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Thread started 08/22/05 6:25am

Saxjedi

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Sign o' the Times DVD (UK version)

Sorry folks, search function is not working at the moment so apologies if this has been asked already...

I picked up the UK DVD at the weekend, initial impressions were HUUUGE disappointment as the 5.1 mix is awful, totally overloaded with bass and you can hardly hear the sax or vocals.

Luckily I discovered the 2.0 stereo is just the way I remember it, or I would have taken it back.

However reading on amazon.ca everyone praises the 5.1 mix on that disc, so my question is - is it the same as the newly released UK version? If it is then those people need to clean their ears out!
I know u people worthless scum give no heart but wrath of insults a brain-driven wave of destruction your bite is worse than your vocabulary. Shame on you all of you. Go feed your pigs coward.
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Reply #1 posted 08/22/05 6:46am

Neversin

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Saxjedi said:

Sorry folks, search function is not working at the moment so apologies if this has been asked already...

I picked up the UK DVD at the weekend, initial impressions were HUUUGE disappointment as the 5.1 mix is awful, totally overloaded with bass and you can hardly hear the sax or vocals.

Luckily I discovered the 2.0 stereo is just the way I remember it, or I would have taken it back.

However reading on amazon.ca everyone praises the 5.1 mix on that disc, so my question is - is it the same as the newly released UK version? If it is then those people need to clean their ears out!

Don't know about the 5.1 mix, only thing I have to say is avoid the UK version (it's still sped up, it's 2005 and it seems making a proper PAL DVD is still a mystery... Or, of course, too "expensive"...) and either get the Canadian release or wait for a proper PAL release...

Neversin.
O(+>NIИ<+)O

“Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man's?”

- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
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Reply #2 posted 08/22/05 8:56am

asideorderofha
m

There are two versions of the DVD available in the UK. One is very cheap and usually available in Music Zone. It doesn't have the 'digitally remastered' banner along the top has no BBFC certificate and is in 4:3 pan and scan but does have a 5.1 and a dts soundtrack.

Wander down the high street to HMV or Virgin and you'll pay a lot more for a copy (about £20, saw it in Virgin today for £21.99). This one is in anamorphic widescreen, DD5.1 (no dts), has a 'digitally remastered' banner and a BBFC '15' certificate. It looks like it's of much higher quality.

However, both are PAL and 4% faster than they should be, so I didn't get either. I opted instead for the Canadian release, which is excellent and was only about £12 including postage when I pre-ordered it from Amazon.ca
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Reply #3 posted 08/22/05 9:00am

Saxjedi

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Yeah it was the 'digitally remastered' version I got. But the 5.1 mix is atrocious. The reviews on amazon.ca said the Canadian one was by some distribution company (can't remember the name but started with 'A') which I'm sure I also spotted on the opening text of the UK one.

So is the 5.1 Canadian mix good?
I know u people worthless scum give no heart but wrath of insults a brain-driven wave of destruction your bite is worse than your vocabulary. Shame on you all of you. Go feed your pigs coward.
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Reply #4 posted 08/22/05 9:27am

muirdo

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wave

hi Saxjedi long time no see.
Fuck the funk - it's time to ditch the worn-out Vegas horns fills, pick up the geee-tar and finally ROCK THE MUTHA-FUCKER!! He hinted at this on Chaos, now it's time to step up and fully DELIVER!!
woot!
KrystleEyes 22/03/05
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Reply #5 posted 08/22/05 10:31am

ufoclub

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the dvd released by Alliance in Canada seems to be the only one that was officially created by professional standards. The others are all bootleg quality. The others are a waste of money if you want a true dvd quality version.
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Reply #6 posted 08/22/05 10:33am

muirdo

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is this in the shops???
I havent seen it in Scotland.
Fuck the funk - it's time to ditch the worn-out Vegas horns fills, pick up the geee-tar and finally ROCK THE MUTHA-FUCKER!! He hinted at this on Chaos, now it's time to step up and fully DELIVER!!
woot!
KrystleEyes 22/03/05
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Reply #7 posted 08/22/05 2:25pm

Saxjedi

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Hiya muirdo, yeah.. it's been a while!

