(Released) Dead Presidents Criterion Laserdisc Restoration

[alleycat]

Hi All,

So I've done a few blu ray projects and have a lot more planned. One I am currently doing the planning work on is a Dead Presidents Criterion Laserdisc restoration. I have a 1080P HDTV file together with the DVD and a capture of the Criterion Laserdisc plus all the extra features. 

I'm fine with syncing up the audio and building the blu ray menu, but something I have never played about with is color. I've attached screenshots for all three versions, if your expert opinions would you change the color of the HDTV recording at all? The DVD seems a little off to my eyes, the HDTV is more in line with the laserdisc just a little brighter. 

If the consensus is the color should be changed what is the best way to do it? I've read about using Dr Dre's Color Matching Tool to create a 3D LUT and then loading this into after affects - is that the best way?

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks

HDTV:



Laserdisc:



DVD:



HDTV:



Laserdisc:



DVD:



HDTV:



Laserdisc:



DVD:

[PDB]

Hi alleycat. Welcome to fanres. Been a long time since I’ve seen Dead Presidents but I would love to look at your final project when you are done.

You are right, using Dre’s tool and applying those luts in after effects, premiere, resolve or final cut is going to be your easiest and probably most accurate solution.

Good luck with your project

[alleycat]

Thank PDB. What would you use as the reference for dr Dre? The dvd or the laserdisc? I read that dr Dre can struggle with lower quality images and the laserdisc is the lowest of the three.

Also I have the choice of premiere or resolve, does one tend to produce better results than the other or are they pretty similar? Thanks

[alexpeden2000]

Never saw the film in the cinema but the LD seems to have the most 'filmic' colours

[alleycat]

Never saw the film in the cinema but the LD seems to have the most 'filmic' colours

Yes that was what I was thinking, and I guess out of the three Criterion would be the ones putting the most effort into the transfer. Right I will play around with the dr dre tool and see how it goes. Cheers

[alleycat]

Looking good so far. 

HDTV Before:




HDTV After:

[spoRv]

IMHO HDTV has the "usual magenta blanket" seen in many masters... you can try to correct it using Resolve; try out a single setting with the worst offender shot - like the one in the previous post, or the bridge and sky ones; checking shots throughout all the movie will tell you if a single setting will do.

[PDB]

Thank PDB. What would you use as the reference for dr Dre? The dvd or the laserdisc? I read that dr Dre can struggle with lower quality images and the laserdisc is the lowest of the three.

Also I have the choice of premiere or resolve, does one tend to produce better results than the other or are they pretty similar? Thanks

I'd use the DVD. The LD and DVDs are probably the same transfer and LD's often require a little tweaking to the black levels and saturation in line.

As for what software, that's up to you. Personally, I would use AP since you aren't doing heavy color correction, just applying LUTs. And AP would be faster at that work. Resolve is free though...

Results should be the same regardless of the program used.

[alleycat]

One other question, the HDTV file comes with E-AC-3 aka Dolby Digital Plus - I've never really used this before but it seems a lot of HDTV recordings have it. What is the general consensus on this - would you use that for the project or convert it to something else? As I understand blu ray players are not guaranteed to support it?

[PDB]

I think almost every BD player has EAC-3 compatibility at this point, even if it's not part of the normal BD spec (unless manufacture are cheaping out recently). Pretty much every receiver made in the last 15 years will support it, pretty much every TV in the last decade will also (for streaming from say Amazon as an example). I've used it for projects before without complaints. Compatibility-wise, I think you would be ok with leaving it as EAC-3.

It's just more what you feel comfortable with. If you have doubt change it to PCM (or DTS-HD MA if you have the software) as converting it to regular AC-3 or DTS will remove any gains in fidelity that it might have.