LaserDisc in the digital age

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

In the last couple of days, I've recorded some samples from LaserDisc
to PC.
The results are quite amazing.
I was wondering if any of you have tried this too and what your results
are.

My LaserDisc player is a Pioneer LD-V4300D.
This machine is capable of delivering a raw and unmodified
composite-signal.
This is also documented in the servicemanual.

First I've used some specific Video Essential-testframes, which show
vertical lines in higher and higher frequency. (Last segment of chapter
15)

This is fed into a (Reg.db-tweaked) Hauppauge PVR-350.
(All recordings are made in MPEG-2, 720x480pixels, NTSC, CBR 15000
Kbit/sec.)

All vertical lines show up, even the highest frequencies, without any
herringbone patterns.
Seeing a LaserDisc deliver this kind of resolution is a stunning
surprise.

Recordings made from "Fifth Element" is also an eyecracker.
Crisp and clear picture to a point, that a DVD must be scared.

Later, if time permits, I'll try to have some specific samples made, so
they can be attached to a mail, if anyone is interested in seeing this
for themselves.
Samples will just be cutouts (1-2 seconds long).

Apart from this, what are your experiences in bringing LaserDisc into
the digital age ?

Kindest regards
Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

The specific frames from Video Essentials contain:

H Frequency Sweep to 5.5 MHz w/1 MHz markers

Source: http/www.videoessentials.com/VEtestpat.php

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

tk421 wrote:
> Other than the problem with brightness, the LD captures looked pretty
> good.

That's like saying, "other than the foul stench, the soured milk tasted
pretty good."

-Junior

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

I have a simpler and faster way. I connected my laserdisc player to a Sony
Digital 8 deck (a deck version of the camcorder) This records the disc to
digital in real time. Once I have the tape, using an i.LINK, I can go
digital to digital to my computer or to a DVD recorder. I have tried going
directly to the DVD recorder, but, I get a much better transfer if I do the
tape first.


"[DK6400] Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk" <DK6400Brian@gmail.com> wrote in
message news:1119732803.638899.248720@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
In the last couple of days, I've recorded some samples from LaserDisc
to PC.
The results are quite amazing.
I was wondering if any of you have tried this too and what your results
are.

My LaserDisc player is a Pioneer LD-V4300D.
This machine is capable of delivering a raw and unmodified
composite-signal.
This is also documented in the servicemanual.

First I've used some specific Video Essential-testframes, which show
vertical lines in higher and higher frequency. (Last segment of chapter
15)

This is fed into a (Reg.db-tweaked) Hauppauge PVR-350.
(All recordings are made in MPEG-2, 720x480pixels, NTSC, CBR 15000
Kbit/sec.)

All vertical lines show up, even the highest frequencies, without any
herringbone patterns.
Seeing a LaserDisc deliver this kind of resolution is a stunning
surprise.

Recordings made from "Fifth Element" is also an eyecracker.
Crisp and clear picture to a point, that a DVD must be scared.

Later, if time permits, I'll try to have some specific samples made, so
they can be attached to a mail, if anyone is interested in seeing this
for themselves.
Samples will just be cutouts (1-2 seconds long).

Apart from this, what are your experiences in bringing LaserDisc into
the digital age ?

Kindest regards
Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk

 

[TK421]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

I've had mixed results capturing LD from my Pioneer CLD-D703. I use a
Sony miniDV camcorder as the capture device, which has a pass-thru
feature so that I don't have to record to tape, I can simply stream to
computer.

The main problem I am running into is the captured video is too
bright. Often it is extremely bright, with whites being burned out so
that no detail is left. Blacks are a little brighter than they should
be, but not elevated to the same extent as the whites are. That is
hard to explain, what I mean is if I edit the video in an NLE and
simply adjust the brightness down until the whites are correct, then
the blacks are crushed. So different parts of the picture are
different levels of overbright at any given time, very hard to correct
in an NLE.

