HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: LD quality disappointing
Date: 14 Sep 92 18:06:33 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

In article <1992Sep14.132105.3962@sol.ctr.columbia.edu>, es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes:
> 
> In article <STEINARB.92Sep14131321@turkis.idt.unit.no> steinarb@idt.unit.no (Steinar Bang) writes:
> >
> >Is this a common experience? If so, then I'm going to remove an
> >LD-player from my "must have" list.
> >
> 	The main reasons for a laser disc player, IMNSHO, do not
> include the improved video quality. It is better, but not THAT
> much better. (I've never seen PAL VHS or LD formats, so I can't
> comment on them)
> 
> 	My reasons are letterboxing, durability and longer
> lifetime, and better audio. I've noticed that, although the front
> channels are clear with VHS, the surround channel is fuzzy. Not
> so with laserdiscs.
> 

I second this opinion -- if you get into laser discs expecting dramatically
better picture quality, you will be dissapointed.  However, the other
benifits (as listed above and there are others too) definitely make it
worth the expense in my opinion.  One point I want to make is that I've
yet to see a laser disc that looked worse then VHS, so I think your (that
is, Steinar's) particular case (the Freejack disc) is an unusual one.
Definitely not typical.

Steve
Xref: sparky rec.video:11131 rec.audio:12335
From: gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Gabe M Wiener)
Newsgroups: rec.video,rec.audio
Subject: Re: VHS/SVHR Hi-Fi VCR recommendations needed!  HELP!
Keywords: VHS SVHS Hi-Fi VCR audio
Date: 10 Sep 92 19:42:16 GMT
Reply-To: gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Gabe M Wiener)
Organization: Columbia University

In article <1992Sep10.033450.29442@en.ecn.purdue.edu> davisonj@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John M Davison) writes:
>
>        I am looking for a VHS (and/or SVHS) Hi-Fi VCR for $500 or less, to be
>used primarily for semi-professional audio recording, mastering, and audio/
>video time shifting. 

If you want to do semi-pro audio recording, don't get a VCR.  Get a $500
DAT machine.  VCR audio isn't subjectively better than a good cassette deck.
Some of the specs are better, but you're just trading one set of problems
for another.  The exception to this, of course, is if you buy a PCM encoder
and record digitally, but not many people are going that route nowadays with
the advent of affordable semi-pro/pro DAT hardware.

>1. Would it be worthwhile to use a broken cassette deck as an input volume
>   control for something like the SLV-696HF, or should I demand a VCR with
>   input level controls?

If you must go the VCR route for audio, then for goodness sake do NOT use
a *broken* cassette deck for audio level control, or any cassette deck at
all for that matter.  The whole point is to have as little as possible in
the signal chain.  Get a machine with level controls.

>2. Is better audio fidelity among the advantages of SVHS Hi-Fi (i.e. does it
>   sound any better than VHS Hi-Fi)?

I believe they are identical.  

>3. All visual considerations aside, is it possible to do any sort of sonic
>   editing wih VHS or SVHS?  Would a flying erase head do me any good?

You certainly can't splice the tape if that's what you mean (not without
special blocks and sprays to show where the control track is).  Editing on
a consumer deck is going to be a hairy mess.  If you wanted to use a pro
video editing deck, you could, but such a system would run you into the
high four figures, which for audio only would be downright silly, since
a SountTools editing system can be had for only a few thousand.

>4. What is a good tape for audio mastering purposes?

Video tape?  Got me.  Audio tape, I like Ampex myself.

>5. Am I correct in thinking that audio input level controls are largely the
>   domain of SVHS machines?  If so, why?  (Do rich people really prefer more
>   knobs?)

I remember having audio pots on my hi-fi VHS deck as far back as 1984.  
I don't know what the current marketing strategies are, but I suspect
you could find a VHS deck with level controls.  

I still would advise against using a VHS deck for audio purposes when
little Aiwa DAT machines can be had for <$500 and will give significantly
better performance for amateur/prosumer applications.


