Waterworld [spoRv]

[spoRv]

Lossless encoding is finished, now I must check integrity - it should be OK, but you know... better safe than sorry! - join the pieces and encode the final AVC video.

Audio tracks are ready - I discarded the analog laserdisc track (even if I thought that a 192kbps version could still be interesting, and its size will be just 200MB, but the poll is clear...); subtitles are ready, too.

Still have not decided if to go with the classic menu - ready
https://fs06n4.sendspace.com/dl/63c01509...80010.m2ts
or make for the first time a pop-up menu...

[PDB]

Glad to hear it!

How are you bulling the menus? Pop ups I admit have a more modern feel to them

[spoRv]

FINAL ENCODING OK!!!

Can't believe it, but at last the final encoding is done... everything went OK this time; average bitrate is 19mbps, with 39.5mbps max, Vs 18.5mbps average and 31.5mbps max of the HD-DVD - that, by the way, *should* be out of standard, because I remember max video bitrate allowed was 30mbps... but I digress; I was "forced" to watch it, maybe this is the tenth time; I must admit I was not so enthusiatic to watch it again, but... don't know, maybe because I watched it last time "only" two years ago (it seems yesterday, by the way), or because this time colors are not *wrong* (how much I hate pink clouds - and pink snow, too); well, I was satisfied, really; every time I watch it, I think the same things: "it's not possible that, even if all the ice in the world melt, water will cover the whole world" and "where they found lemon and tomato trees" and go on... but, apart this, I love the photography, I like the music, the acting is fun, the story is not that so much original (Mad Max anyone?) but I still enjoy watching it...

Back to the project now: I always used MutliAVCHD, because I like to make my projects using only free/open source software (if there is another BD authoring software which could make menus, let me know!); never released one with a pop-up menu, but maybe it's time - it's kinda amusing to see the disk play without going through menus... I'm going to test it ASAP; will try to start to seed it in the next few days, but beware, it will take a week to upload it all (sigh!)

[jonno]

Terrific news! Thanks for all the patience and hard work.

[spoRv]

I'm fighting with MultiAVCHD since this morning... can't understand where is the problem, I downloaded it again but still it doesn't work properly - or I forgot how to do it in the right way...

As it is the only free software AFAIK which can autor BD with menus, what can I do? Make a simple BD structure without a menu (with EasyBD Lite, or tsMuxeR, or try to solve the problem with MultiAVCHD?

[spoRv]

Why, some of you could ask, I haven't released this project yet?

Because I'm a perfectionist, and this is a sort of curse... I wrote before that I like the result, that is very good, and superior to the HD-DVD, right?

Yes, everything is true, but... it came to my attention one previous script I used to compare my version and LD, and I discovered that, buried into the script, I haven't left the LD colors untouched, but I changed them... well, it was two years ago, I didn't remember that... more, I used the old ColourMatch script (the one which produced many artefacts)...

Wanted to give it a try (again) of using LD as color reference (untouched colors, this time) and the new ColourMatch... and "it seems" it doesn't produce any artefacts; plus, the color are really better; skin, sea, sky... apart some white clipping on few scenes on the clouds, and really minor magenta blanket in very very few shots, all in all CM'ed is really better than my actual version, AND it stays true to the LD colors - hence, technically, if I use this technique, the project could be considered a preservation, and not a fan edit (not that is too important, but... I'm a perfectionist...)

Could always release both, of course, but will I sleep well on the night, dreaming an "impure" version of my project is around?

Mmmhhh... last thing: it will NOT take another year or two to re-release the project, this time! I promise!

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/192518

Opinions?

[PDB]

I'm more partial to the HD DVD regrade but that's me

[jonno]

I have to agree with PDB. There's some really harsh clipping going on in the shadows and highlights on the Colourmatch versions (at least, in the first two screenshots). Perhaps if it could be applied less aggressively...

[spoRv]

As the ColourMatch mimic both luma and chroma, it's possible to use the HD-DVD luma and CM'ed LD chroma; it will help to prevent white clipping. But I still prefer LD's colors, and you?

[jonno]

yes, the colour of the LD-matched version is very pleasing - particularly the water and sky in the second shot.