David Lambert
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2001
- Messages
- 11,377
I am asked for more experienced help from the very knowledgable members of the HTF. I would like some input on the video quality of the All In The Family DVD release.
You see, I'm not exactly happy with the video. It's no Twin Peaks, that's for sure. It's not Star Trek or M*A*S*H quality; it's not even Stargate SG-1 or Planet of the Apes. I would compare it more with the videotaped segments of Cosmos. The scenes of Sagan on board the "spaceship of the imagination" have a soft, sorta-grainy, tiny cross-hatch pattern to it that bugs me whenever I see it. Yet...I never saw a review criticizing the video on Cosmos; it was characterized as being a good remastering of elements in poor shape by then, and being "about as good as it could get". AitF's video - what I've seen so far - seems to exhibit the same softness, the same cross-hatch pattern. Plus a generous helping of Edge Enhancement to boot...something I almost never notice on my DVD's, not even in The Phantom Menace, which everyone says is loaded with it.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, Gord Lacey has asked me to review this product exclusively for his TVShowsOnDVD.com website (which is linked to in my sig, for those of you who don't know it). I have sent him some of the screen captures from the first episode, "Meet The Bunkers". He agrees with the softness and the EE, and thought you guys here might have some input.
I am trying to keep in mind that, as the announcer tells you at the end of each show, "All In The Family was recorded ON TAPE before a live audience" (actually, I think the practice of the announcer saying that didn't happen in the first episode, but it definately happened before the end of the first season). In any case, this show was recorded to analog videotape...not to film like others were. And this tape is 32 years old! Was it "finished on film"? I don't know...does anyone else out there? Could this have looked better?
I honestly have no idea what - if any - effort Columbia put into remastering the elements for this release. I doubt there was any, since there has been no marketing effort in the press release or what few (trade magazine) ads I've seen to publicize such efforts (usually it is a selling point, right?).
I don't really think these issues are compression-related, though it might be and I just don't realize it. Huh...maybe the "Superbit" guys just could've used a higher bitrate! I dunno. It's 104 minutes on the 1st & 2nd discs and 130 on the 3rd. Discs are single-layer, though.
Here are screencaps of what I was most concerned about (click on the link to see the picture; they're each 30-45KB in file size and 720x540x16.7):
Note that my review scoring probably WILL NOT change based on your input; it will still point out that my initial impression of the video isn't very good, and is likely to annoy the casual purchaser of this disc, no matter WHAT the explanations are. I want your input as to what the explanations are, and whether it could have been better (which I don't think *should* affect the scores I give...even if it CAN'T be better, the purchaser doesn't care WHY it looks "bad", he just knows it does, right?). Full credit will be given to the individual and to the HTF, of course.
This is my first "official" review, and I find I need help to explain why this isn't going to be as clear-looking as TNG will look, released the same day. Thanks for your input! I guess this asking for help doesn't make me much of a reviewer, but we all gotta start somewhere.
You see, I'm not exactly happy with the video. It's no Twin Peaks, that's for sure. It's not Star Trek or M*A*S*H quality; it's not even Stargate SG-1 or Planet of the Apes. I would compare it more with the videotaped segments of Cosmos. The scenes of Sagan on board the "spaceship of the imagination" have a soft, sorta-grainy, tiny cross-hatch pattern to it that bugs me whenever I see it. Yet...I never saw a review criticizing the video on Cosmos; it was characterized as being a good remastering of elements in poor shape by then, and being "about as good as it could get". AitF's video - what I've seen so far - seems to exhibit the same softness, the same cross-hatch pattern. Plus a generous helping of Edge Enhancement to boot...something I almost never notice on my DVD's, not even in The Phantom Menace, which everyone says is loaded with it.
As I've mentioned elsewhere, Gord Lacey has asked me to review this product exclusively for his TVShowsOnDVD.com website (which is linked to in my sig, for those of you who don't know it). I have sent him some of the screen captures from the first episode, "Meet The Bunkers". He agrees with the softness and the EE, and thought you guys here might have some input.
I am trying to keep in mind that, as the announcer tells you at the end of each show, "All In The Family was recorded ON TAPE before a live audience" (actually, I think the practice of the announcer saying that didn't happen in the first episode, but it definately happened before the end of the first season). In any case, this show was recorded to analog videotape...not to film like others were. And this tape is 32 years old! Was it "finished on film"? I don't know...does anyone else out there? Could this have looked better?
I honestly have no idea what - if any - effort Columbia put into remastering the elements for this release. I doubt there was any, since there has been no marketing effort in the press release or what few (trade magazine) ads I've seen to publicize such efforts (usually it is a selling point, right?).
I don't really think these issues are compression-related, though it might be and I just don't realize it. Huh...maybe the "Superbit" guys just could've used a higher bitrate! I dunno. It's 104 minutes on the 1st & 2nd discs and 130 on the 3rd. Discs are single-layer, though.
Here are screencaps of what I was most concerned about (click on the link to see the picture; they're each 30-45KB in file size and 720x540x16.7):
- #1 - Opening credits at the piano (check out Edith's face)
{link to picture 1}
#2 - The Bunkers and the Stivics at the breakfast table
{link to picture 2}
#3 - Archie in his chair (note Edge Enhancement along sleeve on right side of the pic)
{link to picture 3}
#4 - Archie watching Meathead & Gloria make out (more EE on his sleeve)
{link to picture 4}
#5 - I can barely read these closing credits sometimes! (Note that most of the time they look *GREAT* )
{link to picture 5}
#6 - More closing credits; note the almost-invisible text at the bottom
{link to picture 6}
#7 - Strangest of them all! A 1-second burst of video noise at 17:52 on the 1st episode, that Gord thinks is a dropout on the original analog tape. This isn't the only time it happens, though it's rare. Thoughts?
{link to picture 7}
Note that my review scoring probably WILL NOT change based on your input; it will still point out that my initial impression of the video isn't very good, and is likely to annoy the casual purchaser of this disc, no matter WHAT the explanations are. I want your input as to what the explanations are, and whether it could have been better (which I don't think *should* affect the scores I give...even if it CAN'T be better, the purchaser doesn't care WHY it looks "bad", he just knows it does, right?). Full credit will be given to the individual and to the HTF, of course.
This is my first "official" review, and I find I need help to explain why this isn't going to be as clear-looking as TNG will look, released the same day. Thanks for your input! I guess this asking for help doesn't make me much of a reviewer, but we all gotta start somewhere.