--
Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings 
gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu       to be seriously considered as a means of 
N2GPZ in ham radio circles        communication. The device is inherently of
72355,1226 on CI$                 no value to us." -Western Union memo, 1877
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Macrovision
Date: 14 Sep 92 23:55:46 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <9209140700.AA20912@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> EDGLOWE@ECUVM.CIS.ECU.EDU ("Gregg F. Lowe") writes:
<
<In message-ID: <1992Sep12.020805.13569@panix.com>
<panix!schuster@nyu.edu  (Michael Schuster) writes:
<
<>I've posted about this before but perhaps this would be a good time to
<>bring it up again. The pros on CompuServe's CE Forum said during a
<>discussion of Macrovision that with the schematic you can modify any
<>VCR to ignore Macrovision. You do this by clipping the capacitor which
<>forms the time constant for the AGC circuit, effectively disabling the
<>AGC. Yes, you won't get automatic level control, but the video signals
<>fed to most comsumer VCR's are so compressed anyway that there wouldn't
<>be much danger.
<
<There's a lower tech method to beat this system that has worked approximately
<98% of the times I've tried it.  Now, please understand, I AM IN NO WAY
<ENCOURAGING/ENDORSING THE ILLEGAL COPYING OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS, I'm only
<passing along some information related to this discussion.  Actually, a year
<or so ago someone challenged me by saying it could not be done...
<
<EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
<1 VCP with A/V output
<1 VCR with A/V input
<2 sets of A/V cables
<1 monitor with A/V input AND Monitor A/V output (as opposed to signal output)
<
<PROCEDURE:
<Connect player output to monitor via A/V cables (NOT RF!)
<Connect recorder input to MONITOR A/V OUTPUT via A/V cables
<play tape into/record through monitor (tada...!)
<
<I'm more of an applications person than an engineer so I won't pretend I
<completely understand *how* it works, but it does.  What I think happens
<is that the monitor takes the signal and creates a display from it.  By
<using the Monitor A/V output, the signal you are recording is generated
<from the *display*... in other words, it's not the same signal that was
<sent into the monitor.

I suspect that the internal circuits of the monitor are clamping any signal
occuring during the video display time to black, if it goes below black.
That removes the extra horizontal sync pulses, thereby stopping Macrovision.

That is exactly what my TBC does.  Nothing is allowed to go below the setup
level (black) during the 63.5 micro-second display time.
-- 
      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
                                   brown@wi.extrel.com
From: davepat@flash.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Dave Patterson)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: I've got it!!  (Philips 16:9 TV)
Summary: one thing...
Date: 14 Sep 92 16:43:32 GMT

In article <25811@castle.ed.ac.uk>, sss@castle.ed.ac.uk (S S Sturrock) writes:
> Well, I have been waiting for over a month for my new 28" 16:9 Philips
> matchline TV to arrive and on Saturday it did!  I wasn't expecting it, my
> flatmate told me later that he had known since Tuesday and had forgotten to
> tell me (GRRRR).
> 
> Anyway, what's it like you ask?
>
> [ ... ]
>

Wow!  I've just got some small questions:

How much did it cost?
Do you know how much the multiformat version costs? 

Does anyone know if it will be available in the USofA?

Thanks in advance!

- Dave Patterson

= #include <disclaimer.h> ===============================================
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||    |      "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!     |
| |||                        |||    |       Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!     |
|     o l i v e t t i  a t c        |       Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!     |
|                                   |          - Ren & Stimpy           |
================ {ucbvax, etc.}!hplabs!flash!davepat ====================
From: pvh@apple.com (Pete Helme)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: ProScan by mail order?
Date: 8 Sep 92 18:47:34 GMT
Followup-To: rec.video
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.

Does anyone know where ProScan (Thomson) TVs can be mail ordered from?

Thanks.

name: Pete Helme
work: Apple Computer, Inc.
mail: pvh@apple.com
From: wonhee@cello.ecn.purdue.edu (Wonhee Sull)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Information about LD players
Date: 14 Sep 92 16:24:36 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

I just started to look at LD players available. To my surprise,
current LD players under $700-800 don't have functions like
screen pause, fluent fast forward, slow motion which are considered
as basic functions in VHS players.
Even when I understand the technical barriers in LDP, and there
are LD players which can handle all these at incredibly high 
price, I wonder which model I have to buy.
I appreciate any suggestions and comments in buying a LD player.
Wonhee
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: tonyg@spock.retix.com (Tony "Salty Dog" Goulding)
Subject: Comparative analysis
Organization: Retix, Santa Monica CA
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 18:16:56 GMT

Hey ho!
I haven't been following this group for quite some time, but recall
a while back some postings on:
  a comparison of camcorder features of the latest models;
  reviews of the latest camcorders; and
  reviews of mail-order retailers.

Can anyone please direct me to this information via anon-ftp or kindly
email the latest information?

