Ripping laserdiscs

[Ed Oscuro]

So I might be getting ahold of a couple laserdiscs soon.

I had assumed that the best way to transfer LDs was using S-Video, or maybe even RGB or VGA capture if an appropriate model could be found (lol), with the caveat that I guess you'd have to sync the audio manually and also buy some expensive equipment (in the case of VGA I know of frame grabbers which I wanted to get anyway, but they aren't cheap).

THEN! A Digital Press forumer, TheDomesticInstitution, came to the rescue and pointed out he'd read laserdisc was often said to rip better via composite than S-Video (he actually said component but whatever, I know better'n that).

A few seconds turned up this in agreement with that reason, and previously I'd read that video laserdiscs had analog (i.e. composite) video. So it stands to reason that you'll need to read the composite signal at some point, and transferring it to S-Video = the bads.

I already have a DAC-200, which takes care of a lot of trouble straight away.

Anyhow, anybody have any tips or further information? Am I essentially right, or is this disinformation?

Update: Another link courtesy of TheDomesticInstitution: http://www.moesrealm.com/hometheater/la ... guide.html

[Fudoh]

I've been doing laserdisc "rips" for nearly 10 years now. In THEORY it's right what you've read about composite vs. S-Video. The reason is that the material is stored in composite form on the disc and is converted to S-Video by a combfilter in the player. If you don't happen to have a super-high-end Pioneer Player (HLD-X0 or X9) this combfilter might be weak.

BUT a problem is that most composite outputs are recombined S-Video outputs, so the path within the player looks like this: composite -> S-Video -> composite. So you'd need to find a player with a PURE composite output which is extremely hard. In addition you'd need an external high-end combfilter which are hard to get as well. Component and RGB are no alternative. There're no Pioneer players with those outputs and on the Sony players with RGB output it's badly converted from composite.

So, what does this mean ? Either spend a few thousand $$ on high-end gear and get a VERY SMALL jump in quality or stay with capturing S-Video. I've uploaded a little comparison screenshot here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost ... tcount=120

When I started to capture LD I used an external Firewire converter as well. It was ok, but I disliked the macroblocking due to the live-DV-codec. If you plan on capture a LOT of LDs, get an analogue capture card (not expensive).

But what's more important is to think about your "end-format". Are you going DVD ? If yes, make sure to get a GOOD MPEG2 encoder. CCE is excellent. You'll notice the difference to a low-end MPEG2 encoder like TMPEG right away. And since you're dealing with analogue material get a good noise filter. You can play around with AVISynth, but eventually I'd recommend that you get NEAT VIDEO to clean up the captured video before encoding it into MPEG2.

Any more questions ? Shoot ahead!

[Ed Oscuro]

End format is an archival copy and possibly some web-based display (i.e. H264 / Youtube).

You have a Blackmagic Multibridge - very jealous! (I think that's what Ghegs was trading in the Sweetspot for too). Have you any experience with the DAC-200 and its comb filter? Perhaps I could arrange a test - would be interested in seeing how it compares to other solutions available.

No other questions for now. Thanks for the information!

[Fudoh]

Have you any experience with the DAC-200 and its comb filter?

I had the Canopus ADVC-300. They're probably very similar. For me the combfilter in my LD Player (HLD-X9) was better, so the question probably is: which LD Player are you using ? If you're using a CLD-xx (two digits) it probably doesn't matter if your using the composite or S-Video output....

[Fudoh]

End format is an archival copy and possibly some web-based display (i.e. H264 / Youtube).

Archival copy on which medium ? The reason for asking: LD is interlaced and so will be your stream. It will look horrible on your PC screen (combing/feathering all over the place). if you're going DVD as an "end format" you can keep it interlaced. If you're archiving to AVI you should run your material through an deinterlacer. Just make sure to think through the full processing path. Interlaced videos on Youtube look horrible...

[thelasernut]

There're no Pioneer players with those outputs and on the Sony players with RGB output it's badly converted from composite.

Hi - this is my first posting here so I'll keep it brief

The Pioneer Industrial Player type LD-V4300D can be had cheaply and it DOES have an RGB output.

Having said that I have not tried it myself - so I can't comment on how it compares with the Composite Video Output

Regards

[Fudoh]

so I can't comment on how it compares with the Composite Video Output

crappy as hell.

[Ed Oscuro]

I ran across an interesting post on Digital Press. Who knows when I'll be doing anything with LDs now, but could anybody comment on these models that poster is looking for:

I'm hoping that I'm not the only video game collector who also has an interest in laserdiscs.

I'm looking for a few specific models of players. They are:
Panasonic LX-900
Denon LA-3500
MSB LS2
Runco LJRII (a long shot)

Since this thread is about composite things I should also upload a frame from my VHS transfer done a while ago - just looking to find out if there's anything in particular I should do when encoding it.

[Fudoh]

Think about when those companies left the LD-player business. Pioneer was the only manufacturer to take LDs into the 21st century and was practically alone in the business in the 2nd half of the 90s as well. Some of those machines listed might be worth their price (in the sense as they cost nothing), but eventually the newest player you can get will get you the best possible picture quality.

[Strider77]

not to derail the thread... but I have alot of LDs I'm looking to sell along with a player. any ideas as good places to post suck items for sale?

[Ed Oscuro]

Suck items go to the suck hole, good items to go Trading Sector

[Strider77]

what does that mean?

[Ed Oscuro]

what does that mean?

I'm not sure, you mentioned suck items. :p

Were you selling games or LD movies? You could try selling either here, although yeah a dedicated laserdisc forum would probably be best for sales.

[Strider77]

LD movies, have a few things like gunbuster, close encounters, jaws, raiders, ect.... the most current release of them as far as LD goes.