Dragon Ball Z "Seasons" On Blu-ray: News & Discussion

[Blade]

I am interested in hearing the cleaned up Japanese audio. I mean, I know it'll still be mono but it'll be neat to hear it.

There is absolutely no possibility to "clean up" optical audio track, mostly because the information we need does not exist in this source. To get better audio we need:

1. Original tape masters (they do not exist anymore)
2. New mix (voice-only tapes do not exist anymore)
3. Original broadcast audio

Ripping everything, synchronising it with video - too much work. I highly doubt that they will attempt to get better source of audio. Masters for the movies "officially" existed and they didn't use them.

RIght, and because the latter is the only likely source of improving the audio fidelity in future, it means we're unlikely to ever see improved audio for Z.

Essentially, Toei aren't going to touch any VHS or Beta-Max recordings of the original broadcast audio due to two simple reasons: consistency, and saving face.

Unless there exists a private collection of the entire series, all on the exact same storage medium, all recorded on the exact same device, and all in exactly the same condition, there's no way to ensure consistency of quality between episodes should Toei wish to replace their audio with a replacement broadcast source. Even if such a collection exists, for Toei to actually use it would be highly embarrassing and a public admission of wrong-doing on their part, which in turn also would raise questions about the integrity of their previous home releases.

[qjz123]

I doubt Toei would ever go through the trouble of trying to acquire the broadcast audio from external sources. I'm sure in their minds they're thinking that if you want better audio or the series on blu ray then you should just buy kai.

[Ajay]

Chances are, they've probably spent some time filtering out some of the noise as well as doing their best to EQ it to the point where it at least doesn't sound like you're listening through a wall.

I've spent some time trying this myself and you can certainly get some usable results but just don't expect miracles.

[Blade]

Chances are, they've probably spent some time filtering out some of the noise as well as doing their best to EQ it to the point where it at least doesn't sound like you're listening through a wall.

I've spent some time trying this myself and you can certainly get some usable results but just don't expect miracles.

You can't EQ-in harmonic content or fidelity. What's not there to begin with is cannot be added back in.

[Ajay]

You can't EQ-in harmonic content or fidelity. What's not there to begin with is cannot be added back in.

Exactly, hence my 'don't expect mircales' line. You can certainly make it sound better than it does now though.

[Kojiro Sasaki]

Chances are, they've probably spent some time filtering out some of the noise as well as doing their best to EQ it to the point where it at least doesn't sound like you're listening through a wall.

I've spent some time trying this myself and you can certainly get some usable results but just don't expect miracles.

You will never get this: http://www.mediafire.com/view/cxbvduvxh ... BGM_CD.png
with source like this: http://www.mediafire.com/view/qrcbyr8h5 ... +Recap.png

There is no possibility to improve quality without using better source. You can only deceive ears by equalisation, like changing saturation or contras deceive eyes.

Hell knows - if they will scan optical track in HD, maybe they will be able to drag out a little bit more fidelity (especially at higher frequencies).
(Considering how cheap they are - I doubt it)

[Ajay]

Seriously?

I'm perfectly aware of what's doable and not doable. You don't need to be throwing these examples at me like I'm sprouting ignorance. I've made it very clear with what I meant. I understand the limitations of EQ and that you can't pull quality out of nowhere. Not once did I ever imply that.

However, like I damn well said, you can make it sound better. How on earth do you think professionals restore shitty audio everyday? There's plenty of technology out there that can reverse engineer monaural audio and give you a whole load of creative options. It's been done with Psycho and many other older films. Whilst, yes, Dragon Ball's audio is of a far lower quality than what they're working with, it doesn't negate the fact that technology like that is available and that they have a team of professionals working on it.

Professionals being the keyword. Something none of us are when it comes to something like this.

EDIT: Heck, look at this and tell me you can't do anything with Dragon Ball's audio.

[Blade]

Professionals being the keyword. Something none of us are when it comes to something like this.

Incorrect of you to assume, I'm an industry professional in music technology.

Moreover, the removal of hum, pops, crackles and noise is one thing - but restoring harmonic content is another. It's not possible, even the world's best sound engineers with the best equipment at their disposal couldn't do it. You can clean up what you've already got, which is fine - but isn't really the big problem with Dragonball Z's audio.

[Kojiro Sasaki]

Seriously?

I'm perfectly aware of what's doable and not doable. You don't need to be throwing these examples at me like I'm sprouting ignorance. I've made it very clear with that I meant. I understand the limitations of EQ and that you can't pull quality out of nowhere. Not once did I ever imply that.

Why do you think that I'm "throwing these examples" at you? I want to talk about it - that's all. I absolutely don't understand why you consider it as an "attack".

However, like I damn well said, you can make it sound better.

I was referring to this part. In my opinion, you can only deceive ears. While the "quality" means something different to each person, the "fidelity" has one certain meaning. That's what I wanted to say.