I'm not sure why this happens, I asked around and got some replies
that it was a technical issue with LD output levels or something like
that. I'm not sure about that, I thought maybe the Sony miniDV
camcorder might be doing it, however I don't have another capture
device to try for comparison, so I can't be sure.

Other than the problem with brightness, the LD captures looked pretty
good.


On 25 Jun 2005 13:53:23 -0700, "[DK6400] Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk"
<DK6400Brian@gmail.com> wrote:

>In the last couple of days, I've recorded some samples from LaserDisc
>to PC.
>The results are quite amazing.
>I was wondering if any of you have tried this too and what your results
>are.
>
>My LaserDisc player is a Pioneer LD-V4300D.
>This machine is capable of delivering a raw and unmodified
>composite-signal.
>This is also documented in the servicemanual.
>
>First I've used some specific Video Essential-testframes, which show
>vertical lines in higher and higher frequency. (Last segment of chapter
>15)
>
>This is fed into a (Reg.db-tweaked) Hauppauge PVR-350.
>(All recordings are made in MPEG-2, 720x480pixels, NTSC, CBR 15000
>Kbit/sec.)
>
>All vertical lines show up, even the highest frequencies, without any
>herringbone patterns.
>Seeing a LaserDisc deliver this kind of resolution is a stunning
>surprise.
>
>Recordings made from "Fifth Element" is also an eyecracker.
>Crisp and clear picture to a point, that a DVD must be scared.
>
>Later, if time permits, I'll try to have some specific samples made, so
>they can be attached to a mail, if anyone is interested in seeing this
>for themselves.
>Samples will just be cutouts (1-2 seconds long).
>
>Apart from this, what are your experiences in bringing LaserDisc into
>the digital age ?
>
>Kindest regards
>Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

On Sun, 26 Jun 2005 00:25:53 GMT, tk421 <name@company.com> wrote:

>I've had mixed results capturing LD from my Pioneer CLD-D703. I use a
>Sony miniDV camcorder as the capture device, which has a pass-thru
>feature so that I don't have to record to tape, I can simply stream to
>computer.
>
>The main problem I am running into is the captured video is too
>bright. Often it is extremely bright, with whites being burned out so
>that no detail is left. Blacks are a little brighter than they should
>be, but not elevated to the same extent as the whites are. That is
>hard to explain, what I mean is if I edit the video in an NLE and
>simply adjust the brightness down until the whites are correct, then
>the blacks are crushed. So different parts of the picture are
>different levels of overbright at any given time, very hard to correct
>in an NLE.
>
>I'm not sure why this happens, I asked around and got some replies
>that it was a technical issue with LD output levels or something like
>that. I'm not sure about that, I thought maybe the Sony miniDV
>camcorder might be doing it, however I don't have another capture
>device to try for comparison, so I can't be sure.
>
>Other than the problem with brightness, the LD captures looked pretty
>good.
>

The sync for laserdisc is compressed, very approx 200 millivolts
rather than the correct 284-300 millivolts, on a player without TBC.
The recording device uses the sync tip to pedestal as a reference for
the overall gain, assuming peak white will be 700 millivolts. (sync
300, picture 700 = 1 volt, basically speaking.) Since it increases
the gain based on this incorrect sync size, it puts the whites at some
800+ millivolts, thus putting it into clipping. For a player without
TBC I use an external processing amp, or proc amp, to reconstitute
sync. This should not be an issue with players with TBC, such as the
D703, however the unit can get out of adjustment, again setting an
incorrect relationship between sync size and picture information.

