SW Trilogy - Digital Bits says it's messed up

In all the hype over the DVD release of Star Wars, I'm afraid to say
there's a bit of bad news about the discs (or at least one of them) from a
quality standpoint. We've discovered what we believe are serious audio
defects on Episode IV - A New Hope. We've updated our DVD review of the set
accordingly with the details as follows:

[Editor's Note: since we initially wrote this review, we've detected a
number of audio/mixing errors on the DVD version of A New Hope. They are as
follows:

1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after
Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards
the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost
inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.

2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would
prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost
as if the master sound element was damaged. It's very distracting.

3) Possibly most critically, John Williams' entire score for the film has
been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear
channel is playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this
means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels -
instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear
instead of the right rear. Again, this is very distracting once you notice
it.

These problems are certainly severe enough in our opinion to merit a
repressing/exchange of the disc. We're waiting to hear back from Lucasfilm
on this issue and we'll update this review with the details as soon as we
do.]

Stan Jensen

On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 22:23:49 GMT, Stan Jensen <>
wrote:

>In all the hype over the DVD release of Star Wars, I'm afraid to say
>there's a bit of bad news about the discs (or at least one of them) from a
>quality standpoint. We've discovered what we believe are serious audio
>defects on Episode IV - A New Hope. We've updated our DVD review of the set
>accordingly with the details as follows:
>
>[Editor's Note: since we initially wrote this review, we've detected a
>number of audio/mixing errors on the DVD version of A New Hope. They are as
>follows:
>
>1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after
>Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards
>the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost
>inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.
>
>2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would
>prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost
>as if the master sound element was damaged. It's very distracting.
>
>3) Possibly most critically, John Williams' entire score for the film has
>been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear
>channel is playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this
>means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels -
>instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear
>instead of the right rear. Again, this is very distracting once you notice
>it.
>
>These problems are certainly severe enough in our opinion to merit a
>repressing/exchange of the disc. We're waiting to hear back from Lucasfilm
>on this issue and we'll update this review with the details as soon as we
>do.]


Oh great. Was no one paying attention? Lucasfilm's initial
non-response is not encouraging. Bet they are not enthusiastic to eat
the replacement costs of a whole shipment of these.

zmike6

Stan Jensen <> wrote in message news:<>. ..

> We've discovered what we believe are serious audio
> defects on Episode IV - A New Hope.

LOL! Maybe Lucas always wanted them that way.

-Eric

Eric R.

"Stan Jensen" <> wrote in message
news:...

> 2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would
> prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost
> as if the master sound element was damaged. It's very distracting.

I noticed this too. There are times when the dialog sounds impressively
clear, at other times it is fairly muffled. This happens within a scene,
sometimes from line to line. I put it down to variable source material.

The Unnaturalist.

The Unnaturalist

>
> I noticed this too. There are times when the dialog sounds impressively
> clear, at other times it is fairly muffled. This happens within a scene,
> sometimes from line to line. I put it down to variable source material.
>

Yes, and its very distracting. I'm surprised that they couldn't run some fancy
filters to compensate for the lack of quality.

What The

The sound is not like this at all on the famous laser disc versions. Bad
management.

"What The" <> wrote in message
news:RC04d.38840$...
> >
>> I noticed this too. There are times when the dialog sounds impressively
>> clear, at other times it is fairly muffled. This happens within a scene,
>> sometimes from line to line. I put it down to variable source material.
>>
>
> Yes, and its very distracting. I'm surprised that they couldn't run some
> fancy filters to compensate for the lack of quality.
>

luminos

Stan Jensen <> writes:

> In all the hype over the DVD release of Star Wars, I'm afraid to say
> there's a bit of bad news about the discs (or at least one of them) from a
> quality standpoint. We've discovered what we believe are serious audio
> defects on Episode IV - A New Hope. We've updated our DVD review of the set
> accordingly with the details as follows:
>
> [Editor's Note: since we initially wrote this review, we've detected a
> number of audio/mixing errors on the DVD version of A New Hope. They are as
> follows:
>
> 1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after
> Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards
> the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost
> inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.
>
> 2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would
> prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost
> as if the master sound element was damaged. It's very distracting.
>
> 3) Possibly most critically, John Williams' entire score for the film has
> been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear
> channel is playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this
> means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels -
> instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear
> instead of the right rear. Again, this is very distracting once you notice
> it.
>
> These problems are certainly severe enough in our opinion to merit a
> repressing/exchange of the disc. We're waiting to hear back from Lucasfilm
> on this issue and we'll update this review with the details as soon as we
> do.]

Lucasfilm THX Quality Control strikes again...

--
Paikka on varattu
vali deille
an uksille

Pentti Lajunen

Stan Jensen <> wrote in message news:<>. ..
> In all the hype over the DVD release of Star Wars, I'm afraid to say
> there's a bit of bad news about the discs (or at least one of them) from a
> quality standpoint. We've discovered what we believe are serious audio
> defects on Episode IV - A New Hope. We've updated our DVD review of the set
> accordingly with the details as follows:
>
> [Editor's Note: since we initially wrote this review, we've detected a
> number of audio/mixing errors on the DVD version of A New Hope. They are as
> follows:
>
> 1) The familiar Force theme trumpet fanfare that used to play right after
> Red Leader says: "This is it!" and just as the X-wings start diving towards
> the Death Star's surface has been dialed back in volume so that it's almost
> inaudible - it's almost completely buried in the surround mix.
>
> 2) The audio quality varies wildly as Tarkin says the line: "You would
> prefer another target, a military target? Then name the system." - almost
> as if the master sound element was damaged. It's very distracting.
>
> 3) Possibly most critically, John Williams' entire score for the film has
> been flipped in the rear channels, so that what should be the left rear
> channel is playing from the right rear channel (and vise versa). What this
> means is that the rear channels don't match the front channels -
> instruments heard from the front right channel come from the left rear
> instead of the right rear. Again, this is very distracting once you notice
> it.
>
> These problems are certainly severe enough in our opinion to merit a
> repressing/exchange of the disc. We're waiting to hear back from Lucasfilm
> on this issue and we'll update this review with the details as soon as we
> do.]


well, this sucks. fox needs to respond quickly.

some thoughts about the excellent documentary on the bonus dvd:

i had no idea how much lucas was risking in order to 1) reduce studio
meddling and 2) retain rights and profits, in the making of empire.
think about this. he scores the hit of a lifetime with star wars,
then with that money he bets it all for empire, then again for his
businesses. he keeps doing this, and moreover, he's right...it keeps
paying off. wanna know what "gutsy" looks like? look at lucas, the
guy is pure balls and unlike 90% of gutsy guys you come across
everyday, he's been proven right time and time again.

so, say you're the fox board and you see your stock price DOUBLE
because of the monster star wars hit. you've got alan ladd jr. with
an uncanny ability to spot talent (a rare talent in itself. try
picking a stock and you'll know what i mean.) and this hotshot
filmmaker who can create cultural phenomenons and whose only loyalty
is to the guy who greenlit his baby, do you 1) reward excellence and
do everything to keep those two happy so that they can keep making
more hits, and more money for your shareholders or 2) **** them off
and drive them away? it's 2, you idiots! that's how america works!
and that's why ladd quit and lucas went to paramount to make them
millions with the indiana jones triology.

beware of conservative half-wits. they'll break your heart everytime.

Marty Feldman