Thanks
-- 
Tony [All views expressed are mine - if anyone is to blame its me]
==================================================================
"What a waste it is to lose one's mind.  Or not to have a mind is
being very wasteful.  How true that is" Vice President Dan Quayle
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: claudius@zeus.calpoly.edu (King_Claudius (Chris Knight))
Subject: Re: Scan lines
Keywords: PTV
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1992 22:16:57 GMT

petec@splat.dell.com (Pete Cruz) says:
>As I have been shopping for a PVT (Projection TV) I am confused by lines
>of resolution. Some manufactures like Hitiach claim 900 and Pioneer 
>uses 750. Exactly what the this mean and how does it relate to picture 
>quality. As I understand it a LD player will provide up to 400 while
>television broadcast is around 258 lines.

I'd assume [for better info talk to a dealer, or read the tech manuals for
these units] the high number of lines for a projection tv is to provide a much
sharper image than what would result from only 400[+] lines.  Your
understanding of LD output is correct, the encoding doesn't carry more than
somewhere over 400 lines of info.  So basically the projection system must use
some sort of digital frame capture to duplicate the other 350-500 lines...must
be pretty expensive...
-- 
---King Claudius---                                   claudius@zeus.calpoly.edu
From: peishuh@author.ecn.purdue.edu (Pei-Shuh F Wang)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Empire strikes back (Version difference?!)
Date: 6 Sep 92 02:20:23 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

I just start collecting laserdisks, I bought "Empire strikes back"
Wide Screen Special version at local Videoland store today for
$34.98, this is regular price.  Later I found out the Columbia
House catalog is selling at $69 regular price.  Is there any
difference in the disks themselves. Mine says made by CBS-FOX.
Thanks for any info!


peishuh@ecn.purdue.edu
From: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Laserdisc vs. VCR
Date: 14 Sep 92 23:50:48 GMT
Reply-To: brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot)
Organization: Vidiot's Hangout

In article <ZZ32qB16w165w@jybox.jyu.fi> otto@jybox.jyu.fi (Otto J. Makela) writes:
<singg@alf.uib.no (Kurt George Gjerde) writes:
<
<>    I'm thinking of buying a Laserdisc player (I already have a VCR), and
<>    would like to hear other people's opinions (and get some facts right)...
<> 
<>       - Is the max. playing time per side 30 minutes ?  (so you have to
<>         disc-jockey 2 or 3 times during a film) ??
<
<About 55 minutes on a "standard play" disc (CLV), so for most films it's
<only once per film.  30 or so minutes on CAV.

Sorry, but it is 60 minutes CLV, 30 minutes CAV

<>       - What is CX encoding(/decoding) ??
<
<A noise reduction scheme for the sound.  Modern players have it, you don't
<have to worry about it.

Analog only.  Digital doesn't use CX.

<>       - What is CAV ??
<
<Constant Angular Velocity play mode.  The disc plays like an old phonograph
<record, rotating at the same speed all the time.  The idea is that one frame
<of film forms one track on the disc, thus you can seek frame-by-frame thru
<the movie.  Great slow motion and reverse play options for those hard-to-see
<SFX and small details.  Also used for storing still pictures.

Nope, but close.  One revolution of the disc = 1 video frame, not one film
frame.  Different media, different idea.

Frame by frame film search only works with films transferred to CAV.  For
CLV mode, with a digital field buffer, most consumer LD players will capture
one video field per revolution.  On the outside of the disc, that means one
video field out of 6.  Sure miss alot out there at the rim.

<By the way, I recommend Bob Niland's excellent LD information articles,
<available in Europe from nic.funet.fi anonymous ftp.  They explain all
<I've said here and much more (I hope I haven't flubbed anything)...

You did, so your punishment is to go back and re-read Bob's articles :-)
-- 
      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
                                   brown@wi.extrel.com
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: edwind@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (Tom NGUYEN)
Subject: Need advices to buy a VHS CamCorder
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 11 Sep 1992 17:13 EST  

I am planning to buy a CamCorder that has compatible format with my 
existing VHS VCR to record my two little sons and other things or events in 
the family, but I am not very familiar with all the CamCorder 
manufacturers and I do not know which one would be best to buy from.
Please, someone out there, give me some advices about which CamCorder would 
be the best price/performance, with most features and high quality image 
that I should consider buying.  What zoom ratio would be good enough 
for mormal use: 8:1, 10:1, 16:1, or 20:1?  I have seen the Hitachi VM-5400A 
VHS camcorder that has a zoom ratio 100:1, 2 lux min., flying erase head, 
variable shutter speed, built-in automatic head cleaner, twist and shoot, 
blank search, character generator, interval recording, VISS index search, 
and 2-hour battery.  This camcorder costs about $1400.  Is it worthwhile 
to spend that much ($1400 is a lot of money!) on this camcorder?  But, for my 
kids, I am willing to spend up to $2000 to buy the one that gives high 
quality image and easy to use.  Please give me some suggestions and advices.

