I've actually never used or played a Laserdisc. I was a VHS kid, but this was actually very informative! I was educated! Now, show us HD DVDs and Betamax next!
With Laserdisc, the player makes a big difference in how things look. The CLD-S104 was an entry level player, and once you got up to the more expensive players, the video quality improved a lot. I have a CLD-79 Elite player, and the LD of Star Wars does look pretty good on it. No, it doesn't look as good as the BluRay, but it is comparable to the DVD. Sound quality on it is insanely good. Great video - it's cool to see comparisons like this.
I bought one in Hong Kong back in '89. I was in The Corps back then and purchased a Pioneer. It also had karaoke features. I loved that bad boy. Collected alot of movies on laserdisc! But when I left the service in '92, my brother ended up stealing and selling it! I was hurt. I still have the movies.
@@rddav1 I have one I only used twice. Bought it new around year 2000. It is for sale and comes with two disks: Grease and Grumpy Old Men (comedy). No remote. Works fine.
I grew up in the nineties and never heard of laserdisc. Certainly did not know anyone who had a laserdisc player. Just found out about them recently and they’re definitely far superior to VHS!
Thumbnail: What is this? A VCR..? Those things that tear up perfectly good tapes so that you can never watch them again and have to throw them away and buy a new tape? Those things?!? Yeah, i have one in my bedroom that sits underneath my old round-screened TV that i've had since i was, like, 5 or 6. ... don't judge me.
I have the same player. Got the discounted floor model at best buy in 1995 with my lawn mowing money as a teen. It was a big deal. Loved it so much. We had a place that rented them back then - those were the days. The size, just holding these big mirrors, endears a kind of reverence for the film. The cases were like records, not the plastics crap most dvds still come in. Still have it in my closet. Might give it a workout once again. Thanks for the appreciation video.
Thanks for making a nice LD video. It’s always good to see folks getting into collecting. Star Wars is a very complicated issue and title to discuss due to all the various masters and editions. I did a Star Wars on LD brief overview on my channel but to clarify the editions you demonstrated: The vhs and 2006 dvd you showed are from the same master made for the 1993 definitive collection Laserdisc boxset where they made some tweaks and unfortunately used far too much early DNR and noise reduction in addition to remixing the audio and draining the color. The faces cover reissues on vhs and LD are from the same master. The 1997 SE was a brand new transfer which holds up rather well in the non-cg inserts and is a much stronger master overall if not perfect. In 2004 on the DVD’s they started going crazy with the changes and alterations which resulted in a terrible rendering of the film which was only partially addressed for the 2011 Blu-ray release before even more added were added. The 1997 SE release was the last time the sound mixes were done right as well. For the best presentation on tape or LD you have to go back to the pre-1993 releases either on the CLV Fox widescreen individual releases or their original source the 1985 full CAV Japanese Special Collection discs.
There are movies and videos that were never released on any other format, which are available on Laser Disc so that they can be transferred to DVD. Very good reason to have on.
I am only 14 and I remember using tapes to watch Scooby doo. My dad's car had music tapes. It makes me very proud that today I watch all my movies on DVD not on Netflix or anything silly like that.
My science teacher in middle school used laser discs. This was 1998-99 so the format was still current. However he still uses it because the discs have not all been converted to dvd.
It’s been four years, I just discovered your channel. I have not gone back to see if you did more laser disk videos or not however, when I noticed on this video you opened up the player. 5:10 it was loaded with dust highly recommend getting an air can and blowing it out. Maybe even popping off the top. That much dust will scratch your disks. Hopefully you still have your dad’s collection and maybe it’s grown a bit more since this.
Nice video. I have an irrational love for LDs even today, even though it's obsolete junk by any objective standard lol. I watched a movie just last night on it. My favorite thing about LD is there is a lot of music stuff that's available on it that has never been released on any better format. That and the packaging/sleeve art. They just don't make stuff like this anymore. This was really a format for the true film buff back in the day, and it shows in the packaging and special features on the discs. I usually use a DVL-919, but I also have a CLD-S104 like yours and it's a solid no-frills player. I actually like that it doesn't auto-switch sides, that's one less mechanism to break down. Since they don't make these anymore and never will, that's a good thing.
I had an older single-sided player so I had to get up half way through the movie and flip it. CLV discs work similar to Audio CDs in that they read from the inside out so it spins really fast so it's noisy for the first 15 minutes or so, then you notice it getting slower. Towards the end of a side, you can barely hear it. For CAV discs, the disc spins at a constant 1800 RPM of from start to finish - again reading from the inside out. This works out to one frame of video per rotation, that's why you can freeze the video into a noise-free still image with this format, because the laser reads the same track (frame)
The GOUT unaltered Star Wars DVD is a direct transfer of the Laserdisc version of Star Wars. It was certainly not recorded from someone filming a wall. Why are you saying that?
