostPosted: 23 Sep 2018, 15:10 
Advanced fan
Advanced fan
User avatar

Joined: 23 Jun 2013, 02:37
Posts: 722
Location: Germany
Has thanked: 116 times
Been thanked: 58 times
I am now really interested in those early Queen Greatest Flix and Duran Duran laserdiscs ! I have a Japanese hentai LD from 1984 with analogue audio only and the title song sounds phenomenal !

I am however unable to find said Queen Greatest Flix LD from 1983 or 1984 on lddb, only later releases. Can somebody help ?

Is it in some way possible to have a link to all the separate comments made by the late disclord to all of the lddb entries that he personally added some information to ? That would be so cool ! I have found so much interesting information on those pages !!!
Offline
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
 Page 1 of 1 [ 19 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: