2001 R1 MGM DVD: This sounds very poor. I originally thought it was sourced from dupier elements, but I now think it's very possible that this was just noise-reduced an obscene amount, so I'm curious if an earlier LaserDisc or VHS tape sounds better.
2008 R1 MGM DVD - Collector's Edition: The mono track here is a big improvement over the older DVD, but it still obviously has been subjected to a fair bit of hiss reduction.
2018 Criterion Blu-ray: This track sounds like the Collector's Edition one but with a bit less noise reduction during non-music segments (they still sound mediocre) and a lot less noise and bass reduction during music segments. The simplest explanation would be that Criterion was given a version of the track just upstream of MGM's hiss reduction (which I think is likely given the similarity in notch filters applied throughout) and then chose to apply a variable amount depending on the scene. You can see the level of hiss increase during any segment with music. These fades are seamless.
2022 Kino UHD Blu-ray: The mono track is like the 2008 mono for the most part. The majority of the film (non-music segments - see 1:42 to 2:09 in the clip below) sounds slightly more muffled than the Criterion, but music segments and a few moments with high-pitched effects sound a lot murkier.
Update (4/26/2022): Added the Kino Lorber UHD
I find it funny this is one of the few releases from Criterion to not have any NR applied to it, it doesn't even have the hiss removal claimer in their restoration booklet, it just said it was "restored by Criterion Collection" on it
ReplyDeleteIt does have noise reduction, as I indicated in the post above, but less.
Deletewell, much less than usual for Criterion at least, and not really enough for anything to sound muffled or dull, I actually wonder why this track went mostly unscathed
Deletewow for once Criterion actually outclassed someone else in audio mastering, that's...rare
ReplyDelete