retro: owning a laserdisc player just to watch star wars

Merlin · 10-29-2003, 07:28 AM

Back in the day I had the trilogy of LD and thought it was great. But hell, look what it was being compared to. My LD player has long since gone the way of the dodo but sometimes I do wish I could see the Trilogy.

Where did you get a LD player for $5?

As for copying...I don't think there are any LD players with digital out so you would have to capture the analog signal through your video card and probably lose some signal quality.

cyro · 10-29-2003, 09:42 AM

I own the Trilogy on laserdiscs and depending on your player the picture quality is pretty good. Way better than VHS but of course not anywhere near DVD. I would suggest one of the Pioneer Elite models if you want something really nice but you won't get that for $5.

I also broke down and bought the Trilogy on DVDs that were cough cough 'imported' cough cough from the Far East. Turned out they were laserdisc transfers

Ah well, PQ was worse than the laserdiscs but it was more convenient for getting the quick StarWars fix

I would also suggest checking out the CLD-A100 LaserActive system from Pioneer. There are a bunch of games available, think 'Dragon's Lair' for the home

If you like anime and retro this system is for you

With the right control packs you can also play TurboGrafx and Genesis carts & CDs as well as Karaoke discs :p

Cheers,
-CyRo

---
http://www.cyberroach.com (LaserActive stuff among other things)

attgig · 10-30-2003, 09:32 AM

that's awesome.

*checks ebay*

arrrg...stop spending money on stupid stuff!!!

raimin · 10-30-2003, 11:50 AM

i use my laserdisc to play discs i dont have ion dvd. My was used for star wars trilogy as well as indiana jones

but indiana jones now on dvd, so just star wars now

johnnymk · 10-30-2003, 12:02 PM

I copied 70 laser disks last spring (both sides) to CD's.

I used an ancient ATI All-In-Wonder card and their software to convert it to AVI. I then used Nero to burn it to VCD. With ATI, you can capture in 4 different qualities. I used the 3rd highest to save space on my hard drive and to get everything on a CD. The average length of the VCD is 475-500 MB with that quality.
Unfortunately, with a TV greater than around 27", you can see the blocks of converted images instead of smooth images with some frames.
If I could have fit everything on to a CD with the highest quality setting, I would have been very happy. But for the most part, I am satisfied.

I still haven't tried burning the CD's to DVD's yet. That is my next project. I am not even sure that it's possible, since I didn't use Nero originally to capture the information from the Laser Disks.

raimin · 10-30-2003, 02:42 PM

yuck...vcd to dvd sucky...do you still have the ld...might want to try converting to svcd

johnnymk · 10-31-2003, 03:03 AM

I just rememberd that I bought Nero 6 and it now includes the plug-in for burning MPEG2. When I get time, I am going to try it. I believe that Software Outlet still has the OEM version cheap.

I believe if you wait long enough you will find a cheap remote on EBay.

amnesiac 2.0 · 11-04-2003, 12:01 PM

I managed to get ahold of the Original Trilogy (Laserdisc) that someone had digitally transferred via Firewire, balanced for contrast, then authored for DVD, including menus/chapter selection. They also made fabulous case art as well.

The quality is leaps and bounds above and beyond what you'd get from a standard HK bootleg.

A rare find and the crown jewel of my DVD collection, for sure.

cyro · 11-04-2003, 06:20 PM

Any hint from eh... where you got these from for a fellow SW addict?

Cheers,
-CyRo

---
http://www.cyberroach.com

Hoser · 11-04-2003, 10:13 PM

The version of Nero that Software Outlet sells is stunted. It's versions of Nero Vison Express 2 SE and Nero Showtime don't support SVCD and DVD video. That's according the the paper sleeve that holds the CD.

I ended up buying the upgrade version of Nero 6 online for $49.99. I had several copies of Nero 5.xx that came bundled with Lite-On CD writers. All you need to do is give them the serial number from one of these copies.

johnnymk · 11-06-2003, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hoser
The version of Nero that Software Outlet sells is stunted. It's versions of Nero Vison Express 2 SE and Nero Showtime don't support SVCD and DVD video. That's according the the paper sleeve that holds the CD.

If that's true, then what the heck does it offer over Nero 5.xx?

