Quality of LD analog audio?

[deleted user]

I was just wondering. LaserDisc is a rather old technology. I remember some old CDs from the 70s/80s don't exactly have stellar sound. They're okay of course, but the ADCs back then were not what they are today. Correct me if my thinking is wrong, but doesn't that imply that capturing the PCM track may sometimes not actually be as good as capturing the analog audio with a good audio interface? Am I missing something?

[spoRv]

Maybe you can find some answers in this thread: https://fanrestore.com/thread-1107.html

[deleted user]

Thanks!

[SilverWook]

Based on my experience it's all in the mastering and source material. I've been into Laserdiscs since the 80's. Where 80's music videos are concerned I really couldn't hear much difference between analog and digital. I have captured the PCM from a movie released on LD in 1986 and it sounded great. Superior to the 5.1 upmix and lossy 2.0 on DVD and Blu Ray.

In those instances where an LD only has a analog soundtrack, those with CX noise reduction sound just fine. Non CX discs can have a tiny bit of hiss depending on the video master and background electrical noise, but this can be filtered out later. The catch is analog sound reproduction on most post 1990 players is sub par. The best player for capturing purposes is an early model before digital sound was introduced. Which is one reason I keep a gas tube laser top loading player around that's built like a tank. It's the first player I ever owned.

I'd love to see one of these 1970's CD's you're talking about.

[deleted user]

Thanks for the info.

1982 counts as 70s.

[Phobicpanda]

Based on my experience it's all in the mastering and source material. I've been into Laserdiscs since the 80's. Where 80's music videos are concerned I really couldn't hear much difference between analog and digital. I have captured the PCM from a movie released on LD in 1986 and it sounded great. Superior to the 5.1 upmix and lossy 2.0 on DVD and Blu Ray.

In those instances where an LD only has a analog soundtrack, those with CX noise reduction sound just fine. Non CX discs can have a tiny bit of hiss depending on the video master and background electrical noise, but this can be filtered out later. The catch is analog sound reproduction on most post 1990 players is sub par. The best player for capturing purposes is an early model before digital sound was introduced. Which is one reason I keep a gas tube laser top loading player around that's built like a tank. It's the first player I ever owned.

I'd love to see one of these 1970's CD's you're talking about.

Need to get me one of these to enjoy Pinocchio on lol.