Working on the Hardware database, it will become possible to update all the technical fields, in and out connectors, etc. I just need to find spare time... :-/
I resumed working on the Hardware database again (also slightly because eBay is getting so annoying/monopolistic that we need some alternatives!).
looks good. is constructing the hardware database harder to do than first creating the movie one?
Harder no... but I'm spending more time at the beginning to do it right and avoid all the code to maintain in parallel for multi-format like LD/CED/VHD/etc.
Trying to get one code to handle all hardware from the start, and let it discover the database instead of hard-coding a lot of things. This way, if a new field (connector, function, etc.) is added, it will be available right away with next to 0 code upgrade needed.
Could add a field for remote or side change mechanism (alpha, gamma, epsilon).
Would it make sense to have something to denote internals? i.e. Audio Assembly VWV1274. It is really helpful when determining "x is a re-badge of y", "x is a slightly upgraded y" type of questions.
Also not sure what the field would be called but something to denote what "family" the player belongs to? i.e. something to group CLD-D503/D570/D703/D770/D704
Remote is of course in the pipe, as well as DAC chips and notable internal parts (belts, m-holder, optical block, etc.). This we way can lookup which other player use the same DAC or has the same parts (if known).
HW_OEM will be used to point that this player is a rebadged/modified/etc. version of another player. Did not plan to handle "families" but we can add notes to that effect.
As mentioned in https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=6239&start=20&p=126568#p126568 there is a HD-M20 on eBay right now so I'll take advantage of it and post the pictures here for reference.
Just a quick heads up, a rare HD-M20 Hitachi badged version of the HM-D101 is currently on the bay if anyone has a spare $2000 currently doing nothing in their wallet :thumbup: if only!….
Or wait for the next one on YAJ? :-)
It's here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/124961629724 ($2,000, for parts or not working )
But it was likely imported in September via proxy in the hope to fix the capacitors from https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p1004982657 ($833, powers on but doesn't seem to work properly, considered as junk)
Based on a great suggestion (including graphics!) from allgaeuer , I updated the possible values for Digital and Analog soundtrack to add Mono Instrumental and Stereo Instrumenta l.
Let me show you an example.
Previously "no vocal" would default to using "musical score" which is not the perfect solution. Most of the time additional notes were needed to clarify what it meant such as:
before.png
Digital tracks contain stereo instrumental, Analog Left Channel contains mono instrumental, Analog Right Channel contains mono instrumental with demo lead vocal
We added new drop-down/combo choices to adjust to Karaoke specificity and slightly modified visuals.
after.png
For instance: LaserKaraoke: Video Sing Along - Country Special vol.06 (1993) [PKL-206]
(note: http://www.datasheetlib.com is gone, so links to it are useless now; would be good to replace them with archive.org links or others, but I'm too lazy to do that... :oops: )
All links were removed (many obsolete) and I will just archive the PDFs on the web server and provide them via links.
Example for DENON LA-3500 , it will show up as: Internal DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) = PCM61P (Burr-Brown)
I've been working relentlessly on the hardware/devices/remote/parts side of the site for the past few weeks to the point where the first version will soon be ready.
All I need will be fresh photos of players, demodulators, add-ons, etc.
Could you start taking pics when you have time as follows?
Front Back Top Under Left side Right side Remote (if any) Cables (if any) Manual (if any) Box/packing material
I hope we can eventually equal or even improve on https://www.laserdiscarchive.co.uk/ in the years to come.
3rd one is using the admin "Clone" function, that might become a user function as well -- it still have one bug on the checkboxes pre-populating that I need to fix soon: => A multi-voltage model DENON AVD-2000 I found selling in Singapore here )
4th one is a fresh submit for a LD player that was missing: SONY HDL-2000 (HDVS)
=> Could you try to update the UPC/barcode and weight (from the manual) to see if the update posts correctly? => Could you try to update the color as a test?
Good news!
Basic updates are working fine:
https://www.lddb.com/hardware/update/0001/ <= was just updating power to 5W
https://www.lddb.com/hardware/update/0002/ <= color and market updated
YCbCr gets a bit odd however since that signal is never transmitted through RCA. It's used primarily with HDMI and SDI (which has BNC), as well as DisplayPort and DVI but nowhere near as common.
Then we have to tell Pioneer they mis-labelled their DVL-9xx players ;-)