[Help] Best mix for Aliens (1986)?

[spoRv]

Does it have mono surrounds? I guess it should, if that's an original 70mm mix.

Unless it had split surround... I can't recall if this was the case, but as it was released in 1986, it could be.

[allldu]

Does it have mono surrounds? I guess it should, if that's an original 70mm mix.

Unless it had split surround... I can't recall if this was the case, but as it was released in 1986, it could be.

I doubt that. According to this, it was a baby boom format - https://www.in70mm.com/library/engagemen.../index.htm

[LucasGodzilla]

Unless it had split surround... I can't recall if this was the case, but as it was released in 1986, it could be.

The film’s 70mm prints were blown up from spherical 35mm photography and were pillarboxed at approximately 1.85:1. The noise-reduction and signal-processing format for the prints was Dolby “A,” and the soundtrack was Format 42 (three screen/one surround + baby boom).

And as @allldu said above, it is mentioned on the In70mm website page.

The 70mm prints of “Aliens” featured pillarboxed imagery (approximately 1.85:1) blown up from spherical 35mm and Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded “baby boom” format).

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If there is a chance that a 70mm 6-track port exists, that would almost surely be on laserdisc!

I just stumbled across a LDDB forum thread that seems to possibly have an answer.

This title is available in a standalone release in Aliens (1986) [PILF-2172] and also included in this Alien Saga Collector's Set [PILF-2565]. I am pretty sure it is identical to this Aliens (1986) [8761-85].

What's special about this LD is, it has the 70mm 6-track theatrical soundtrack available in AC-3. This soundtrack is also available in the first print DVD release (Alien Legacy Box Set). I am not sure if the current Blu-ray has this mix, I own the BD box set, I will compare it one of these days.

The video is THX mastered which means it has mild video noise reduction and edge enhancement. The noise reduction is very mild, hard to notice but EE is easy to spot. I got used to the sharpness due to EE in the first couple of chapters then it didn't bother me as much. Overall the video is very clean and sharp. I didn't notice any artificial contrast boosting. There is absolutely no aliasing or weird alterations on color timing. I can't think of this movie look any better on LD than this release. In my opinion it is a very faithful transfer, I have no complains. I would like it a bit easier on the EE but it benefits smaller screen which was %98 of TVs back in 90s. Japanese subs are in picture but not very distracting, dialog is not very heavy on this film. The first side break wasn't on an optimum spot but the second side break was spot on.

The audio is front heavy but full of dialog and effect pans. The bass is strong and this film has ton of it. There was a handful of instances the rear surrounds were screaming effects but beside that they were only for ambient and orchestral soundtrack. I believe the 6 track soundtrack is 5 fronts and 1 mono rear configuration. I didn't hear and split surround effects. AC-3 on this LD is very dynamic, the dialogue is very clear, even under heavy machine gun fire! I didn't try the PCM tracks but I imagine they should be easily able replicate this front heavy AC-3 soundtrack. The first Alien film had a wonderful musical soundtrack, this film disappointed in that aspect. There was plenty of orchestral music but all overshadowed by special effects, that's why the lossy AC-3 soundtrack didn't sound thin as usual. AC-3 tend to do very well with effects but not so much with music. For music, lossless PCM tracks are the king.

Is there any way to actually check whether or not this Japanese [PILF-2172] LD is the same as the [8761-85] LD (I'm presuming the latter is the Fox THX LD @PDB was talking about)?

[spoRv]

I doubt that. According to this, it was a baby boom format - https://www.in70mm.com/library/engagemen.../index.htm

It does not state mono or stereo surround though...

70MM COMPOSITE MAGNETIC
40 70mm 6 track (Conventional 6 Track, no NR, Mag Filters)
41 Dolby 70mm Wide (6 Track, A-Type NR, Widerange all 6 Channels)
42 Dolby 70mm Baby Boom (6 Track, A-Type NR, Baby Boom Channels 2 & 4)
43 Dolby 70mm Stereo Surround (6 Track, A-Type NR, Baby Boom/Stereo
Surround)
44 Dolby 70mm Wide (6 Track, SR NR, Widerange all 6 Channels)
45 Dolby 70mm Baby Boom (6 Track, SR NR, Baby Boom Channels 2 & 4)
46 Dolby 70mm Stereo Surround (6 Track, SR NR, Baby Boom/Stereo
Surround)

from http://www.film-tech.com/ubb/f1/t003513.html

according to some projectonists on that forum, most of movies released in the second half of 1980's had split surround, so I don't say that is probable, but only that is possible - and because Cameron is a sucker for all audio video innovation, who knows?

[allldu]

Alien Legacy Box set, here I come!

[allldu]

Alien Legacy Box set, here I come!

Hmm, I just checked and the Alien Legacy DVD box set mentioned above has Special Edition of the movie, not the theatrical cut...

[LucasGodzilla]

It does not state mono or stereo surround though...

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according to some projectonists on that forum, most of movies released in the second half of 1980's had split surround, so I don't say that is probable, but only that is possible - and because Cameron is a sucker for all audio video innovation, who knows?

Addressing @spoRv, it seems to be 42 Dolby 70mm Baby Boom (6 Track, A-Type NR, Baby Boom Channels 2 & 4) supposing what I quoted from The Digital Bits article is correct.

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Alien Legacy Box set, here I come!

Hmm, I just checked and the Alien Legacy DVD box set mentioned above has Special Edition of the movie, not the theatrical cut...

I think you're mixing up collections. The Alien Legacy set is different from the Alien Saga Collector's Set.

Alien Saga Collector's Set [PILF-2565]
ニュー・コレクターズセット エイリアン

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Japan only release.

Contains the three first Alien movies:

• Alien (1979) 2.35:1 Internet Movie Database LaserDisc Database
  
• Aliens (1986) Gatefold 1.85:1 Internet Movie Database LaserDisc Database
  
• Alien 3 (1992) 2.35:1 LD-G Internet Movie Database LaserDisc Database
  
• Aliens includes "The Making of Alien Resurrection" (1997) Internet Movie Database LaserDisc Database on Side #4.
  

Each title was also released separately with same art cover on:

• Alien (1979) [PILF-2171]
  
• Aliens (1986) [PILF-2172]
  
• Alien 3 (1992) [PILF-2562]
  

[zoidberg]

I just had a look at the AC-3 in Audacity, the surrounds sound like mono to me. Although split surrounds had been around since Apocalypse Now (and possibly Superman depending on who you listen to) it seems it wasn't fully accepted until the late 80s as Format 43 (which could either be 3/2 or 3/1 plus baby boom on the same print for backwards compatibility). It wouldn't make sense that a 4.1 track with mono surround was included on the blu ray if it was originally split surround.

[spoRv]

It wouldn't make sense that a 4.1 track with mono surround was included on the blu ray if it was originally split surround.

Indeed...   so the AC-3 track you are talking about is from LD?

[zoidberg]

It wouldn't make sense that a 4.1 track with mono surround was included on the blu ray if it was originally split surround.

Indeed...   so the AC-3 track you are talking about is from LD?

Yes, 8761-85