Halloween 4K UHD (1978)

[KubrickKurasawa]

And Carpenter the Composer prefers the 5.1. So there's always that.

[TXMoviebuff77]

How many people in this forum actually saw this in theaters? I’ll admit I never did. So all this audio talk is pointless.

[Sky_Captain]

[MassiveMovieBuff]

To me, every audio mix that has been done for Halloween since the initial (absolutely wretched) dvd back in 1997-1998 has been "strange" to say the least. Can't speak for the laserdiscs. They have all seemed really quiet. I recall watching Halloween on cable back in 1999-2000 when the anchor bay special edition dvd came out (that had the extended TV cut) and the audio sounded really good. It was louder, clearer, all together more powerful and prominent. I do know that a lot of films that are played on cable seem to have louder audio in general though. I haven't heard the mono track on the 35th anniversary Halloween rerelease that came out so I don't know if the difference in sound is as drastic as that but if it is then I want the original mono badly.

It is interesting if Carpenter prefers the remix though.

[TXMoviebuff77]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

To me, every audio mix that has been done for Halloween since the initial (absolutely wretched) dvd back in 1997-1998 has been "strange" to say the least. Can't speak for the laserdiscs. They have all seemed really quiet. I recall watching Halloween on cable back in the early 1999-2000 when the anchor bay special edition dvd came out (that had the extended TV cut) and the audio sounded really good. It was louder, clearer, all together more powerful and prominent. I do know that a lot of films that are played on cable seem to have louder audio in general though. I haven't heard the mono track on the 35th anniversary Halloween rerelease that came out so I don't know if the difference in sound is as drastic as that but if it is then I want the original mono badly.

It’s like when people were making a big deal about the audio on the Shout release for Creepshow, the 5.1 mix had issues but it also had the 2.0 mix that sounded much better anyway. Is that the same case here? I mean I still don’t fully understand the problem?

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by TXMoviebuff77

It’s like when people were making a big deal about the audio on the Shout release for Creepshow, the 5.1 mix had issues but it also had the 2.0 mix that sounded much better anyway. Is that the same case here? I mean I still don’t fully understand the problem?

No not quite. The remixes have just all sounded too quiet to my ears. My brother owns the blu ray that came with the collection that has the mono track and he said it sounds better than the remix. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet though. I should get on that ASAP.

That initial dvd back in 1997-1998 had general mastering problems with the transfer and audio. You had to turn up your TV full blast to get any sort of decent sound and there were no black levels whatsoever with a strange foglike veil over the whole screen. Not to mention encoding artifacts up the wazoo.

I remember being really excited to get the anchor bay THX and divimax DVD in hopes that the audio would be like it was when I saw it on cable that one time in 1999-2000 but I recall being disappointed thinking it was still too quiet but nowhere near as bad as that initial dvd. Very well could've been that that broadcast version had unusually loud sound though. I won't know until I check out my brother's blu ray copy. I'll definitely come back on and post about it if I notice a difference.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by TXMoviebuff77

How many people in this forum actually saw this in theaters? I’ll admit I never did. So all this audio talk is pointless.

Inclusion of the original soundtrack is pointless because you didn’t see it in the theater?!

[TXMoviebuff77]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Inclusion of the original soundtrack is pointless because you didn’t see it in the theater?!

Well did you? Shit just makes no sense to me, just tech snob crap again.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by TXMoviebuff77

Well did you? Shit just makes no sense to me, just tech snob crap again.

I like how you avoid his question about your silly comment and look even sillier

Original audio is important, period

If you don't care then you don't care

Believing you can only desire something like that from the context of experiencing it at the time is nonsense. That makes the point of the film moot anyway. Didn't see it when it came out, shouldn't care!

[MassiveMovieBuff]

A great example of telling the difference in volume for an audio track. Anyone who owns Synapse's blu ray for Prom Night, go back and forth between the 5.1 mix and the mono mix. As great as the new 5.1 mix is the mono is still much louder and more powerful.

[DJR662]

The original audio track, be it mono or stereo or whatever, should always be present next to any remixed surround tracks.

And this is coming from someone who prefers listening to those said remixed surround tracks.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Agreed. <sad face> If the UHD had the original mono, it would be my go-to. Glad the 35th Anniversary BD (or rather, the one from the boxed set WITH the original mono, which I bought off eBay) is allllmost as good-looking... especially after I tweak my projector's color saturation settings... AND has the mono. That's m'baby. But I have the UHD anyway, since this movie's in my personal Top Five faves of all time, and it does look amazing... and I can't NOT have it.

So, you're saying the 35th anniversary blu tay is real close to the quality of the UHD??

[OgamiittoMcJ]

Originally Posted by Brian81

What are you talking about? The original presentation is what it is? Do you view all films as works in progress?

I was responding to someone else comment
the orig mono isn't technically better than 5.1/7.1 remixes

yes it can be a preference/opinion that they prefer it but it isn't technically better

also you can't compare unless you have at least 1 subwoofer, 7 speakers and 7 channel amp
so using soundbar/tv speakers/ headphones or less than 8 speakers isn't a comparison
6 or 8 discreet channels is going to give a much more immersive sound than 1/2 channel mono,
the subwoofer alone adds depth and bass, the extra channels give better separation and clarity

the remixes were made from the original 16 track music studio master
and the then newly discovered original 35mm magnetic dialogue and effects tracks,
so just like remastering the picture they remaster the sound to give us the best picture and sound quality possible

some online review's
the 5.1mix

Much more obvious (in a good way) is the 5.1 remix, a startling audio overhaul that allows this film to even scare viewers who know the movie by heart.
Carpenter's shameless musical "stings" burst from various speakers, and that unforgettable music has never sounded better.
A standard surround and the original mono soundtracks are also included.

and 7.1 mix

the 4K disc also includes the newer English Dolby TrueHD 7.1 mix, which was introduced on the 35th Anniversary BD.
Its sound is fuller and more engrossing, while still retaining the ominous silences of the original mono.
Sound effects cues have more impact and a more natural linger and decay. Bass is subtle, but welcome.
Carpenter’s iconic score is presented with terrific fidelity and depth.

and a review from this site, 35th anniv BD 7.1 mix

The film begins with the picture's legendary score drifting into the stage, first, with well-defined sharp piano notes that offer natural clarity and fine front spacing.
A deep, foreboding, and familiar low end follows with a rise in surround support to bring a remarkable definition and presence to the acclaimed score.
This is more than likely the best presentation most audiences will have heard of that classic refrain to date.
The action transitions to the exterior of the Myers home and provides light and mood-critical background ambience to start. The track doesn't always require environmental elements thereafter, but the occasional chilly late October breeze, driving rain, and booming thunder -- are all perfectly implemented and create several unforgettable sonic moments.
It seems this track is capable of better defining some of the film's smaller sound pieces, too.
There's greater definition to even the most subtle sound effect or the most aggressive kick of music.
The track is really quite amazing.
Music benefits the most, and considering just how important it is in the film, the uptick in clarity and stage presence is most welcome.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by TXMoviebuff77

It’s like when people were making a big deal about the audio on the Shout release for Creepshow, the 5.1 mix had issues but it also had the 2.0 mix that sounded much better anyway. Is that the same case here? I mean I still don’t fully understand the problem?

The Halloween UHD has a mono mix and a 7.1 remix. But the mono mix is NOT the original version, they seem to have just downmixed the 7.1 - with its instances of added sound effects and altered music in certain spots - so this isn't the same situation as Creepshow as there is no OG mix on the Halloween UHD disc.

IIRC this exact same mistake was made when Anchor Bay issued the movie as the 35th Anniversary Blu-ray in the US and UK. Shout did their own BD of Halloween for that big-assed boxset which used the 35th transfer but they made sure to include the correct OG mono track - unfortunately Lionsgate have sleepwalked into making the same error as Anchor Bay.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The Halloween UHD has a mono mix and a 7.1 remix. But the mono mix is NOT the original version, they seem to have just downmixed the 7.1 - with its instances of added sound effects and altered music in certain spots - so this isn't the same situation as Creepshow as there is no OG mix on the Halloween UHD disc.

