The original 6-track mix appeared first on LaserDisc and then later on the 1998 MGM DVD and most recently the 2018 blu-rays. Overall, the LaserDisc (I have PILF-2510 from 1997) sounds the least tampered-with, but the DVD is similar. The blu-ray's original mix has a varying amount of noise reduction applied throughout, as well as some EQ that gives the dialogue more body and (more in line with modern recordings) but makes everything else--music especially--sound thicker and less airy.
I'm actually rather disappointed by the theatrical 6-track mix itself. Some of the musical sequences are doused in reverb and sound distant and garbled. The Blue Danube seems like it was mixed from a mono source - each channel differs only by EQ. (These sequences would probably sound better if every speaker just played the content of the centre channel.) The end credits music sounds especially bad in this respect.
Still, the remix has audibly more noise reduction overall, especially the Star Gate sequence which sounds dull next to the LD.
In terms of pure fidelity, the 2.0 track on the 1997 LDs is comparable to the AC-3 6-track. The earlier ML103104 disc from 1993 (and the Criterion LD*) is thinner and less detailed.
There's also a Cinema DTS disc that was produced for the ~2007 release, but I don't think it sounds noticeably different than the remixed track on the blu-rays.
Left:
Right:
Surround left:
Surround right:
LFE:
I guess I'd blame modern digital techniques. We're getting farther from the original source as the digital files age advances. I'd also blame MP3, and those that grew up with it that are now entering the profession with MP3 perverted ears, and those that have been around that have also succumbed to it. I wonder if the original analogue source is even listened to on the appropriate equipment as a reference before the digital mix is done, or if that is also a sterile digital file somewhere? Otherwise, what else explains it? It's appalling.
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ReplyDeleteThe Criterion is more like the 1993 MGM LaserDisc.
DeleteI actually saw this movie in 70mm and the 6-track mix is LOUD, it was much louder than the mix on the 4K release (in fact so loud there were two scenes where I had to cover my ears) so it's possible that the volume for it was turned down for home video, and it seemed to sound good in itself but it's been a while since I was at that screening so I'm not sure how it sounded fidelity wise
ReplyDeleteSorry for the double post but there actually was one minor difference with the MGM DVD theatrical audio compared to the remixed audio and 2018 blu-ray theatrical audio
ReplyDeleteIn the scene whenever Dave repeatedly asks "do you read me HAL?", originally HAL responded with "Affirmative Dave, I read you", but on the MGM DVD it was accidentally changed to "Affirmative Dave"
However the remixed audio on the Warner DVD/BD restored the full line as does the 2018 BD theatrical audio
What happened with the plot for the UHD LFE?
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