Survey for the inclusion of the 'Original Soundtrack' for non-5.1 movies - Blu-ray Forum

AlexBC · 10-30-2007, 12:01 AM

In a debate with Sony Pictures insider (not paidgeek, but hey if you are here too, please help us out

), we agreed that a poll be started so that he could gain feedback on the inclusion of original soundtrack (mono or stereo surround) for pre 5.1 movies on their BD releases.

Here's the scope of the argument:

While I guess nobody is against a remix per se, the omission of the original theatrical soundtrack is a real bummer or deal breaker for many enthusiasts.

My opinion is that (and I know it's shared by many) BOTH, the original audio track and whatever 5.1 remix studios want to use, should be presented in uncompressed or lossless fashion for all titles not originally mastered in 5.1 (or higher). That's maintaining the original movie integrity and offering a chance for revisionist viewing.

Remixes usually have new foley effects, music and sometimes even new dialog lines. And to make matters worse, very often some original music cues, dialogs or foley effects turn out inaubible or completely forgotten on the remixing process.

Moreover, degradation of the sound quality can also take place in a remix if too much processing is used, specially when mixers only have the final track to work with (and not the original discrete audio "stems" containing dialog, music and sound effects).

This should also be specially easy on bandwith and disc storage since the original audio will probably be either stereo or mono. And it should involve little to no cost at all, since the tracks already exist and have been prepared for use on home video presentition on previous incarnations (LD, VHS, cable etc.)

In general, DVDs with either stereo or mono soundtrack can't hold a candle to their respective LDs with LPCM audio. For the movie enthusiast, it's just about time we get back to those heydays for lossless original audio tracks on catalog titles.

Like the other polls held at AVS regarding Dial Norm and The Use of Seamless Branching for Sony, this one may prove itself very successfull if we, movie lovers, voice your concerns here.

FruityOatyBar · 10-30-2007, 12:37 AM

For long time viewers of movies at home, well we've been fighting for original presentation of films for years. The aspect ratio fight has been very tough but it has been largely successful. One of the big arguments was to preserve the original intent of the filmmakers. Using that line of thought why should we overlook remixes of audio tracks?

I agree that new mixes can sometimes be very entertaining, even preferable. But with all the space Blu-ray offers, why not give customers a choice?

WriteSimply · 10-30-2007, 02:16 AM

This might require using the branching feature or a seperate disc altogether for the new cut and the old cut. Sometimes the new cut has EFX not there before so having just one track to cover two films doesn't make sense. So two cuts and two matching soundtracks.

fuad

JadedRaverLA · 10-30-2007, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBC

In general, DVDs with either stereo or mono soundtrack can't hold a candle to their respective LDs with LPCM audio. For the movie enthusiast, it's just about time we get back to those heydays for lossless original audio tracks on catalog titles.

This is very true. 2 channel PCM on laserdiscs was the best older films with stereo or mono original mixes have ever sounded, and given the space available on BD, PCM tracks of the original mix should definitely be included whenever possible.

DaViD Boulet · 10-30-2007, 04:04 AM

Excellent thread.

Add my vote to always including the original mix in lossless form.

Additionally, I'd like this original mix presented in as-true-to-form as possible. Studios are tempted to overprocess audio these days with every on-line reviewer complaining about 'hiss'. The Hello Dolly DD audio sounds abysmal... muffled with no highs or air. The lower-bit-rate DD/AC3 on the laserdisc sounds dramatically better... because it escaped the hands of "noise reduction" that was badly applied to the DVD. Mary Poppins... another remixing disaster.

At least in the case of Mary Poppins, Disney also provided a 2.0 original mix... albeit in a too-low-bit-rate.

Canada · 10-30-2007, 06:32 AM

I will listen to the 5.1 remix of movies all the time over stereo I just think the movie is more enveloping that way. That being said a if lossless 2.0 track could be included in most Blu Rays with out causing space issues I say go for it. There are people who love the original sound track so I say let them have the original audio track as well.