Compared to original material, our optical track contains heavily distorted crap in 8-20kHz range. Equalising/amplifying this part of frequency range does not mean improving quality for me. (keep the "for me" part in mind)

How on earth do you think professionals restore shitty audio everyday? There's plenty of technology out there that can reverse engineer monaural audio and give you a whole load of creative options. It's been done with Psycho and many other older films. Whilst, yes, Dragon Ball's audio is of a far lower quality than what they're working with, it doesn't negate the fact that technology like that is available and that they have a team of professionals working on it.

I totally agree. I just tried to explain the nature of it. Many people believe that with modern technology there is possibility to convert 4:3 show to 16:9 without any loss. The same applies to audio. Something can be improved, but there are issues that nothing can fix.

Professionals being the keyword. Something none of us are when it comes to something like this.

You never know with who you talk on the internet forum

[Ajay]

Professionals being the keyword. Something none of us are when it comes to something like this.

Incorrect of you to assume, I'm an industry professional in music technology.

Moreover, the removal of hum, pops, crackles and noise is one thing - but restoring harmonic content is another. It's not possible, even the world's best sound engineers with the best equipment at their disposal couldn't do it. You can clean up what you've already got, which is fine - but isn't really the big problem with Dragonball Z's audio.

Fair enough, poor assumption on my part.

I'm just irritated that there seems to be this assumption that I believe that they're going to make substantial difference to the audio when that wasn't what I implied at all. I made that clear to yourself and then Kojiro follows up with yet again similar input.

My point was simply that it is possible to get better than what we have. Not that it's going to fix every single issue there is with the audio.

Why do you think that I'm "throwing these examples" at you? I want to talk about it - that's all. I absolutely don't understand why you consider it as an "attack".

I'm running on little sleep today, chances are I'm reading the tone wrong. In my eyes, it felt like I was being spoken down to, as though you believed I wasn't aware of the possibilities regarding this 'restoration'. Sorry.

[KingofWisdom]

The RightStuf listing's description has been updated to coincide with what's up on FUNimation's site. I guess there's no questioning the aspect ratio. The trailer shouldn't be too far off, I imagine.

[Kendamu]

The RightStuf listing's description has been updated to coincide with what's up on FUNimation's site. I guess there's no questioning the aspect ratio. The trailer shouldn't be too far off, I imagine.

I sure hope so! I'd like to see what's in store for Dragon Ball Z anime fans for the next couple of years. Who knows? Maybe this release will have one of my favorite dubs on it and I'll just have to get it.

[Kakarot88]

The RightStuf listing's description has been updated to coincide with what's up on FUNimation's site. I guess there's no questioning the aspect ratio. The trailer shouldn't be too far off, I imagine.

Apologies if I am missing the obvious but I went on both sites and did not see an aspect ratio mentioned...

[superrayman3]

Even if such a collection exists, for Toei to actually use it would be highly embarrassing and a public admission of wrong-doing on their part, which in turn also would raise questions about the integrity of their previous home releases.

Not necessarily, Toei could argue in their defense that they only used what they had available to them and didn't know a higher quality audio source existed at the time, don't forget it wasn't until after the DBOX's were released that people began to point the audio issues out to them, not only that but if the people who worked on the DBOX's were new to the company or the series how were they supposed to know what the audio was supposed to sound like?

[KingofWisdom]

Apologies if I am missing the obvious but I went on both sites and did not see an aspect ratio mentioned...

http://shop.funimation.com/Shop/ShopPro ... emid=76548

And finally, our elite team of super-geniuses undertook a precise shot-by-shot reframing of the entire series to create a modern HD widescreen presentation of this legendary fan favorite. It’s time to experience Dragon Ball Z like you’ve never experienced it before!

DETAILS
Aspect Ratio: 16x9

http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827 ... 9680/4/0/0

Lastly, a precise shot-by-shot reframing of the entire series was done to create a modern HD widescreen presentation!

Furthermore, a 4:3 Blu-Ray like Yu Yu Hakusho actually has its aspect ratio listed on FUNimation's site as 4x3, despite the image technically being 16:9. That's pretty telling. I don't know when Amazon was last updated, but even that listing's description mentions widescreen (again).

[Kendamu]

Trailer is up!

http://www.funimation.com/shows/dragon- ... -ray/anime

EDIT: Links broken now? Did FUNi yank it?

[eledoremassis02]

Reminds me of the 2k HD youtube videos. Ahh they tease us with uncropped 4x3!!

[Ajay]

Great. I can't watch it even through a VPN to the US or with ProxMate.

Anyone got a mirror?

[ChibiGoku]

Reminds me of the 2k HD youtube videos. Ahh they tease us with uncropped 4x3!!

I think the worst thing about it is the 4:3 shots look better in my eyes... The "Remastered" shots looks like they've had heavy DNR applied to them.

[PhoenixEX]

I don't know how I feel about the box art...hopefully they grow on me.
It looks like the images connect, that could be neat. I'm just hoping these sell well enough for FUNi to release DB & GT on Bluray.
I wonder if DB & GT will be 4:3.