TOS BluRay set....

[3D ChessMaster]

I have the Blu Rays but generally take the option to view the original effects. Had feared that the HD might show up some 60 's flaws in production but in fact it made me appreciate how good the cinematography was and how crisp the colours were. I can't think of any episodes where the HD colour spoiled my suspension of disbelief by revealing something that wasn't noticeable originally in black and white on a relatively small television

 

[Ssosmcin]

As @Harvey stated, occasionally the "original mono track" is derived from new multi-track re-mix, but this doesn't happen often

Actually, I have to disagree; this happens VERY often. Aside from Amok Time, every episode of the final two seasons has the wrong sound mix (if you hear the Enterprise rumble in the exterior shots even one time in a latter two season episode, it's the wrong mix). Many of the first season episodes are correct, but a few are not (Dagger of the Mind and Miri for example).

A new box set of all three seasons is bring released "in time for Father's Day" and I would be thrilled if the credits and sound mixes were restored. While the DVDs tried to bring back the original theme in the first season, they never put back the original end credit music and too many episodes had the "electric violin" theme.

http://www.startrek.com/article/tos-tng-blu-ray-mega-packs

Yep, it looks amazing, but the sound mix has never been right. Not since the early 80's, before Paramount pulled the series for restoration and sent out remixed tapes (with syndication cuts already made). These prints were used for the VHS and Laserdisc releases. So even those, which I prefer, are not truly accurate. But they're a lot closer than the DVDs and BD sets.

 

[Warped9]

^^ That might be the one I'll wait for assuming theepisodes in original form are included.

 

[BillJ]

^^ That might be the one I'll wait for assuming theepisodes in original form are included.

I think it is the same discs, just in one box.

 

[MANT!]

As a proud owner of the TOS Blu-Rays, I find my enjoyment of TOS just is heightened by the very clear presentation of each episode..I run my sound mono as my tinny speakers in my HDTV don't do the remixed sound justice (will be getting a soundbar soon), As to cost, I was lucky that the manager at my local Best Buy (or one of his minions) marked the first 2 seasons as DVDs when they came out , I was fortunate enough to find them before the error was corrected, and season 3 was always discounted!. As my initial Trek viewing was on a 1966 25" RCA Victor TV set (in 1966!) the presentation was what would be considered bad today..mono sound only, people forget that average reception in the US was often simply bad..snow, ghosting, and echo were common problems in NTSC analog broadcast reception.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

During the 70s the shows deteriorated with each repeat of the tapes provided to local stations..color wash (the Big E looked WHITE in the 70s) and sound issues were common..and local TV syndication cuts just made each show worse. the Home video era was a breath of fresh air with each show able to be seen almost in original condition and uncut! but the technology was still analog
and subject to NTSCs limitations..

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

So DVD made it better and better..
and now Blu-Ray..(wonders if there will be a 4K remaster and release?)

 

[BillJ]

and now Blu-Ray..(wonders if there will be a 4K remaster and release?)

Not sure how much more they can squeeze out of TOS?

 

[Harvey]

I think it is the same discs, just in one box.

This will almost certainly be a straight re-release.

 

[Harvey]

Actually, I have to disagree; this happens VERY often. Aside from Amok Time, every episode of the final two seasons has the wrong sound mix (if you hear the Enterprise rumble in the exterior shots even one time in a latter two season episode, it's the wrong mix). Many of the first season episodes are correct, but a few are not (Dagger of the Mind and Miri for example).

I presume your reference here is the audio on the laser discs? Do you believe those to be accurate, outside of the main/end titles?

I wonder if there are 16mm prints out there in the hands of private collectors?

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I bought the BluRays during an Amazon sale a few years back and I've been very impressed with them. They shows looks great, and it is very nice to have the option to watch them with either the original effects of the revised ones (I'm mixed on the new effects in general, but sometimes it's fun to watch a fresher version).

Plus, there were a few new extras like the Billy Blackburn home movies.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Hi Harvey,

I'm going by the laserdiscs, the limited edition VHS tapes that were put out in 1982 before the series was recalled by Paramount for restoration and the one single 16mm print I have, which is of Bread and Circuses. Also, most unreliably, my own memory, which noted sound differences in the 80's when the refreshed versions of the episodes came out. All of physical media I have access to seem to support my recollection. I have to haul out my projector to run the film to confirm, but when I watched it 5 years ago, I was thrilled to hear it in stunning faded mono. With no added sound effects. As I mentioned, the mono mix of Amok Time appears to be more correct.