View Poll Results: Should the original soundtrack (mono or stereo) be included for all non-5.1 movies?
Yes, the inclusion of OST in lossless format is of the utmost importance.	36	85.71%
No, I don't bother with the OST.	6	14.29%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

10-30-2007, 12:01 AM	#1
AlexBC Active Member Member since:Dec 2006	Survey for the inclusion of the 'Original Soundtrack' for non-5.1 movies In a debate with Sony Pictures insider (not paidgeek, but hey if you are here too, please help us out ), we agreed that a poll be started so that he could gain feedback on the inclusion of original soundtrack (mono or stereo surround) for pre 5.1 movies on their BD releases. Here's the scope of the argument: While I guess nobody is against a remix per se, the omission of the original theatrical soundtrack is a real bummer or deal breaker for many enthusiasts. My opinion is that (and I know it's shared by many) BOTH, the original audio track and whatever 5.1 remix studios want to use, should be presented in uncompressed or lossless fashion for all titles not originally mastered in 5.1 (or higher). That's maintaining the original movie integrity and offering a chance for revisionist viewing. Remixes usually have new foley effects, music and sometimes even new dialog lines. And to make matters worse, very often some original music cues, dialogs or foley effects turn out inaubible or completely forgotten on the remixing process. Moreover, degradation of the sound quality can also take place in a remix if too much processing is used, specially when mixers only have the final track to work with (and not the original discrete audio "stems" containing dialog, music and sound effects). This should also be specially easy on bandwith and disc storage since the original audio will probably be either stereo or mono. And it should involve little to no cost at all, since the tracks already exist and have been prepared for use on home video presentition on previous incarnations (LD, VHS, cable etc.) In general, DVDs with either stereo or mono soundtrack can't hold a candle to their respective LDs with LPCM audio. For the movie enthusiast, it's just about time we get back to those heydays for lossless original audio tracks on catalog titles. Like the other polls held at AVS regarding Dial Norm and The Use of Seamless Branching for Sony, this one may prove itself very successfull if we, movie lovers, voice your concerns here. Last edited by AlexBC; 10-30-2007 at 01:02 AM.

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10-30-2007, 12:37 AM	#2
FruityOatyBar Senior Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Hollywood, CA Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:32 Blu-ray collection:368	For long time viewers of movies at home, well we've been fighting for original presentation of films for years. The aspect ratio fight has been very tough but it has been largely successful. One of the big arguments was to preserve the original intent of the filmmakers. Using that line of thought why should we overlook remixes of audio tracks? I agree that new mixes can sometimes be very entertaining, even preferable. But with all the space Blu-ray offers, why not give customers a choice?

10-30-2007, 02:16 AM	#3
WriteSimply Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	This might require using the branching feature or a seperate disc altogether for the new cut and the old cut. Sometimes the new cut has EFX not there before so having just one track to cover two films doesn't make sense. So two cuts and two matching soundtracks. fuad

10-30-2007, 04:04 AM	#5
DaViD Boulet Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray reviews: 1	Excellent thread. Add my vote to always including the original mix in lossless form. Additionally, I'd like this original mix presented in as-true-to-form as possible. Studios are tempted to overprocess audio these days with every on-line reviewer complaining about 'hiss'. The Hello Dolly DD audio sounds abysmal... muffled with no highs or air. The lower-bit-rate DD/AC3 on the laserdisc sounds dramatically better... because it escaped the hands of "noise reduction" that was badly applied to the DVD. Mary Poppins... another remixing disaster. At least in the case of Mary Poppins, Disney also provided a 2.0 original mix... albeit in a too-low-bit-rate.

10-30-2007, 06:32 AM	#6
Canada Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Victoria, BC Home Theater Gallery:17 4K collection:305 Blu-ray collection:1201 DVD collection:37 Blu-ray reviews:42	I will listen to the 5.1 remix of movies all the time over stereo I just think the movie is more enveloping that way. That being said a if lossless 2.0 track could be included in most Blu Rays with out causing space issues I say go for it. There are people who love the original sound track so I say let them have the original audio track as well.

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