... Steve .
>
>On 25 Jun 2005 13:53:23 -0700, "[DK6400] Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk"
><DK6400Brian@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>In the last couple of days, I've recorded some samples from LaserDisc
>>to PC.
>>The results are quite amazing.
>>I was wondering if any of you have tried this too and what your results
>>are.
>>
>>My LaserDisc player is a Pioneer LD-V4300D.
>>This machine is capable of delivering a raw and unmodified
>>composite-signal.
>>This is also documented in the servicemanual.
>>
>>First I've used some specific Video Essential-testframes, which show
>>vertical lines in higher and higher frequency. (Last segment of chapter
>>15)
>>
>>This is fed into a (Reg.db-tweaked) Hauppauge PVR-350.
>>(All recordings are made in MPEG-2, 720x480pixels, NTSC, CBR 15000
>>Kbit/sec.)
>>
>>All vertical lines show up, even the highest frequencies, without any
>>herringbone patterns.
>>Seeing a LaserDisc deliver this kind of resolution is a stunning
>>surprise.
>>
>>Recordings made from "Fifth Element" is also an eyecracker.
>>Crisp and clear picture to a point, that a DVD must be scared.
>>
>>Later, if time permits, I'll try to have some specific samples made, so
>>they can be attached to a mail, if anyone is interested in seeing this
>>for themselves.
>>Samples will just be cutouts (1-2 seconds long).
>>
>>Apart from this, what are your experiences in bringing LaserDisc into
>>the digital age ?
>>
>>Kindest regards
>>Brian Hougaard Baldersbæk

 

[TK421]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Steve,

Thanks for the info. I believe it was you that attempted to help me
out before with the brightness issue, however to be honest I never did
get a complete understanding of the cause of the problem or how to
correct it. I don't have a technical background, and am a beginner in
all things video, so please pardon my ignorance.

Is there a simple way I can use a Digital Multi Meter to measure the
sync level that my CLD-D703 is outputting? Or would this require a
waveform monitor? I'm wondering if I could attach the DMM probes to
the video output of the D703 while a LD is playing and get some kind
of meaningful measurement?

Also, you mentioned the use of a proc amp. I'm wondering if it would
be useful in my situation to instead use an outboard TBC? If my
understanding is correct, an external TBC will resync the incoming
signal and output a correct sync signal. Would an outboard TBC
adjust the sync to the 284-300 millivolt level and correct the
brightness problem? Or would it be more appropriate to use only a
proc amp in this instance?

Thanks again,
tk421


On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 03:02:18 -0400, "Steve(JazzHunter)"
<jazzhunterNotHere@internet.com> wrote:

>The sync for laserdisc is compressed, very approx 200 millivolts
>rather than the correct 284-300 millivolts, on a player without TBC.
>The recording device uses the sync tip to pedestal as a reference for
>the overall gain, assuming peak white will be 700 millivolts. (sync
>300, picture 700 = 1 volt, basically speaking.) Since it increases
>the gain based on this incorrect sync size, it puts the whites at some
>800+ millivolts, thus putting it into clipping. For a player without
>TBC I use an external processing amp, or proc amp, to reconstitute
>sync. This should not be an issue with players with TBC, such as the
>D703, however the unit can get out of adjustment, again setting an
>incorrect relationship between sync size and picture information.
>
>.. Steve

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Hey, tk421 -- why aren't you at your post?

Has anyone got a good reference as to where I'd find a decent
oscilloscope for messing with LD players? I know jack about 'scopes,
and presumably there's a whole continuum of styles available. I want
to get one that will do fine, but not one that is way overkill. Got
some ideas, anyone?

 

[TK421]

Archived from groups: alt.video.laserdisc (More info?)

Steve, where would I get my D703 adjusted? Or is it something I
could do myself? I don't have a waveform monitor but I do have a nice
Fluke DMM. I'm not afraid to take the cover off the D703 and do some
tweaking.

Is there on online reference that you know of for adjusting the D703,
or perhaps an online copy of the Service Manual? Thanks for you help!

tk421


On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 21:06:25 -0400, "Steve(JazzHunter)"
<jazzhunterNotHere@internet.com> wrote:

>Yes, as Kurtis says, you need a 'scope of some sort. My D703 also had
>misadjusted levels. The sync was the correct 284 mv but the sync tip
>to peak white level was almost 130 IRE, 850+ mv just for the video.
>So recordings were way overclipped. Also the vertical pedestal to
>sync pedestal was off. A couple of simple adjustments put things back
>the way they should be. You have a D703, properly adjusted it is
>eminently suitable for laserdisc dubbing.
>
>.. Steve ..