buying newer LDs for very old player

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What do I need to look for on the labeling of a LD to be absolutely certain I
can or cannot play a disc in my ancient Pioneer VP-1000 player AND be able to
at least hear the soundtrack of the movie, even if it's just mono? This
machine just has selector buttons on top to turn on/off each L/R channel. I
rented one newer disc ("Scream") that I was ONLY able to listen to the stupid
director commentary no matter what setting I put these L/R switches.
Thanks!...Frenchy
 
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the older machines cannot decode PCM [digital] sound, so to tell whether or
not you can hear the soundtrack as you watch the film, look for the little
CX logo on the disc's jacket--- this indicates the presence of a CX noise
reduction analogue sound track. the oldest discs are analogue only without
CX, then come analogue discs with CX, and the introduction of digital sound
along with the CX. your VVP-1000 is 1979 vintage, i don't believe this
machine had a CX decoder at all, so the sounds is a bit bright, like playing
a dolby cassette tape with the dolby noise reduction swithed off. you might
want to conside getting a new machine, for $100 or less on ebay you can find
basic players--- i never minded getting up in the middle of a movie to flip
sides, fill my drink and take a leak, i guess i ggot so used to it, i've
been collecting from the very beginning. i have about 400 duplicates for
sale, most at $5. you're welcome to upload a want list-- enjoy--:)
"mark french" <mf101723@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041022014751.03232.00001898@mb-m19.aol.com...
> What do I need to look for on the labeling of a LD to be absolutely
> certain I
> can or cannot play a disc in my ancient Pioneer VP-1000 player AND be able
> to
> at least hear the soundtrack of the movie, even if it's just mono? This
> machine just has selector buttons on top to turn on/off each L/R channel.
> I
> rented one newer disc ("Scream") that I was ONLY able to listen to the
> stupid
> director commentary no matter what setting I put these L/R switches.
> Thanks!...Frenchy
 
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Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Hi Frenchy

I think that every LaserVision movie/music disc will work.
These are all analog in nature

On LaserDiscs you probably should look for discs without Dolby Digital [AC3]
and DTS.
These occupy the analog tracks.

LaserDiscs with just Digital Stereo and/or Digital Sound should have the
analog tracks intact.

You could also consider upgrading your LaserDisc player with a newer one.
If you then plan to sell your beautyful VP-1000 player, I'd be a very proud
future proud owner ;o)

Kindest regards
--
Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk
Frejasvej 14
6400 Sønderborg
 
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"[DK6400] Brian Baldersbæk" wrote
>
> You could also consider upgrading your LaserDisc player with a newer one.
> If you then plan to sell your beautyful VP-1000 player, I'd be a very
proud
> future proud owner ;o)
>

Can't be proud enough ;O)

--
Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk
Frejasvej 14
6400 Sønderborg
 
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Ok thanks so I will be safe with buying any Laservision, CX means is ok, stay
away from ac3/dts and Laserdiscs are ok if they say Digital Stereo/Sound. I
think I can remember this.
I'm still not clear on why I COULD pick up the director commentary on one
analog channel, but no soundtrack. So was this disc just using a leftover
analog track for the commentary, and the other analog track was 'reallocated'
for the AC3/DTS data for the main soundtrack thus I could not hear it? I would
have almost expected if this was the wrong format to not hear any analog at all
(?)
I won't be upgrading to another machine, I really only bought it when I saw it
in a junk store for $25 and thought it looked big and heavy and cool and pretty
darn old for a LD player. Works perfect and I'm also into fixing up and
collecting antique tvs, radios and Victrolas so this old LD player fits into my
collection pretty well - right now it's hooked up to my restored 1956 RCA color
tv : ) Maybe I'll post a pic of them in operation.
Thanks again...Mark French
 
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"mark french" <mf101723@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041022043719.03232.00001907@mb-m19.aol.com...
> Ok thanks so I will be safe with buying any Laservision, CX means is
> ok, stay
> away from ac3/dts and Laserdiscs are ok if they say Digital
> Stereo/Sound. I
> think I can remember this.

Also be aware of discs that have other supplemental audio content on the
analog channels, such as music-only tracks.

> I'm still not clear on why I COULD pick up the director commentary on
> one
> analog channel, but no soundtrack. So was this disc just using a
> leftover
> analog track for the commentary, and the other analog track was
> 'reallocated'
> for the AC3/DTS data for the main soundtrack thus I could not hear it?
> I would
> have almost expected if this was the wrong format to not hear any
> analog at all

Scream has the audio commentary on one analog channel and the Dolby
Digital 5.1 track stored on the other. Since you cannot decode the
DD5.1, you should be hearing a high-pitched screeching sound from that
channel.
 
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Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

The things to be aware of;

If it is AC-3 then the right channel will just be noise so you will have to
put the left in Mono mode

If there is a commentary track it will use one of the analog tracks.

There were some LD's that were AC-3 with commentary, those do not have an
analog movie soundtrack.

Just look for AC-3 and then for commentary tracks.

ALL LD's have analog sound, that has been there from the beginning as a
stereo format.