Thank you very much in advance for your help.

Tom Nguyen

(216)826-6619 
E-Mail: edwind@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov




Newsgroups: rec.video
From: ss@wpi.WPI.EDU (Scott Streeter)
Subject: Re: Empire strikes back (Version difference?!)
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 00:48:13 GMT

>>>>> On 6 Sep 92 02:20:23 GMT, peishuh@author.ecn.purdue.edu (Pei-Shuh F Wang) said:

peishuh> I just start collecting laserdisks, I bought "Empire strikes
peishuh> back" Wide Screen Special version at local Videoland store
peishuh> today for $34.98, this is regular price.  Later I found out
peishuh> the Columbia House catalog is selling at $69 regular price.
peishuh> Is there any difference in the disks themselves. Mine says
peishuh> made by CBS-FOX.  Thanks for any info!


Are you sure 34.95 is a sale or clearance price? The $70 price is what
all the SW flicks have been running at.
--
                        Scott Streeter
                        ss@wpi.wpi.edu
Lines: 26
Date: Sun,  6 Sep 92 22:46:11 MDT
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: MURILLMJ@jsblan.byu.edu (Martin Murillo)
Subject: Re: Buying a CamCorder in Japan
Organization: Brigham Young University, Provo,UT.

In article <BtrFH9.CvD@encore.com> mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer) writes:
>From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
>Subject: Re: Buying a CamCorder in Japan
>Date: 29 Aug 92 19:29:33 GMT
>zhao@bcarh12d.BNR.CA (Jeffrey Zhao) writes:
>
>>Could anybody tell me if a CamCorder bought in Japan can be used
>>here in North America?  I know Japan uses NTSC, but what about
>>the audio frequency (sound carrier)?  I phoned a few local stores,
>>but none of them could give me a definite answer.
>
>There's nothing about the geographical location of North America that would
>prevent any camcorder from anywhere in the world from operating!  :)
>
>Seriously, the only difference between some Japanese markey camcorders are
>the markings & manuals are in Japanese.  Tapes play back fine on US TVs.

Yes, I bought one Kyocera CmCorder in Japan and have no problem with the
CamCorder itself, but I had to figure out by myself the basic steps to
make it run:  the manuals are in Japanese and also the  characters in the
body and display (like the "recording" indicator and parts of the date, hour 
and some logos).
What I'm doing now is trying to find the english version of the manual.
What I would advice is to buy a nown brand like Sony or any other.

Martin
From: raible@cbmvax.commodore.com (Bob Raible - LSI Design)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Image lowers prices on 400-500 titles to $19.98!
Date: 4 Sep 92 21:00:20 GMT
Organization: Commodore

In article <1992Sep3.162914.17431@e2big.mko.dec.com> starr@dpe.enet.dec.com writes:
>
>Image Entertainment has just dropped their list price on 400-500 titles,
>from $39.98 to $19.98. I think this is a great move that should help stimulate
>the sell-through market! 
>
>A sampling of the titles includes: Mermaids, Throw Mamma From The Train, My 
>Left Foot, Tender Mercies, Cadillac Man, Hoosiers, Married To The Mob, 
>Rollerball, and Q&A. 
>
>Maybe not the greatest titles in the world, but it's a start!
>
>Also, Pioneer has just lowered the prices on some of their catalog, down to
>$24.95-29.95. A sampling of those titles include Lawrence Of Arabia, Close
>Encounters of the Third Kind, The Big Chill, Tootise, Dr. Strangelove,
>About Last Night, Taxi Driver, Stand By Me, Absence of Malice, and Midnight 
>Express.
>
>alan

Well how about the flyer from CHLDC's RED TAG sale this month. The following
selections have no RED TAG attached yet are priced as follows:

	1.) Total Recall - priced at 22.95 , lists at 39.95
	2.) Silence of the Lambs - priced at 19.95, lists at 29.95

As mentioned earlier, Columbia is offering the LBX Romancing the Stone for
34.98 instead of 59.98. I understand that in this case it's not just a typo,
but rather that CH is actually shipping the LBX version at that price. Does
anybody know if the above 2 titles are related to Image/Pioneer list price
reductions, or are they just CH typos? Thanx.

