Frankenstein (1931) Audio Preservation

[crissrudd4554]

Have been really freakin busy, but this project is still moving forward.

Will post more on the matter within the next few days

Am very curious whether that re-release will use the same transfer as the last one. I mean, for the video, I have no problem with that... but it would be nice if they released it with unfiltered audio... Honestly doubt that this will happen

Thanks for the update Jerry. We know you commit as much as you can when time permits it. Sadly I dont foresee the new set featuring an updated print or soundtrack. They've had a decade to fix this but since they havent by this point they likely never will. Even sadder is many people don't seem to care either way. I mentioned before about me bringing this up on blu-ray.com and someone still is convinced the BD sounds 'great'. I dont get it but then again I could be tooting my own horn there. Nevertheless I think we can all agree the BD track IS flawed for better or worse. The progress we've made so far, and I know we're not done, has convinced me that the track is just not what it should be. If people wanna accept it for what it is thats their choice but we've proven that its definitely flawed and IMO outdated. Way to respect a film that once upon a time saved the studio from bankruptcy.

[crissrudd4554]

To get back on topic for a second, someone mentioned a while back about capturing the audio from the Betamax. I'm kinda glad we didn't do that only cause I have a VHS edition with the same artwork which I was skimming through about two months ago for a discussion on CHFB. It looks to be the same print as the '91 tape. Audio wasn't too bad but the '91 tape definitely sounded better than again it was the first time in probably 15 years I'd played this particular tape. Anyways I'm feeling confident that the '91 VHS and '93 LD audio tracks, already in the hands of Mr. Shadoe, were the best way to go with in creating the basic track. I'm still testing some VHS capturing softwares and if possible I may capture the 1999 VHS just to see if the track has any significance although I think Jerry said he has enough sources. I tend to remember the '99 tape sounding similar to the '91 tape although the missing 'God' line was restored, a few scene transitions (fade ins/outs) were shortened, and the bit of missing dialogue I noted in my second video is present but in a lower pitch.

[crissrudd4554]

Here's a quote from someone on Universal Monster Army essentially confirming that the masters for the films in the new sets that are already on BD are the same discs. Frankenstein will still have the cruddy audio mix. Figures. (rolls eyes)

'GREAT NEWS!!!!!

I figured I would try to contact one of the NBC/Universal employees on my list to see if I could get a definitive answer as to whether the films being released on Blu-Ray were restored or not. Below is my question and what follows is the answer I got from Michael Ribak.

…do you happen to know if the Blu-Rays of the Frankenstein and Wolf Man collections that Universal is going to be releasing in the next couple of weeks will be the versions that they have been cleaning up and restoring? Thanks.

Lance Brick

Hi Lance,
If you are referring to the Frankenstein and Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collections coming out on Blu-ray this month, the original films (Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and Wolf Man) are the same discs first released in 2012 – the restored versions. All of the sequels in the set that are new to Blu-ray have also been restored. The only exceptions are the non-sequels (Werewolf of London and She-Wolf of London). Those have been cleaned up and look much better than the current DVDs but have not technically been restored.
Hope that helps!
Michael

Now I’m getting my order in!!!'

[Moshrom]

Any updates on this, jerryshadoe? Easily the most exciting project on the forums for me

[crissrudd4554]

I've been meaning to comment in here again. Yes any word on those updates you mentioned a few weeks back Jerry?????

[jerryshadoe]

A lot of personal shit has been going on, then my bday, and then my power adapter for this machine died... then some more shit happened... anyway...

I'm back now and have been working very hard on this project (to the point of still holding off on resuming work on most of my other stuff) and am happy to say that it's moving forward. I started the project (according to my audio editor) 186 days ago and have now put in nearly 500(!) hours into the editing of this reconstruction and I'm about half done

It has been a very long, frustrating process and I've had to take numerous breaks while working on it just to let my hearing "re-center" so that I can hear the differences between sources (if you listen too long, everything starts sounding the same and your mind starts playing tricks on you) which has added to the total time to accomplish this. Still, it has also been a very satisfying task, so far, when I get to hear it all "come to life."

I've adjusted my workflow a lot during the process since I started this project and am now getting to the point where this is actually starting to get easier (well, for the most part, lol) and sometime within the next couple of weeks I'm hoping that I can release a very rough, few minute sample to give you guys a taste of what's to come.

[crissrudd4554]

Sounds good. We wish you the best and thank you for your time and energy. Happy bday good friend

[Moshrom]

jerryshadoe, have you sampled the Rudy Behlmer commentary by any chance? It seems to have been recorded over a non-NRed version of the film, so the film bits sound much better than the main audio track.

Is that how the Legacy DVD sounds?

Belhmer stops speaking during the 'God' line, too...

[crissrudd4554]

jerryshadoe, have you sampled the Rudy Behlmer commentary by any chance? It seems to have been recorded over a non-NRed version of the film, so the film bits sound much better than the main audio track.

Is that how the Legacy DVD sounds?

Belhmer stops speaking during the 'God' line, too...

A few months back I actually supplied Jerry with the snippet of the 'God' line from the Behlmer commentary as well as two from the DVD documentary and Jerry said they didn't fit well with what he was doing.

[captainsolo]

The more time this takes the more we are likely to discover and address. That's fine by me, especially since the Uni horrors have never been researched the way they should, but I am excited to see what the new 4K produced discs this year in the new Legacy sets reveal, particularly for SON OF FRANKENSTEIN.