70 mm prints of West Side Story had an amazingly bombastic 6-track audio mix. This mix was literally rediscovered just before the blu-ray’s release in 2011, but wasn’t used for the 7.1 mix that MGM included.
The included 7.1/5.1 is flawed. It’s been subjected to a fair bit of noise reduction, and both its high- and low-end have mostly vanished. Some really wonky EQ choices. Also, the whistle sounds that open the film are supposedly intended to sound from the rear, but on the 7.1/5.1, they’re heard from the front.
The 4.0 mix provided as a secondary option is an enormous improvement, and is likely a faithful representation of the film’s (35 mm) 4-track mix. It’s much more aggressive-sounding and actually has some life to it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello Moshrom, while I'm in the process of preparing a Home Video Comparison of the Main Titles, I have test a handful of Mixes that I hope to be more specific (from your analysis) of the general countdown (from worst to best sounding) I'm about to go through:
ReplyDeleteNo Intermission:
Stereo:
4. 1984 CBS/Fox Video LD (Analog Stereo Upmix) [35mm Mono Mix - (I suppose) Try balancing your speakers for demonstration purposes]
3. Max Stream [35mm 4-Track Mix] (A bit less detailed than 1989 Criterion LD)
2. 1989 Criterion LD [35mm 4-Track Mix] Best sounding mix of the 35mm 4-Track Mix
According to the Liner Notes: The sound was digitally remastered from a 4-Track 35mm magnetic track, produced from a 6-Track 70mm magnetic soundtrack
1. 1992 MGM/UA Home Video LD [70mm 6-Track Mix, since the Film was restored by CREST National, later as "Crest Digital]
Multi-Channel: 1998 AC-3 MGM Home Entertainment LD/DVDs/1999 MGM Home Entertainment DTS LD (5.1) [Source Unidentifed (spoRv states that the DTS LD [from his listening experience] is a transfer of the original 70mm six-track audio mix) regardless of used sources it is the best sounding Multi-Channel mix ( before the rediscovery of the OG 70mm 6-Track mix in 2010 by Deluxe)]
Intermission:
2. 2003 MGM Home Entertainment SE DVD (5.1)
1. 2011 MGM Home Entertainment BD (7.1/4.0 [Sounds identical in terms of volume and 4.0 seems to be a downmix from the 7.1, obviously])
Note:I haven't been able to test the iTunes' DD+ 5.1 Mix (But I bet it should sound identical, given the same 2011 Master in 4K)
Hope you found my info check up useful or at least have listened to one of them.
- David
P.S. I would be grateful to mail you VHS/LDs in case you are suspicous/curious of a best sounding version [i.e. Just e-mail me an address and I will mail the VHS/LDs for you to check in the future] :-)