[Released] Terminator 2 CDS mix

[FoLLgoTT]

If I turn up my decode by 8db I get something close to that (I did that in analyzing just to more properly compare the the JP DVD).

This is very strange. I just decoded the AC-3-tracks again and the maximum amplitude is around -1 dB.

The extraction from plain PCM (BeSplit) cannot be the problem, because either it is extracted right or not. If not, the decoder cannot decode it. So if it can be decoded, the extraction was correct. Beside that, I used the same command as you.

As for the LFE conundrum: I think it was posted earlier this thread (among the piles of garbage) that according to sound mixing magazine the CDS mix of T2 used something technique to send out of phase information to the surrounds, I think it can be assumed that they might have done something similar with the LFE and derived it from the fronts.

I don't think that this makes any sense. There is a .1 channel and that should be filled with the LFE. No home decoder extracts the LFE from the surrounds. So even if there was some magic encoding in the studio it should not be relased on home media.

This is of course subjective but I also just think the THX LFE is just worse even if it is discrete, the lack of activity in a lot of scenes compared to the CDS mix is a real bummer.

The discrete LFE has much higher RMS when it is active. The "defect" LFE seems to be almost dead. Additionally, the mixed LFE content on the surrounds is lowered by 10 dB compared to the "correct" LFE.

Here are the Center, LFE and SL channels in comparison:

[borisanddoris]

I’ve heard T2 in 70mm mag. Dolby A.

I think the US AC3 Laserdisc sounds the closest to that experience.