LaserDisc Database
https://forum.lddb.com/

Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=5082		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  daro2096 [ 03 Apr 2015, 08:51 ]
Post subject:  Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
Whist NTSC has two, one analogue and one digital?
Author:  integra [ 03 Apr 2015, 11:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
PAL has more lines of resolution, therefore there isn't enough space to put 2 pairs of stereo audio on the disc.... :(
Author:  blam1 [ 04 Apr 2015, 01:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
That is correct. When the format was re-introduced in the UK, the dropped the analog tracks and added Digital tracks. That is why there are a handful of Dolby Digital titles in PAL countries (Germany mostly) that are NTSC format.
Author:  happycube [ 04 Apr 2015, 01:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
It's actually/pedantically got more to do with the 25/50hz refresh rate - in order to do CAV, you need to spin the disk slower to fit an entire frame in one rotation. This means that the maximum frequency has to be lower (while video bandwidth is actually higher for PAL), causing Phillips to lower the video frequency (IIRC from a post by Disclord a bit too low!) - and the analog tracks were brought under 1mhz, whereas on NTSC they're at 2.3 and 2.8mhz.

So when digital audio was introduced, there was no way to combine them on PAL LD's...

It probably escaped Phillips that they could've just moved the inner limit on PAL CAV disks a bit outwards and then gotten a little bit of that RF bandwidth back, while they were working on more important things like figuring out how to attach the mirrors with glue to cut costs by a few pennies.
Author:  laserbite34 [ 22 Apr 2015, 16:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
blam1 wrote:
That is correct. When the format was re-introduced in the UK, the dropped the analog tracks and added Digital tracks. That is why there are a handful of Dolby Digital titles in PAL countries (Germany mostly) that are NTSC format.

PCM better than saying PAL Dolby Digital as that might confuse others into thinking there 5.1.

PAL PCM is strictly 4.2.4 matrix just like some NTSC titles that may be analog/digital PCM 4.2.4 matrix or PCM 4.2.4 matrix with an Dolby AC-3 5.1 track. Always check items on ebay with site here for specifications if unsure? I have seen some ebay, listings of 4.2.4 matrix being listed as Dolby Digital, I think it was a Waterworld PAL pressing.
Author:  donkeykong [ 30 Apr 2022, 16:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
The reason for this had to do with the higher bandwidth on PAL Laserdiscs.

According to Wikipedia, NTSC Laserdiscs had a horizontal resolution of 425 lines (equivalent to 566⅔ pixels from left-to-right, in digital terminology), whereas PAL Laserdiscs had a horizontal resolution of 440 lines (equivalent to 586⅔ pixels from left-to-right, in digital terminology). As a result of this, there was no space for an analog track on a PAL digital sound Laserdisc. Don't try to play digital-only Laserdiscs in an analog-only Laserdisc player, or else it won't work.
Author:  takeshi666 [ 01 May 2022, 00:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
donkeykong wrote:
The reason for this had to do with the higher bandwidth on PAL Laserdiscs.

According to Wikipedia, NTSC Laserdiscs had a horizontal resolution of 425 lines (equivalent to 566⅔ pixels from left-to-right, in digital terminology), whereas PAL Laserdiscs had a horizontal resolution of 440 lines (equivalent to 586⅔ pixels from left-to-right, in digital terminology). As a result of this, there was no space for an analog track on a PAL digital sound Laserdisc. Don't try to play digital-only Laserdiscs in an analog-only Laserdisc player, or else it won't work.

You do realize this thread is seven years old, right?
Author:  therussian [ 03 May 2022, 08:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
PAL discs should be avoided all together. There is no value in them at all, that's why I strictly collect only NTSC discs while being in a PAL region.
Author:  admin [ 03 May 2022, 09:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
And it's all explained here now:

https://www.lddb.com/help/sound/ (Soundtracks Help section)

Julien
Author:  takeshi666 [ 03 May 2022, 18:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
therussian wrote:
PAL discs should be avoided all together. There is no value in them at all, that's why I strictly collect only NTSC discs while being in a PAL region.

I dunno about that, there are a few PAL releases that might actually be preferrable to their NTSC counterparts.

Jumanji comes to mind.
Author:  laserfanhld-gb [ 03 May 2022, 19:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
takeshi666 wrote:
therussian wrote:
PAL discs should be avoided all together. There is no value in them at all, that's why I strictly collect only NTSC discs while being in a PAL region.

I dunno about that, there are a few PAL releases that might actually be preferrable to their NTSC counterparts.

Jumanji comes to mind.

I agree here, and there are several music concert discs I can think of also….
Author:  happycube [ 06 May 2022, 23:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
There are a couple of things that really held PAL LD back - the lack of high-end (arguably even mid-grade) players, and the disk reading rate is a bit too low on CLV/inner-CAV (which a red/MUSE laser would have worked around)
Author:  teddanson [ 09 May 2022, 13:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Why do PAL laserdiscs only have one stereo track?
laserfanhld-gb wrote:
takeshi666 wrote:
therussian wrote:
PAL discs should be avoided all together. There is no value in them at all, that's why I strictly collect only NTSC discs while being in a PAL region.

I dunno about that, there are a few PAL releases that might actually be preferrable to their NTSC counterparts.

Jumanji comes to mind.

I agree here, and there are several music concert discs I can think of also….


Agreed.

Plus there's the odd 'PAL-exclusive' here and there. It's not much imho mind you, but not slim pickings enough to discount getting a PAL-capable player.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/