It is in shops in Scotland, I got it in Virgin in Glasgow. I've just ordered the Canadian version anyway, although I suspect it will be the exact same. Find out soon enough I guess.
I know u people worthless scum give no heart but wrath of insults a brain-driven wave of destruction your bite is worse than your vocabulary. Shame on you all of you. Go feed your pigs coward.
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Reply #8 posted 08/22/05 4:56pm

ufoclub

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the dvd released by Alliance in Canada seems to be the only one that was officially created by professional standards. The others are all bootleg quality. The others are a waste of money if you want a true dvd quality version.

Saxjedi said:

Hiya muirdo, yeah.. it's been a while!

It is in shops in Scotland, I got it in Virgin in Glasgow. I've just ordered the Canadian version anyway, although I suspect it will be the exact same. Find out soon enough I guess.
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Reply #9 posted 08/22/05 5:05pm

squirrelgrease

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If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
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Reply #10 posted 08/23/05 2:11am

freakyfeet

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Reply #11 posted 08/23/05 2:34am

Saxjedi

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Just to clear up any confusion of people reading this, the newly released UK disc (with 'remastered' on the cover) is *not* bootleg quality, it's very good quality. And yeah, Alliance, that's it. That company name flashes up when the disc loads. But the 5.1 mix is awful. Put it on stereo and enjoy cool
I know u people worthless scum give no heart but wrath of insults a brain-driven wave of destruction your bite is worse than your vocabulary. Shame on you all of you. Go feed your pigs coward.
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Reply #12 posted 08/23/05 2:42am

Joefantastic

Saxjedi said:

Sorry folks, search function is not working at the moment so apologies if this has been asked already...

I picked up the UK DVD at the weekend, initial impressions were HUUUGE disappointment as the 5.1 mix is awful, totally overloaded with bass and you can hardly hear the sax or vocals.

Luckily I discovered the 2.0 stereo is just the way I remember it, or I would have taken it back.

However reading on amazon.ca everyone praises the 5.1 mix on that disc, so my question is - is it the same as the newly released UK version? If it is then those people need to clean their ears out!


Is this the version released by Network? How about the picture quality? The Network version, released on july 11th 2005, is on sale in amazon UK and HMV UK. Just wondering is it better than the Brazilian or the Dutch release (both are crappy.)
_______________________________________________
Hmm... wonder what that was...?
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Reply #13 posted 08/23/05 3:08am

Saxjedi

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Yeah the Network version. Picture quality was OK, didn't blow my socks off though... I was watching it on a projector which does tend to expose flaws more. I haven't seen the dutch/brazilian versions.
I know u people worthless scum give no heart but wrath of insults a brain-driven wave of destruction your bite is worse than your vocabulary. Shame on you all of you. Go feed your pigs coward.
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Reply #14 posted 08/23/05 5:49am

ufoclub

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well do tell us if you find the canadian one to be better. It is of the same standard as any new Dvd like Star Wars or Supersize Me... professional standards in both sound and picture.

Saxjedi said:

Just to clear up any confusion of people reading this, the newly released UK disc (with 'remastered' on the cover) is *not* bootleg quality, it's very good quality. And yeah, Alliance, that's it. That company name flashes up when the disc loads. But the 5.1 mix is awful. Put it on stereo and enjoy cool
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Reply #15 posted 08/23/05 5:36pm

squirrelgrease

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freakyfeet said:



falloff
If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
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Reply #16 posted 08/23/05 7:06pm

deebee

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While we're on the subject, can anyone help with a technical question....?

I bought the Canadian disc, and I've tried to play it on a multi-region DVD player here in the UK (on a PAL TV). Problem is the picture keeps flashing from black and white to colour, although the sound is fine.

It's probably just a setting that I need to change, but I haven't had the time to play around with it and sort it out, or find the instructions for the DVD/TV. I thought you could just stick it in the machine and, hey presto, it'd all work.

Anyone familiar with this stuff? Got any suggestions? Help would be much appreciated.....
confused
"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #17 posted 08/23/05 11:16pm

jedinpg

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The Canadian version of "Sign O the Times" is the DVD to get. EXCELLENT!
"Tiki Coladas"
The Web Comic
www.tikicoladas.com
Updates Monday-Friday
"TIKI CENTRAL LIVE"
Friday Nights 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific
On www.emancipationradio.com

http://www.myspace.com/jo...ikicoladas
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Reply #18 posted 08/23/05 11:34pm

ufoclub

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that sounds like the dvd player is translating it into PAL instead of NTSC

deebee said:

While we're on the subject, can anyone help with a technical question....?