When the Paramount and Columbia House VHS tapes and laser discs were released, I immediately noticed the missing sound of the phaser rifle impact Where No Man Has Gone Before, the lower volume of the music as we saw the dead Salt Creature in The Man Trap, the music in the main and end credits and so on. However, I never noticed any added sounds or incorrect music (City on the Edge of Forever notwithstanding). Certain episodes I had on cassette tape which I listened to repeatedly. This is why the sound mix is more important to me than the quality of the image.

The sound of the series were made "stereo" for home video release, which makes them "incorrect" as well, but they don't have as many obvious changes. While this is conjecture, I wouldn't expect them to remove two seasons worth of exterior sound effects. I would think they would have retained or added them and spread them out to take advantage of the additional speakers.

Also, for whatever it's worth, the Amazon Prime versions of the original standard definition third season episodes have, mostly, an earlier sound mix. Either the home video mix or perhaps even the original sound mix. Either way, it is closer to what I was always used to.

I hope this helps. If you or anyone else can find anything to either support or definitively prove me totally off the mark, I would welcome it. I would love to put this to bed.

 

[TheSubCommander]

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Ori...62732956&sr=8-2&keywords=star+trek+tos+bluray

So I was looking at the TOS Bluray pack set to be released in June 2016. In the description, the format is listed as "widescreen."

Has anyone heard if they actually remastered these for a widescreen format, or is this just repackaged from the earlier bluray release?

 

[Warped9]

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Ori...62732956&sr=8-2&keywords=star+trek+tos+bluray

So I was looking at the TOS Bluray pack set to be released in June 2016. In the description, the format is listed as "widescreen."

Has anyone heard if they actually remastered these for a widescreen format, or is this just repackaged from the earlier bluray release?

I question the validity of that description. The series was shot in 4:3 and you would lose chunks of the original image if it was converted to widescreen. Also the original footage was not filmed in widescreen. The only thing that could conceivably be widescreen would be the new f/x sequences.

 

[Harvey]

I question the validity of that description. The series was shot in 4:3 and you would lose chunks of the original image if it was converted to widescreen. Also the original footage was not filmed in widescreen. The only thing that could conceivably be widescreen would be the new f/x sequences.

Widescreen masters do exist -- they've been used overseas and by some streaming services -- but I doubt CBS would spend the money to re-author the Blu-Rays in widescreen, when the previous versions would do.

Also, they look horrible, since all the live action footage has been cropped in them from their original aspect ratio (1.33:1).

 

[Michael]

So I was looking at the TOS Bluray pack set to be released in June 2016. In the description, the format is listed as "widescreen."

Well, technically the video on those blu-rays is in widescreen; they just added black bars on the left and right to get a full HD image of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

 

[Harvey]

Well, technically the video on those blu-rays is in widescreen; they just added black bars on the left and right to get a full HD image of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

Technically correct, perhaps, but it would be rather unusual for pillar-boxed video to be described as being "widescreen."

The aspect ratio of this version of the set, for example, is listed as being in 1.33:1.

 

[BillJ]

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Ori...62732956&sr=8-2&keywords=star+trek+tos+bluray

So I was looking at the TOS Bluray pack set to be released in June 2016. In the description, the format is listed as "widescreen."

Has anyone heard if they actually remastered these for a widescreen format, or is this just repackaged from the earlier bluray release?

Would be cool to have a widescreen version in addition to my current full screen Blu-ray's.

 

[Vger23]

Money, OCD and other obsessional reasoning I guess!
JB

I find it offensive that you would imply that Star Trek fans can be obsessive and OCD.

 

[TheSubCommander]

Widescreen masters do exist -- they've been used overseas and by some streaming services -- but I doubt CBS would spend the money to re-author the Blu-Rays in widescreen, when the previous versions would do.

That's what's confusing to me, too, but then again, maybe this is in commemoration of the 50th anniversary. The only thing that puzzles me is if it is, why hasn't it been more widely advertised.

Well, technically the video on those blu-rays is in widescreen; they just added black bars on the left and right to get a full HD image of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

If that is the case, then it is somewhat deceptive. Having almost 1/3 of the screen in black doesn't count as wide screen in my book.

Would be cool to have a widescreen version in addition to my current full screen Blu-ray's.

Indeed!

 

[Indysolo]

They won't be widescreen. This is a typo.

Neil

 

[Kemaiku]

The international HD/SD TV broadcast versions stretch the live action scenes to fill the screen, cropping the top and bottom off, it's more noticeable in some episodes over others. The new FX shots are natively 1920 wide.

The Blurays play the remastered episodes in the 'original' form as standard, with the black boxes to the sides. You have to either select an option on the homescreen or menu during an episode to flip it to the new space/effects shots which makes them more of a bonus/extra on the set, an optional one. I don't know if that's the case for TNG.