From: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.edu (William R. Cruce)
Subject: LD: Warner uses Sony Masters?
Keywords: laserdisc mastering, WEA, DADC 
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 02:04:21 GMT

A note in the LaserScene Monthly back in October prompted the following
exchange of letters.  I invite your comments.  Having just watched
the entire SECRET HONOR disc from Criterion, I am highly sceptical of
everything :-).
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                                             October 13, 1992
Mr. Scott Hughes
The Laser Scene Monthly
37 Dorland Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Dear Mr. Hughes,

In the October issue (p.1) you state that WEA claims they actually
pressed the discs for THE FLASH and ERIC CLAPTON UNPLUGGED but that
they bear the markings of Sony DADC because the glass masters were
prepared by Sony.  Bob Niland, a friend who is very knowledgeable
on the technology of laserdiscs, said he found that hard to believe
for the following reasons:

"1. LD and CD vendors treat their glass masters like
photographers treat negatives, i.e. they usually won't release
them.  They usually charge for storage, and will destroy them if
you don't pay for that, but I've never seen any indication that
they are for sale."

"2. These masters must be kept in clean-room conditions.  Unless
someone has invented a transport mechanism, it would be very
risky to attempt moving them from one pressing plant to another."

"3. WEA uses ablative mastering.  DADC, as far as I know, uses
traditional photo-resist chemical etch.  I would be surprised to
hear that the downstream processes can accept masters made by
different techniques."


Could you check further with WEA on this matter and publish a
clarification in the future?

Sincerely yours,
William L.R. Cruce

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LASER_SCENE MONTHLY
Scott A. Hughes
37 Dorland Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

November 19,1992

William:

Though it's taken me some time, I was finally able to speak with someone at
WEA about the questions raised in your letter of October 13.  I was again
told that the glass masters for THE FLASH and ERIC CLAPTON Unplugged were
indeed prepared by Sony.  This was done for WEA because the company was
experiencing its own problems with regard to the preparation of masters, a
situation that has improved somewhat (though not entirely).  There are times
when "competitors" such as Sony and WEA will "help each other out" as a sort
of industry courtesy, despite the cut-throat image that is often presented
to the public.  Transportation of the fragile masters was evidently not a
problem, because WEA assured me that they did finally replicate the discs
in question.

I understand the doubts that you had concerning the explanation, and it
brought up the initial skepticism I had while reviewing the titles.  But the
folks that I deal with at WEA have proven to be highly reliable and at no
time did I feel they were "giving me the runaround".  I can't say that the
confirmation will resolve your own doubts, but I have never felt a need to
distrust my contacts at WEA.

My apologies for the long delay in getting back to you on this matter.  
I hope all is well with you and yours.

Scott

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-- 
'This Escalator Doesn't Stop at Your Station'       #24/37 for BRAZIL

    Bill Cruce, INTERNET: wlrc@uhura.neoucom.edu, VOICE: 216-325-2511
   N.E. Ohio Univ. Coll. of Medicine, Box 95, Rootstown OH 44272-0095