I bought the Canadian disc, and I've tried to play it on a multi-region DVD player here in the UK (on a PAL TV). Problem is the picture keeps flashing from black and white to colour, although the sound is fine.

It's probably just a setting that I need to change, but I haven't had the time to play around with it and sort it out, or find the instructions for the DVD/TV. I thought you could just stick it in the machine and, hey presto, it'd all work.

Anyone familiar with this stuff? Got any suggestions? Help would be much appreciated.....
confused
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Reply #19 posted 08/24/05 12:46am

Shapeshifter

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deebee said:

While we're on the subject, can anyone help with a technical question....?

I bought the Canadian disc, and I've tried to play it on a multi-region DVD player here in the UK (on a PAL TV). Problem is the picture keeps flashing from black and white to colour, although the sound is fine.

It's probably just a setting that I need to change, but I haven't had the time to play around with it and sort it out, or find the instructions for the DVD/TV. I thought you could just stick it in the machine and, hey presto, it'd all work.

Anyone familiar with this stuff? Got any suggestions? Help would be much appreciated.....
confused


Did you buy your DVD player from Tesco?
There are three sides to every story. My side, your side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each one differently
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Reply #20 posted 08/24/05 3:28am

asideorderofha
m

deebee said:

While we're on the subject, can anyone help with a technical question....?

I bought the Canadian disc, and I've tried to play it on a multi-region DVD player here in the UK (on a PAL TV). Problem is the picture keeps flashing from black and white to colour, although the sound is fine.

It's probably just a setting that I need to change, but I haven't had the time to play around with it and sort it out, or find the instructions for the DVD/TV. I thought you could just stick it in the machine and, hey presto, it'd all work.

Anyone familiar with this stuff? Got any suggestions? Help would be much appreciated.....
confused


The TV needs to be NTSC compatible to display the picture. Most are, these days, but older models and portables won't be.
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Reply #21 posted 08/24/05 3:58am

deebee

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asideorderofham said:

The TV needs to be NTSC compatible to display the picture. Most are, these days, but older models and portables won't be.
It's fairly new though - Sony Trinitron, widescreen, only about 3 or 4 years old. Really sucks if it's not compatible.....

ufoclub said:

that sounds like the dvd player is translating it into PAL instead of NTSC
Any way I can get it to translate to NTSC? A setting on the TV/DVD?


Shapeshifter said:

Did you buy your DVD player from Tesco?
I fashioned it out of an old toaster myself. It seemed wasteful just to throw it away, as I'd only had it since the late eighties. Sure, you have to duck when the discs pop out, but, on the plus side, Woody Allen movies look great on 'bagel' setting...
biggrin
"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #22 posted 08/24/05 4:12am

asideorderofha
m

deebee said:

asideorderofham said:

The TV needs to be NTSC compatible to display the picture. Most are, these days, but older models and portables won't be.
It's fairly new though - Sony Trinitron, widescreen, only about 3 or 4 years old. Really sucks if it's not compatible.....

Any way I can get it to translate to NTSC? A setting on the TV/DVD?


Sounds like it should work. All I can suggest is that you go through any setup menus on both. All models are different but there's certainly a setting on my DVD player that can be set to 'PAL' or 'auto'.
Other than that, you could try using each of the different inputs on the TV. Hard to tell without looking at it, sorry.
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Reply #23 posted 08/24/05 4:15am

deebee

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Saxjedi said:

However reading on amazon.ca everyone praises the 5.1 mix on that disc, so my question is - is it the same as the newly released UK version? If it is then those people need to clean their ears out!

I think it's probably the same mix. I remember people talking about it when the Canadian one came out - saying that it's an example of how it never really works when they try and create a 5.1 mix without having the original tracks.

I tend to think, personally, that most music dvds sound better in stereo anyway.
"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #24 posted 08/24/05 4:17am

deebee

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asideorderofham said:

deebee said:

It's fairly new though - Sony Trinitron, widescreen, only about 3 or 4 years old. Really sucks if it's not compatible.....

