Original Audio vs. Remixed Audio

[Popcorn_Bliss]

And I could be mistaken about the mono for Chainsaw's 40th. I do have the previous blu and THAT one says original mono (for the mono mix). So it might be the case that one would need both versions to acquire all the mixes...

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Actually, I just checked and the 40th anniversary blu of Chainsaw DOES say "Original Mono English" as an option. I suspect it actually is but I've yet to really watch it with the mono mix...

[Canada]

I usually go for the re-mixed audio and not the original. All original audio should be LPCM or lossless.

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

Thanks! That does help. I wasn't aware that the 2000 release used yet another 6.1 mix but that explains a lot of it. Oh, the pitfalls of being an Exorcist mix collector...

The 2000 version was released in Dolby Digital EX, SDDS, and (I think) DTS-ES, and I assume the 6.1 on the Blu-ray was derived from that, so in essence, there's only one 6.1 mix; it's just been released in various formats (presumably formatted to 5.1 for SDDS).

[BNex99]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

Actually, I just checked and the 40th anniversary blu of Chainsaw DOES say "Original Mono English" as an option. I suspect it actually is but I've yet to really watch it with the mono mix...

It says that, but someone in another thread reported that it's actually a fold-down of the 7.1 remix. Probably an accident; it certainly has happened before. (Again, I haven't heard that one, so I'm not sure.)

For example, Anchor Bay's HALLOWEEN 35th Anniversary BD listed "Original Mono" as an option, but it was actually a mono fold-down of the remix (the extra thunderclaps during the rainstorm near the beginning were a giveaway). AB corrected this for the Complete Halloween boxset the following year, but presumably never did for the single release (although I'd love to be wrong about that).

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

I heard that the orignal stereo mixes for older films from a certain period in time would have lots of dialog panning from left to right or vice versa bascially tracking the actor(s) on screen wherever they go. With modern remixes that dialog panning seems to be all but eliminated with all the dialog being locked to the middle speaker. So in a way the modern audio remixes of these tracks are more simplified which the more I think about is something that I don't like.

Yep as I said above, same wiht multichannel releases, we get stuck with the bastardised near field mixes

[crissrudd4554]

This is a deep subject for me. Keep in mind I'm 22 yet I take preservation of movies pretty seriously. If a film was done in mono but the mix was converted to surround without any necessary changes other than spreading the sound to additional channels as well as adding balance to the mix I'm fine with that. It's when something that was there before that's replaced with something else that I have a problem with, even more so when the original track isnt included with the new mix i.e. The Terminator. That being said, if I'm watching a vintage movie on DVD/Blu-Ray and it includes the films original mix I usually opt for that. For example, I recently started watching the Godfather films and despite the fact I'm viewing them for the first time I chose to watch the first two films with the original monos so I could get an experience close to the theatrical versions. I don't mind change as long as the original is included but generally I prefer things left untouched.

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Originally Posted by BNex99

The 2000 version was released in Dolby Digital EX, SDDS, and (I think) DTS-ES, and I assume the 6.1 on the Blu-ray was derived from that, so in essence, there's only one 6.1 mix; it's just been released in various formats (presumably formatted to 5.1 for SDDS).

Thanks for the info!

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Originally Posted by BNex99

It says that, but someone in another thread reported that it's actually a fold-down of the 7.1 remix. Probably an accident; it certainly has happened before. (Again, I haven't heard that one, so I'm not sure.)

For example, Anchor Bay's HALLOWEEN 35th Anniversary BD listed "Original Mono" as an option, but it was actually a mono fold-down of the remix (the extra thunderclaps during the rainstorm near the beginning were a giveaway). AB corrected this for the Complete Halloween boxset the following year, but presumably never did for the single release (although I'd love to be wrong about that).

That could be the case. I haven't actually listened to the mono mix on mine yet either. I wonder, though, if the mono mix on the previous blu release of Chainsaw is the original (it also says original on that one).

[The Fallen Deity]

I always go with the original mix on a disc even if it's only lossy.

It's more authenticate to the original theatrical experience because ya know it's the original an' all.

I do appreciate a good remix though if it's done well and respects the original sound design. I see them for what they are, an interesting alternative like when an album gets remixed.

The worst remix I've heard to date is The Terminator. At least with films like The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Jaws etc. you have the option but with The Terminator you don't which is so frustrating.

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

This is a deep subject for me. Keep in mind I'm 22 yet I take preservation of movies pretty seriously.

Nothing wrong with that. I was young too when I started to realize some remastered cds sounded a bit off versus the originals. And soon after when I started getting into LDs, I noticed that I was preferring a lot of the mono/stereo sound mixes over the dvd's multichannel mix.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

I always go with the original mix on a disc even if it's only lossy.

It's more authenticate to the original theatrical experience because ya know it's the original an' all.

I do appreciate a good remix though if it's done well and respects the original sound design. I see them for what they are, an interesting alternative like when an album gets remixed.

The worst remix I've heard to date is The Terminator. At least with films like The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Jaws etc. you have the option but with The Terminator you don't which is so frustrating.

Yeah, it's kinda like adding an extra layer of hate when you can't switch to the original!

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Yeah, it's kinda like adding an extra layer of hate when you can't switch to the original!

Indeed it is.

