[Proposal] The Terminator [1984] Ultimate Purist Collection

[pipefan413]

I'm checking the files this week. Regarding the U Matic version, SpoRv, I aligned it with the European master, and it clearly have problem despite the color improvements, they include all white being 100% white (which is a no-no in film titles) and blown out highlights nuked in many parts and also horrible compression clearly visible when zoomed in.

I did a blend using the BD as luma, and playing with opacity, I managed to restore most highlights, with only minor tweaks of the colors, which essentialy remains 90% the same. Skintones are also much more improved.

I will next check out the SDR2HDR and see if there something worth saving there.

His Alien which I posted in other thread years back is also 100% the original colors (as they match the one from the book made of 35mm stills and my remembrances), including blown out whites the movie had originaly!

Is there not a chance this is also true of the highlights in THE TERMINATOR? That they did actually look like that, I mean?

[Stamper]

Update! Thanks to Resolve, I was able to blend the Blu-ray luma with the U-Matic chroma, thanks to Williarob for the tutorial.

Now, on to check all the current syncs, and then it's going to be syncing the remaining tracks.

Will take two nights though to get the master, one night to encode to Prores, and one to encode H264 using Handbrake.

[Stamper]

More update, I checked the current sync and they are OK.

Now I am onto syncing both Williarob Image LD and the Image DVD 2.1 version. As I synced them both together already, it will be two syncs in one go for me on both of those to match the Blu.

Next I'll sync the Japan mono mixes, and then will be onto checking out the italian dub to sync it too. I'll keep the VHS on the back burner as an option, but it is not captured loosless so I'm not sure I will spend time on syncing it when we have the mix we want already.

I compared my blend of the U Matic (for a reminder, I blended the U Matic chroma with the untouched Blu-ray luma and did a good encode that is 32gb). Gone is the bad encoding of the U Matic and it's plasticy look, restored are the highlights, and much grain has come to the fore. Also the U Matic luma was over sharpened resulting in edge halos, these are now gone.

Here's a compare on a static shot of both encodes.

https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/10617

I'll post more shots when I can match them but overall it looks insanely great with wonky colors and deep blacks.

[aseddon130]

This kind of stuff is pretty incredible, i'd always been happy with the image quality of the current Blu Ray of T1 but this stuff looks brilliant.

[pipefan413]

More update, I checked the current sync and they are OK.

Now I am onto syncing both Williarob Image LD and the Image DVD 2.1 version. As I synced them both together already, it will be two syncs in one go for me on both of those to match the Blu.

Next I'll sync the Japan mono mixes, and then will be onto checking out the italian dub to sync it too. I'll keep the VHS on the back burner as an option, but it is not captured loosless so I'm not sure I will spend time on syncing it when we have the mix we want already.

I compared my blend of the U Matic (for a reminder, I blended the U Matic chroma with the untouched Blu-ray luma and did a good encode that is 32gb). Gone is the bad encoding of the U Matic and it's plasticy look, restored are the highlights, and much grain has come to the fore. Also the U Matic luma was over sharpened resulting in edge halos, these are now gone.

Here's a compare on a static shot of both encodes.

https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/10617

I'll post more shots when I can match them but overall it looks insanely great with wonky colors and deep blacks.

Damn! That's pretty great!

[weegee2392]

Hi alldu, there was a vimeo video posted by a believe one or our friends here, exposing all the differences. However I can't find it right now, but I'm sure someone will post it here again soon.

Hello sir! That would be me and this would be the video!

https://vimeo.com/246332731

Am I going insane, or does the MGM DVD mono sound better than the Image mono.

[pipefan413]

Am I going insane, or does the MGM DVD mono sound better than the Image mono.

It wouldn't be the first time that's happened, certainly. I've found at least a few LDs that were worse than a lossy DVD track, most recently BODY BAGS, which sounds like crap on LD and Blu-ray (both lossless) but sounds pretty decent on the Italian DVD (heavily compressed, 192 kbps, PAL speedup), so I resynced the DVD and was a bit sad about the LaserDisc not being as useful as I hoped!

I can't remember how the Terminator DVD sounds though and I'm too tired right now to properly compare anything so I'll leave it to the other guys to get back to you on this one specifically. I might have a nosey tomorrow!

[weegee2392]

Am I going insane, or does the MGM DVD mono sound better than the Image mono.