10-29-2003, 07:28 AM	#1
Merlin Admiral Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Square On My Arse Posts: 7,410	Back in the day I had the trilogy of LD and thought it was great. But hell, look what it was being compared to. My LD player has long since gone the way of the dodo but sometimes I do wish I could see the Trilogy. Where did you get a LD player for $5? As for copying...I don't think there are any LD players with digital out so you would have to capture the analog signal through your video card and probably lose some signal quality. __________________

10-29-2003, 09:42 AM	#2
cyro Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 149	Well... I own the Trilogy on laserdiscs and depending on your player the picture quality is pretty good. Way better than VHS but of course not anywhere near DVD. I would suggest one of the Pioneer Elite models if you want something really nice but you won't get that for $5. I also broke down and bought the Trilogy on DVDs that were cough cough 'imported' cough cough from the Far East. Turned out they were laserdisc transfers Ah well, PQ was worse than the laserdiscs but it was more convenient for getting the quick StarWars fix I would also suggest checking out the CLD-A100 LaserActive system from Pioneer. There are a bunch of games available, think 'Dragon's Lair' for the home If you like anime and retro this system is for you With the right control packs you can also play TurboGrafx and Genesis carts & CDs as well as Karaoke discs :p Cheers, -CyRo --- http://www.cyberroach.com (LaserActive stuff among other things)

10-30-2003, 09:32 AM	#3
attgig Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: the burbs of baltimore Posts: 11,924	that's awesome. checks ebay arrrg...stop spending money on stupid stuff!!! __________________

10-31-2003, 03:03 AM	#7
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	I just rememberd that I bought Nero 6 and it now includes the plug-in for burning MPEG2. When I get time, I am going to try it. I believe that Software Outlet still has the OEM version cheap. I believe if you wait long enough you will find a cheap remote on EBay. __________________ “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” (Winston Churchill)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-30-2003, 11:50 AM	#4
raimin Captain Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: san francisco Posts: 1,627	i use my laserdisc to play discs i dont have ion dvd. My was used for star wars trilogy as well as indiana jones but indiana jones now on dvd, so just star wars now

10-30-2003, 12:02 PM	#5
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	I copied 70 laser disks last spring (both sides) to CD's. I used an ancient ATI All-In-Wonder card and their software to convert it to AVI. I then used Nero to burn it to VCD. With ATI, you can capture in 4 different qualities. I used the 3rd highest to save space on my hard drive and to get everything on a CD. The average length of the VCD is 475-500 MB with that quality. Unfortunately, with a TV greater than around 27", you can see the blocks of converted images instead of smooth images with some frames. If I could have fit everything on to a CD with the highest quality setting, I would have been very happy. But for the most part, I am satisfied. I still haven't tried burning the CD's to DVD's yet. That is my next project. I am not even sure that it's possible, since I didn't use Nero originally to capture the information from the Laser Disks.

10-30-2003, 02:42 PM	#6
raimin Captain Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: san francisco Posts: 1,627	yuck...vcd to dvd sucky...do you still have the ld...might want to try converting to svcd

11-04-2003, 12:01 PM	#8
amnesiac 2.0 Ensign Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 27	I managed to get ahold of the Original Trilogy (Laserdisc) that someone had digitally transferred via Firewire, balanced for contrast, then authored for DVD, including menus/chapter selection. They also made fabulous case art as well. The quality is leaps and bounds above and beyond what you'd get from a standard HK bootleg. A rare find and the crown jewel of my DVD collection, for sure.

11-04-2003, 06:20 PM	#9
cyro Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 149	Any hint from eh... where you got these from for a fellow SW addict? Cheers, -CyRo --- http://www.cyberroach.com

11-04-2003, 10:13 PM	#10
Hoser Commander Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Omaha, NE, United States Posts: 1,275	The version of Nero that Software Outlet sells is stunted. It's versions of Nero Vison Express 2 SE and Nero Showtime don't support SVCD and DVD video. That's according the the paper sleeve that holds the CD. I ended up buying the upgrade version of Nero 6 online for $49.99. I had several copies of Nero 5.xx that came bundled with Lite-On CD writers. All you need to do is give them the serial number from one of these copies.

User Name
Password
Remember Me?