I've think I've literally given up of ever having a BD release of the film with the mono track. I shouldn't have to resort to remuxing.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by BNex99

Again, I haven't heard the disc myself, so I'm not sure, but apparently, the original mono is actually not on there. The mono track that is there is a fold-down of the 7.1 remix.



Those three releases are all the exact same discs (obviously, the 2011 single-disc is just the extended cut). The extended version has a 6.1 track, while the original has a 5.1. I'm no authority, but here's what has been surmised on the dedicated Exorcist threads:

The 6.1 on the "Extended Director's Cut" is essentially the ground-up remix done for the 2000 theatrical re-release. A lot of extra sound effects throughout, and I think even a couple of different music cues.

The 5.1 on the BD Theatrical Version seems to be based on the original mono. It's practically mono anyway, just with some sound effects and music cues slightly expanded into the surrounds.

The 1979 remix was used on several VHS and laserdisc releases throughout the 80s and 90s, and also on the initial DVD in 1997. There are a few extra sound effects (though different from the 2000 remix), and some spatial effects on some of the demon's lines (such as "AND I'M THE DEVIL!").

Hope that helps!

The 1979 remix is so gimmicky. There's so many obnoxious effects on it like ping pong delay etc.

The 5.1 remix is so much better. At least it sounds close to the original mono mix.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Indeed it is.

I've think I've literally given up of ever having a BD release of the film with the mono track. I shouldn't have to resort to remuxing.

I know exactly how you feel, we really shouldn't have to DIY it but I just couldn't do without the mono tied to the lovely remastered PQ, so it had to be done.

And yes, I've also given up on the prospect of having the mono reinstated on any future release. Ol' Jimbo plain don't give a shit.

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I know exactly how you feel, we really shouldn't have to DIY it but I just couldn't do without the mono tied to the lovely remastered PQ, so it had to be done.

And yes, I've also given up on the prospect of having the mono reinstated on any future release. Ol' Jimbo plain don't give a shit.

Yep it is a shame. I guess James Cameron is taking the George Lucas route as far as including the mono again. So just like the original SW, fans now have to resort to restoring the mono themselves. Well much like how fans are hoping the DeSpecialed versions will hopefully get Lucasfilm/Disney to take a hint, maybe a fan preservation of Terminator's mono track will make Cameron take a hint. But I'm with you I don't see it happening.

Interestingly, the first film where I probably took note of stuff like this, other than SW, was probably Jaws. Before I even owned that film, I remember when I was about 8 catching the film twice on TV in one day on two separate channels. IIRC it was TNT and TCM. I remember one channel showed it in full screen and the other in widescreen. Anyways when I watched the latter, I seem to remember Brody's cop pistol having a different sound when watching it on the former. I probably didn't think much of it after that but knowing what I do now or what I would learn later on I was probably right.

Anyways I came to love Jaws by watching my stepbrothers widescreen VHS and the MCA Home Video tape from the '80s I had my dad get me off eBay. Both these editions had the mono. It wasn't until I got the 25th Anniversary VHS that I was I guess 'properly' introduced to the surround mix. After one viewing I pretty much came to dislike it. For a while whenever I watched this version I would even imitate the original sound FX as I was watching it. Even more disappointing I got the original DVD for Xmas when I was 9 and I had to learn the hard way that my only option was the remix.

Come 2005 and I was super stoked to learn that the upcoming 30th Anniversary DVD would include the mono. I got that the day it was released. As far as Terminator goes I actually didn't loathe the remix of that film as much as the Jaws remix at first mostly cause I also had the Image Entertainment DVD which had the film in the mono. Nonetheless, I was happy to later discover that the SE DVD also had the mono! The fact that the BD editions won't include it is a major disappointment that likely won't be reversed in the future.

[kristoffer]

I really miss the original audio on Terminator and fear we will never hear it again on future releases. [emoji19]

[PrestigeWorldwide]

Originally Posted by crissrudd4554

maybe a fan preservation of Terminator's mono track will make Cameron take a hint. But I'm with you I don't see it happening.

There is fan preservation and I highly doubt Cameron cares about it. The LPCM mono track from the laser disc is out there if you search for it. I got tired of waiting and added it to the Terminator remaster. It does seem like Cameron has went George Lucas on us. I recall reading at some point that Cameron didn't include the mono track because he sees it as an inferior outdated mix and the new mix is superior in every way (to him), so there's no point to include it (film history be damned).

[crissrudd4554]

Originally Posted by PrestigeWorldwide

There is fan preservation and I highly doubt Cameron cares about it. The LPCM mono track from the laser disc is out there if you search for it. I got tired of waiting and added it to the Terminator remaster. It does seem like Cameron has went George Lucas on us. I recall reading at some point that Cameron didn't include the mono track because he sees it as an inferior outdated mix and the new mix is superior in every way (to him), so there's no point to include it (film history be damned).

I know it's out there and I've checked out. It's even synced to the BD so those who find it have little to no work to do. That's what I meant when I said maybe James Cameron will take the hint but if Lucas hasn't (or should I say has but don't give a crap??) unlikely Cameron will. And yep that definitely echoes Lucas. 'The original doesn't exist to me anymore'. This is movies people not a dictionary!!

[crissrudd4554]

Just curious is there any differences between the 5.1 mix and the mono mix for The Shining?? I think I read on imdb that the 5.1 mix correctly times the music with the intertitles.