American releases' video quality

Wyverex · Post by **Wyverex** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:41 pm

I tend to buy original japanese DVD release only to get the best video quality but I'd like to know if the video quality of american releases (zone 1) is still proper for AMV making. Cause european ones are real crap...

Thanks.

RichLather · Post by **RichLather** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:49 pm

I've experienced no difference in quality.

While some, such as Manga Video's Wings of Honneamise are saddled with a less-than-pristine result, most American region 1 discs are more than adequate for AMV needs.

Wyverex · Post by **Wyverex** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:51 pm

I really want a very good video quality... Not that I make awsome vids but I'm still testing some different way of encoding and a good source is always better.

I'm especially interested in buying the OAV DVD box-set of Battle Athletes, if the owners could let me know their opinion...

The Wired Knight · Post by **The Wired Knight** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:52 pm

Outside of Pioneer's usage of Macrovision I have never had any problems with region 1s. The color is much sharper as well so your output cmoes out looking much nicer even if it's on VHS or a file. The only thing to watch out for are DVD rainbows which are something you can't fix and are a result of the time that the DVD was encoded.

Wyverex · Post by **Wyverex** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:56 pm

What are DVD rainbows? My dictionnary translates that by "arc-en-ciel" but I don't really see what you're talking about...

Wyverex · Post by **Wyverex** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:59 pm

By the way I was told american releases usually looks like european ones. In that case I'll keep buying japanese ones only... I have a european version of Jin-Roh and it's just unacceptable.

FurryCurry · Post by **FurryCurry** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 6:33 pm

It depends on the individual release. Some are excellent, some are terrible.

For example, I just ripped Love Hina, and the transfer is beautiful. I couldn't want any better.

Lain, on the other hand, looks awful in the american release, at least my two year old ones. I don't know if the R2 is better, of if they R1 discs were remastered for the Boxset release.

Here are some marked up example pictures, that show the rainbows, and how noisy the picture quality can get at times.

linked for size:

http://www.lastpole.com/furry/lainsux1.png
http://www.lastpole.com/furry/lainsux2.png

Now, here's a pretty good still from Love Hina. Note how clear the sky is, how little noise. I haven't once noticed a rainbow in Love Hina.

http://www.lastpole.com/furry/reallylovehina.png

The best way to cheeck on the quality of american releases is to read the disc reviews at http://www.animeondvd.com/

I hope this helps.

jonmartensen · Post by **jonmartensen** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 6:38 pm

Just to let you know, the American DVD release of Jin Roh looks very good, along with Akira and Ghost in the Shell.

Wyverex · Post by **Wyverex** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 6:48 pm

The most annoying things on my european version of Jin-Roh was the constant "grain" and some shaking sequences. Is the grain also present in the american version?

jonmartensen · Post by **jonmartensen** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 6:49 pm

No, it's of a nice quality.