-- 
_____________________________________________________________________________
Robert J. Raible		EMAIL:raible@cbmvax.commodore.com
VLSI Program Manager		 or: {uunet|rutgers|pyramid}!cbmvax!raible
Commodore Business Machines     "my comments, not Commodore's, ok ?"
From: chrisp@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU (Chris Pelkie)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: TV with scan rate much greater than 15kHz?
Date: 11 Sep 92 12:22:47 GMT
Organization: Cornell Theory Center

In article <1749@shaman.wv.tek.com>, andrew@frip.WV.TEK.COM (Andrew Klossner) writes:
|> I need a TV or a video monitor whose fundamental scan rate is much
|> greater than 15kHz, or which uses some alternate technology so that no
|> 15kHz painting is involved.  (This is for medical reasons; it has
|> nothing to do with picture quality.)  I want a room-sized screen, 25"
|> or more, so a VGA adapter won't do it.
|> 
|> A couple of years ago, somebody tried to make a big splash with "IDTV"
|> (not to be confused with HDTV), in which the system would capture and
|> display two fields at once.  It painted a double scan rate,
|> non-interlaced picture.  Contemporary reviews suggested that the minute
|> improvement in picture quality didn't justify the price.  Is any
|> manufacturer still making IDTV units?  Or does anybody know of a
|> non-15kHz system on the market?
|> 
|>   -=- Andrew Klossner  (andrew@frip.wv.tek.com)
|>                        (uunet!tektronix!frip.WV.TEK!andrew)

The current issue of Video has an article about increasing your resolution
through various expensive means, like the $12000 Faroudja box. They
mentioned that IDTV has been improved since its introduction.
I looked at the first Philips (about 5 yrs ago) and walked away,
but I just saw a newer one and it's much better. NEC has a $5000 gizmo
that externally doubles the resolution on regular monitors. I've seen
this demo'ed at SIGGRAPH and it works nicely. Of course,
I assume you meant to watch TV signals, not digital computer signals,
as most CG monitors have much higher scan rates than TV.
-- 
Chris Pelkie
Scientific Visualization Producer
Cornell Theory Center
Ithaca, NY 14853-3801
chrisp@tc.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: rjn@FC.HP.COM (Bob Niland)
Subject: Re: LD quality disappointing
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 14:49:47 GMT
Distribution: rec
Reply-To: rjn@FC.HP.COM
Organization: Hewlett-Packard/WSY Ft.Collins,CO,USA
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1scd1 PL4

> steinarb@idt.unit.no (Steinar Bang) writes:

> Yesterday I finally got the chance to take a look at LD quality, and
> frankly the results were disappointing.  Sitting some 3-4m from the telly
> (a 24" or 25" Finlux), I could actually see the lines on the screen.  It
> looked worse than VHS (at home, I don't see the individual lines on a good
> VHS recording,...  at least not as clearly).

There are the same number of horizontal scan lines (525 M/NTSC, 625 PAL)
as on VHS.  The improvement is in resolution along each line, signal to
noise ratio, time-base stability, audio and production quality.

> The LD player was that old Pioneer <something>-1450 multisystem
> player. I don't know if the laser-disc itself was NTSC,

Unless you were running native NTSC into a TV with decent NTSC circuits, you
may not have been getting optimum results.  CLD-1450 transcoding to PAL and
the quality of many multi-std TVs are reported to provide less than ideal
results.

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland      Internet: rjn@FC.HP.COM               3404 East Harmony Road
                CompuServe:  71044,2124               Ft Collins CO 80525-9599

This article represents only the opinion[s] of its author, and is not an
official or unofficial position of, or statement by, the Hewlett-Packard
Company.  The text is provided for informational purposes only.  It is
supplied without warranty of any kind.
From: alanlb@bethesda.cs.vt.edu (Alan L. Batongbacal)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Best place to mail-order blank tape?
Date: 10 Sep 92 12:51:39 GMT
Reply-To: alanlb@csgrad.cs.vt.edu

Hi there!  I'd appreciate it suggestions as to the best, i.e. less
expensive, place to buy blank tape, both VHS and Beta.

Thanks!

Alan L. Batongbacal
alanlb@csgrad.cs.vt.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video