IIRC this exact same mistake was made when Anchor Bay issued the movie as the 35th Anniversary Blu-ray in the US and UK. Shout did their own BD of Halloween for that big-assed boxset which used the 35th transfer but they made sure to include the correct OG mono track - unfortunately Lionsgate have sleepwalked into making the same error as Anchor Bay.

Just shaking my head at how these studios sometimes don't understand want the fans want.

[ROSS.T.G.]

I think they think fans want remixes. Almost every review I read now on releases without Atmos or X has comments like too bad there isn’t an immersive option. If you read the home page comments you’ll read the same. It’s a premium format and there is no excuse not include a lossless original track.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Just shaking my head at how these studios sometimes don't understand want the fans want.

On the one hand I understand why the mistake was made again, as the people who do the nuts and bolts of putting these things together aren't always film fans, they're there to do a job of getting data onto a disc. As the talent pool decreases as physical media eases into old age then labels are reaching out more and more to us civilians, like what Eureka and Criterion did with the Police Story films. Sometimes we really DO know more about these things than what some of the professionals do, no matter what our resident trolls may think of all this nit-picking nerdery.

On the other hand, you'd have hoped that when Lionsgate inherited all the relevant masters and whatnot from Anchor Bay that this issue might've been highlighted somewhere by someone, given that Shout actively set out to correct it on their licensed release. But when we consider that AB never actually fixed this problem themselves (or even recognised it as such?) with their 35th Anni BD then it's no wonder that no provisions were made to internally identify the correct OG mono at their end. LG picked up the master that said "mono mix" and, well, here we are.

It's still not the tragedy it could've been as I've heard so much worse when it comes to these kinds of remixes, but in some ways it's the sloppiness that stings more than the remix itself.

[HeavyHitter]

Yeah, it's just amazing to me that on a classic horror title like this someone there might have or could have possibly thought, "Oh the fans just want a mono - so simply downmix the 7.1!"

[KubrickKurasawa]

If they could just CARE about home movie releases like they did in DVD's peak.

10 HOURS of Extra's on that 2nd disc.



Even the Halloween THX version is where they re-did the Lightning audio and a few other cues. Had quite a few extra's, but no Mono it looks like. I can't remember I haven't watched the disc in years. This site says 2.0 dolby and the 5.1 which is what I remember. But anyhow those DVD releases were really DEEP with content. 4K extra's are a sad pathetic joke, and the worst part is they usually could have added ALL audio tracks they want but they're way to unprofessional and lazy for "us" fans to put in the effort. Yet WE put in effort and SPEND 1000.00+ easily myself over 3k for the format, TV, players, and Discs. I just want to see some EFFORT from these guys soon. DVD was a limited format as far as disc capacity but at least they gave you LOTS of CONTENT! And for FAR less on the dollar. I'm still going to enjoy it because it makes all my Blu-Rays look better on my panel and player. I just want some enthusiasm like DVD gave me with bonus's/extra's. There's usually nothing to talk about when it comes to bonus's or bonus audio or extra's that are new anymore. So yeah. Waiting for sales and holding off purchases this last 6-12 months. If they don't step up their game i don't step up mine LOL!

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Yeah, it's just amazing to me that on a classic horror title like this someone there might have or could have possibly thought, "Oh the fans just want a mono - so simply downmix the 7.1!"

Heh, yeah. It's what MGM did for TGTBATU for years, as the rebuilt audio for the bastardised extended cut (say what you like about the rest of the extended material but the Grotto scene simply should not be there) was only done in 5.1 at the time so the first US Blu had a useless mono downmix.

But when they did the remastered BD they included the downmix AGAIN on the initial European pressings despite there being a ****ing credit at the end of the film for the new remastering of the mono mix!! That was at least quietly fixed by MGM before it made it to market in the US IIRC.