It was actual sourced from the video master from 1993. Not copied off the laserdiscs themselves. So the dvd does have better resolution and less chroma noise due to not being encoded in composite video like LD.
One of the best things about laserdiscs is that they often have the only source of the original audio of a movie. Criterion's Halloween, for example, has only one release after the laserdisc, with it. (It's the 15 movie boxset only)... I believe they're also the best quality of the original cut of Beauty and the Beast too. Thanks for the video.
I got Beauty and the Beast and it is not a straight movie. It has a lot of stuff in it as the movie went along to show how the scenes were constructed by Disney.
The original version dvd actually uses the same master as your THX vhs tape did. It is also letterboxed but doesnt use a newly restored print like the 1997 laserdisc set. That version you have on laserdisc has never been released on dvd so there's one big reason to own a laserdisc player right there. The bluray was made from the same (flawed) HD master as the 2004 dvd, which might explain why it didnt look as improved as you might expect.
Just to let you know. We have the same collection of Star Wars, except I have the Definitive Laser Disc Collection. Which is the last unaltered version of the original star wars. And that is the Extra DVD disc you have in your collection. That's the Laser Disc Original unaltered version known as GOUT. George's Original Untouched. You didn't like the colour so much but it's the the most valueable version in your collection. Honestly. This is the 1977 version before all the special editions came out and changes. Nice video. Thanks.
Never had a LD player, never watched one, but I knew what they were. We were just a non technical VHS family when I was a kid. But I always got the vibe that it was vintage quality stuff years after it was obsolete, probably because they are the size of records. The discs are beautiful though, so visually appealing.
I know what laser disks are only because I had watched 20 minute video explaining them and their history. The difference between different versions of star wars is quite staggering to us younger audience.
Cool video. R u aware that the "unaltered" bonus disc is a straight non-anamorphic transfer of a laserdisc? It's taken from a 1993-5 set called the definitive edition box set in 93 and the faces set from 95. This release has very early Digital Noise Reduction artefacts which smear the picture. The SE version would be a closer comparison with anamorphic widescreen and wider colour in dvd corner vs letterbox and slightly smaller analog composite colour reproduction. But nice to see another video in the you tube would and star wars is a great subject solution for fans. You could do a T2 follow up as it too is on every format. Surprised there's no minidisc of the Arnie classic 😎
it was transferred from the 1993 video master, not from the 1993 laserdiscs themselves. I think I remember reading that it was a D1 master tape, so better resolution and less composite chroma noise than average laserdisc player quality. Therefore, the dvd does have better picture quality but inferior audio to the PCM stereo of the laserdisc.
I used to stand transfixed to a large projection screen tv hooked to a laserdisk plsyer playing 2001 a space oddessey at a local curtis mathis tv dealer. This was in early 80s. It blew me away just like best buy demonstrating the first dvd ive ever seen of jurassic park in the 90s hooked up to a bunch of speakers. My vhs cppy didnt compare.
Watching your video again, I wanted to add that DVD had compression, and laser Disc did not. So I scene with a smooth gradient, or the gradient brightness of the sun like in the beginning of the Excorcist would look smooth and natural on Laser disc. But on the DVD you could see the rings of colour separation in stages if you know what I mean. But the reason why it won was because it was smaller, could hold many languages and subtitles, and originally was suppose to come with PAN and SCAN on one side, and Widescreen on the other. Also later on DVD started to be formated for widescreen tv's. Laser disc started to do t his also. But only a handful of titles, and bu then it was too late. EARLIER DVD had the same letterbox issue as Laser until they started to format for widescreen tv. But for a while there laser was the best, had the best box sets and extra features. I believe the JAWS BOX SPECIAL EDITION on Laser disc is longer than the cut they did for DVD and Bluray later on. I am referring to the documentary. - Toronto, Canada.
I got in to laserdisc 📀 online in the early 2000s when DVD 💿was at it's best 🍿I didn't know what laserdisc was in the 90s when I was a kid and I think they were so cool 🆒 that I buy a player and a lot of movies I guess I wanted to make up for loss time still have some laserdiscs📀but sold my players and most of my movies 🍿 wish I would have keep my player it was a nice one🆒
A few days ago y sister gave me a laser disc copy she found somewhere in her house, of The Beatles first US Tour- I have the Sullivan's version of it in dvd- but I'd like to experience its sound in laser. The only problem is that I don't have a player, are they very difficult to find-how expensive?
If you look at Darth Vaders eyes you can really tell the difference🤔 Nice video by the way I just dug out my old laser player we going to watch a bunch of movies that’s been lying around in my basement for 25 something years😀 keep up the good work 🤘😎
Absolutely. TONS of special features and Collector's Editions packed full of stuff that can't be seen anywhere else. That's probably the #1 reason to collect Laserdiscs nowadays, and definitely one of the things I love most about them.