Kurtis


"mark french" <mf101723@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041022014751.03232.00001898@mb-m19.aol.com...
> What do I need to look for on the labeling of a LD to be absolutely
> certain I
> can or cannot play a disc in my ancient Pioneer VP-1000 player AND be able
> to
> at least hear the soundtrack of the movie, even if it's just mono? This
> machine just has selector buttons on top to turn on/off each L/R channel.
> I
> rented one newer disc ("Scream") that I was ONLY able to listen to the
> stupid
> director commentary no matter what setting I put these L/R switches.
> Thanks!...Frenchy
 
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Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

A bit of clarification.

The VP-1000 will play any NTSC laserdisc ever made. Keep an eye out
for AC-3 discs. They have an digital audio track on channel R/2.
They are okay on this player but watch out for discs with an audio
commentary.

LDs with DTS tracks are absolutely safe. They are actually _more_
backward compatible than AC3 discs. LDs with DTS tracks will amost
always have an analog track for you to listen to on the VP-1000.
There are a couple of exceptions - "Dark City" and a few others
actually have dual audio commentary tracks.

Otherwise, any disc will play on your VP-1000.

Blaine

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 08:15:47 +0200, "[DK6400] Brian Baldersbæk"
<DK6400BrianFJERN@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Hi Frenchy
>
>I think that every LaserVision movie/music disc will work.
>These are all analog in nature
>
>On LaserDiscs you probably should look for discs without Dolby Digital [AC3]
>and DTS.
>These occupy the analog tracks.
>
>LaserDiscs with just Digital Stereo and/or Digital Sound should have the
>analog tracks intact.
>
>You could also consider upgrading your LaserDisc player with a newer one.
>If you then plan to sell your beautyful VP-1000 player, I'd be a very proud
>future proud owner ;o)
>
>Kindest regards

Blaine
blam1@oz.net
http://www.blamld.com
 
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Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

>On LaserDiscs you probably should look for discs without Dolby Digital [AC3]
>and DTS.
>These occupy the analog tracks.

AC-3 occupies the right analogue channel, leaving the left analogue channel
with a mono program that may or may not be CX encoded.

Just because a LaserDisc is CX encoded doesn't mean that it can't have Dolby
Digital, so the notion that discs with CX doesn't have AC-3 is incorrect. It
is better to look at the disc packaging for any indications that the disc has
Dolby Digital. It can be called Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround AC-3 Digital, or
just plain AC-3.

DTS occupies the entire bandwidth reserved for the PCM digital audio track, not
the analogue tracks. DTS discs have both analogue channels for other audio
material, such as a Stereo/Surround soundtrack of the movie, commentaries, etc.

>You could also consider upgrading your LaserDisc player with a newer one.
>If you then plan to sell your beautyful VP-1000 player, I'd be a very proud
>future proud owner ;o)
>

Or, he may just consider keeping the VP-1000 for some of his discs while
getting another player to use as his primary.

The VP-1000 uses a gas tube laser, which are great for tracking older
LaserDiscs.
The only problems with that model is that earlier runs had serious power supply
issues and all VP-1000 players do not have CX built-in; you had to buy an
outboard CX expander designed for the player. Otherwise, you'll be greeted to
high intrinsic noise of a CX compressed disc without CX expansion being
applied.

As for me, I have an LD-660 in my closet while my DVL-700 primarily handles
playback duties, sometimes with my Yamaha APD-1. - Reinhart
 
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On 22 Oct 2004 05:47:51 GMT, mark french <mf101723@aol.com> wrote:
>What do I need to look for on the labeling of a LD to be absolutely certain I
>can or cannot play a disc in my ancient Pioneer VP-1000 player AND be able to
>at least hear the soundtrack of the movie, even if it's just mono? This
>machine just has selector buttons on top to turn on/off each L/R channel. I
>rented one newer disc ("Scream") that I was ONLY able to listen to the stupid
>director commentary no matter what setting I put these L/R switches.
>Thanks!...Frenchy

it'll play if the movie doesn't have dolby digital or dts.
 
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Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 01:27:52 -0500, TCS
<The-Central-Scrutinizer@p.o.b.o.x.com> wrote:

>On 22 Oct 2004 05:47:51 GMT, mark french <mf101723@aol.com> wrote:
>>What do I need to look for on the labeling of a LD to be absolutely certain I
>>can or cannot play a disc in my ancient Pioneer VP-1000 player AND be able to
>>at least hear the soundtrack of the movie, even if it's just mono? This
>>machine just has selector buttons on top to turn on/off each L/R channel. I
>>rented one newer disc ("Scream") that I was ONLY able to listen to the stupid
>>director commentary no matter what setting I put these L/R switches.
>>Thanks!...Frenchy
>
>it'll play if the movie doesn't have dolby digital or dts.

This last part is incorrect. The VP-1000 will play any movie. With
Dolby Digital, you may not get a film soundtrack due to a commentary
track. Any DTS disc will play unless it has dual commentary tracks.


Blaine
blam1@oz.net
http://www.blamld.com