Any way I can get it to translate to NTSC? A setting on the TV/DVD?


Sounds like it should work. All I can suggest is that you go through any setup menus on both. All models are different but there's certainly a setting on my DVD player that can be set to 'PAL' or 'auto'.
Other than that, you could try using each of the different inputs on the TV. Hard to tell without looking at it, sorry.

Ok, will give that a try - thanks. smile
"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #25 posted 08/24/05 4:24am

metalorange

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The Canadian 'Atlantis Alliance' release was the first proper dvd conversion from the original film print - the first available in widescreen.

The same Atlantis dvd is distributed in the UK through 'Network' - but it has been converted from NTSC to Pal.

As far as I understand it, you get a more accurate conversion from the original cinema framerate when converting to NTSC, so the sound is accurate.

When converting to Pal, the sound is a little squeakier as it runs a little faster - but the resolution of Pal is higher than NTSC.

In Europe, for whatever reason, the standard is Pal. A lot of DVD players here are designed to only play Pal DVDs - especially older ones - so before people go off buying the Canadian NTSC version, I'd check to make sure your dvd player is going to be compatible. Also your tv. Also, unless you have a multi-region dvd player, it might not play dvds from the USA/Canada region. So check that too.

deebee, sounds like either your dvd or tv can't handle NTSC. I'd check any manuals or menus you can access to see if there's anything you can do. Also check your cables are pushed in and not damaged (if other dvds work, I guess that is not the problem).
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Reply #26 posted 08/24/05 4:26am

metalorange

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deebee said:

Saxjedi said:

However reading on amazon.ca everyone praises the 5.1 mix on that disc, so my question is - is it the same as the newly released UK version? If it is then those people need to clean their ears out!

I think it's probably the same mix. I remember people talking about it when the Canadian one came out - saying that it's an example of how it never really works when they try and create a 5.1 mix without having the original tracks.

I tend to think, personally, that most music dvds sound better in stereo anyway.


I think that's true - the only person with the original music files split into seperate layers is Prince - Atlantis will have had to 'split' whatever they had from the soundtrack - so it's not a proper conversion to 5:1.
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Reply #27 posted 08/24/05 5:07am

Pellwormer

deebee said:

While we're on the subject, can anyone help with a technical question....?

I bought the Canadian disc, and I've tried to play it on a multi-region DVD player here in the UK (on a PAL TV). Problem is the picture keeps flashing from black and white to colour, although the sound is fine.

It's probably just a setting that I need to change, but I haven't had the time to play around with it and sort it out, or find the instructions for the DVD/TV. I thought you could just stick it in the machine and, hey presto, it'd all work.

Anyone familiar with this stuff? Got any suggestions? Help would be much appreciated.....
confused


My Player had the same problem (unable 4 NTSC), but I found out how 2 change it.
I read it in the internet on the technical iformation on amazon.de (or com).
A code 2 give in and my Player was able 2 play both, PAL & NTSC.

check it out. (or just read the instruction 4 u're Player smile :
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Reply #28 posted 08/24/05 8:04am

DreZone

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was wonderin' how they'd fathom a 5.1 stereo mix...
probably took the el cheapo option and inverted the phase of the normal stereo L+R for the surround L+R and boosted on Sub-Bass...

Surround sound? yawn

'dre
Tried many flavours - but sooner or later, always go back to the Purple Kool-aid!

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Reply #29 posted 08/24/05 8:07am

ufoclub

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the original tracks are encoded in dolby surround on the VHS and laserdisc and the theatrical prints, not stereo.... but seems like they got a hold of some sort of master tapes from the same source that gave them the master film print or video transfer.

metalorange said:

deebee said:


I think it's probably the same mix. I remember people talking about it when the Canadian one came out - saying that it's an example of how it never really works when they try and create a 5.1 mix without having the original tracks.

I tend to think, personally, that most music dvds sound better in stereo anyway.


I think that's true - the only person with the original music files split into seperate layers is Prince - Atlantis will have had to 'split' whatever they had from the soundtrack - so it's not a proper conversion to 5:1.
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