Picked up Baraka from the thrift today on what I thought was vinyl because It’s scored by Phillip glass but When I got home I noticed it was laserdisc! Now I wanna get one.
The first time i saw a laserdisc was at school when the teacher put one on my ex brother-in-law gave me all his laser disc and i been looking for a player
Remember late eighties when bootleged vhs tapes with movies were traded on flea market. Qualities of some were like looking foggy. At this time, my friend uncle had two movies, amazing sharp copies of "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Rambo - First Blood". I've heard, that was copied from laserdisc. A few years ago i bought my first stereo VCR. Maybe it's time for something new, but older. A special when Lucas Trilogy is still available.
DVD looks sharper and more clear than LaserDisc, but DVDs are still compressed. Compression adds blocky garbage during motion at times. You don't have to deal with that when it comes to LaserDisc. No compression.
the first time I collected laderdiscs was when someone back in the 1980's bought me a new kids on the block laserdisc thinking it was a record as a Christmas gift. Waited a month to get the laserdisc player! :)
the background music brought back memories and i just got a laserdisc player for 3.99 yes 3.99 also scored a collection of 220 movies for 150.00 im sooooo happy
I swear Laserdiscs are like the Vinyl records of the movie world. I want a Laserdisc collection but that might have to wait until I can move out due to size alone.
To be honest, I think laserdiscs should only come back as a format for TV shows and especially OVAs. They might become cheaper if they last long where they can solve the laser rotting issues. I do like how they fast-forward and reverse without skipping. I've heard players can change sides. But even then, there are movies that last for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Quality wise, it looks more like a DVD.
I still have the special boxed laserdisc edition of Star Wars you featured in your video! Thanks for this comparison. Can you please compare the 4 featurettes with the newly released 4k version?
I don't have a way of capturing 4K footage, unfortunately. However I have seen those versions and they are GORGEOUS. I highly recommend you watch them if you have access!
I remember them,,, I just bought a Laser Disc player yesterday with a stack of movies for $25. Everybody is collecting Vinyl records, so Im collecting Laser Discs to be Different. Plus they are cheaper for now, until other people make it a trend.
That's cool that you still use Laserdiscs, but IMO, the only problem with you stretching the Laserdisc like that to fit your screen, it cuts off the subtitles because aren't the subtitles on the black bars?
@@SkulShurtugalTCG Actually, I just found this video. It looks like with your version, the Subtitles were moved up, on some versions. Have you thought about checking out a scene with subtitles zoomed in? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZnttQO_0HUc.html
I remember in the mid-80s when I was hanging out at my best friend's house, he showed off his dad's laserdisc player and we watched some stuff, The Blues Brothers being one example. I didn't even think it was anything special, but then again at my house we didn't even have freakin' cable nor a VCR!! :-D
what can you do or should you do with your old laser disks? I have about 90 movies taking up a lot of space and want to get rid of them but didn’t want to trash them. They are well taken care of. Want sure if aThrift store of Salvation Army took things like that.
They do but I wouldn't trust them to take the best of care of them. You're probably better off selling them on eBay. You probably won't make much money off them (especially taking shipping costs into account) but you can at least ensure that they'll end up in the hands of someone who will take care of them.
I grew up with VHS. The only time I experienced laserdisc was when I was at my grandparents house. They usually has the latest format. They were the first to switch from vinyl to CDs, and always had the biggest, latest wide screen TV available. I was too little to realize their set up as I was only familiar with VHS at home. I first got into laserdisc a couple years ago while on a school field trip. I got a few from our visit to a novelty shop that had a ton of used ones in good condition. They did have a player at the time but they wanted $300 with no remote! Today I just bought a decent working one for about $150 on eBay.
I'm sad you didn't seem to include the most important promise you made near the beginning which was share your "passion" and why you love laserdisc so much.
Sorry that didn't show up so well in the video. Trust me, though, I'm VERY passionate about this kind of stuff. Mostly it's the nostalgia talking; I grew up on this and have a lot of memories fiddling with the discs and the player.
I loved Laserdisc I was the only format made for movie and music lovers. Any format afterwards really lacked that focus and passion just plastic discs in flimsy plastic boxes with tiny prints you can't read and now we just stuck to streaming and shit at the mercy of you subscription on top of another subscription all in the name of convenience. Blu-Ray used to be great until they removed all raw uncompressed audio and double down on gazillion different editions. I still buy Laserdiscs from time to time it was really fun to collect and their quality are amazing at times neck and neck with DVD quality but with far superior audio.
I accidentally bought a laser disc because the movie, like so many non popular movies not involving super heroes, wasn't widely available. I guess now I need a LD player🤔.
Wow! Only ten dollars? I heard that buying (not renting) a vhs would set you back about eighty dollars. Is that right? If not, what was the price? (I'm a zoomer, so I don't know this stuff)