It wouldn't be the first time that's happened, certainly. I've found at least a few LDs that were worse than a lossy DVD track, most recently BODY BAGS, which sounds like crap on LD and Blu-ray (both lossless) but sounds pretty decent on the Italian DVD (heavily compressed, 192 kbps, PAL speedup), so I resynced the DVD and was a bit sad about the LaserDisc not being as useful as I hoped!

I can't remember how the Terminator DVD sounds though and I'm too tired right now to properly compare anything so I'll leave it to the other guys to get back to you on this one specifically. I might have a nosey tomorrow!

I knew it I had a copy of the 2000’s DVD it Sounded pretty good probably because it was presented in stereo rather than actual mono.

[Stamper]

I can confirm, the MGM has superior english mono sound to the Image DVD or the TF1 DVD, it has more bass/bottom. It's the one I prefer when I check my sync collection.

As noted:

*- International Mono Mix from MGM SE 2001 DVD different source from TF1 with more dynamic range *SYNCED
*- International Mono mix from TF1 1999 DVD *SYNCED
*- French Mono Mix from TF1 1999 DVD *SYNCED +MID FILM DESYNC FIXED
*- German Mono Mix from early German 1997 DVD (35mm print scan) *SYNCED
*- Domestic Mono 2.1 mix from Image 1997 DVD interesting "fix" with lots of thump CURRENTLY BEING SYNCED

I think the MGM sounds better than the LD too, but nonetheless I'll sync the LD for completists/purists.

Add to this:

*- Chace Faux Stereo remix from original 1985 LD release [HBO2535] BRAND NEW SOURCE IN TRUE FAUX STEREO, AWESOME SOUND. *SYNCED
This was the first home video release of the Terminator on Laserdisc, so history. Also sounds unlike any other mono mix, ever.
*- Domestic mono mix Image Ent. 1995 THX laserdisc rip [ID2940NSB] from Williarob *CURRENTLY BEING SYNCED

+ the Italian mono mix I was sent by a kind member here (please remind me your name so that I add you to the thanks list), and four different Japanese mono mixes. Which will make for a total of 12 mono mixes included. I think that will be enough

I have a bunch of other LD rips from different editions VHS and LD, but they are all the domestic mono, and are captured compressed to AAC or AC3, so I won't put them here as I have better versions and captures of this already.

[pipefan413]

I can confirm, the MGM has superior english mono sound to the Image DVD or the TF1 DVD, it has more bass/bottom. It's the one I prefer when I check my sync collection.

As noted:

*- International Mono Mix from MGM SE 2001 DVD different source from TF1 with more dynamic range *SYNCED
*- International Mono mix from TF1 1999 DVD *SYNCED
*- French Mono Mix from TF1 1999 DVD *SYNCED +MID FILM DESYNC FIXED
*- German Mono Mix from early German 1997 DVD (35mm print scan) *SYNCED
*- Domestic Mono 2.1 mix from Image 1997 DVD interesting "fix" with lots of thump CURRENTLY BEING SYNCED

I think the MGM sounds better than the LD too, but nonetheless I'll sync the LD for completists/purists.

Add to this:

*- Chace Faux Stereo remix from original 1985 LD release [HBO2535] BRAND NEW SOURCE IN TRUE FAUX STEREO, AWESOME SOUND. *SYNCED
This was the first home video release of the Terminator on Laserdisc, so history. Also sounds unlike any other mono mix, ever.
*- Domestic mono mix Image Ent. 1995 THX laserdisc rip [ID2940NSB] from Williarob *CURRENTLY BEING SYNCED

+ the Italian mono mix I was sent by a kind member here (please remind me your name so that I add you to the thanks list), and four different Japanese mono mixes. Which will make for a total of 12 mono mixes included. I think that will be enough

I have a bunch of other LD rips from different editions VHS and LD, but they are all the domestic mono, and are captured compressed to AAC or AC3, so I won't put them here as I have better versions and captures of this already.

One thing I'd point out is that at least one other LD (the non-THX one from earlier) might theoretically have a better recording of the mono track if we could cap the PCM. I nearly did it myself but it was too much cash at the time (and definitely would be now). Just because the DVD beats the THX LD doesn't mean it'll necessarily beat the other LD, though it very well might!