Just figger it out, Dude and Get-er-done. If we owe you more $, we understand. Thanks for all the hard work and posting updates
Jack
Vintage AW file footage poll UPDATE
Moderators: kenneth, sbroam, TheKrikkitWars, Mike W., Sir Adam, KNeal, PAC, adamin
-
amollohan99
- Pain Boater
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:26 pm
- Location: VA
Update
UPDATE: Good News
I decided to take a half day off and recovered the film. It is now in the hands of a the local shop that quoted $275. I have I much higher level of confidence; the owner worked for a local TV station for 20 odd years and currently does all the work for the Cincinnati Historical Society (now you know where I'm from).
The origins of this film continues to be mysterious. It's a magnetic track film, which is rare in itself, but it's even more unusual in that the track was physically applied after the print was made and then was dubbed. Let's just say this is a highly non-standard film. The "film transfer guy" said he was excited to see something like this and mentioned he'd probably give us a discount. He seemed quite happy that he'd get to dig out his old editing equipment to *attempt* to get the audio off this film. Pointing to a mechanical sync editor behind some boxes on a workbench, he quipped, "we use that for a paperweight most of the time".
Phreon
I decided to take a half day off and recovered the film. It is now in the hands of a the local shop that quoted $275. I have I much higher level of confidence; the owner worked for a local TV station for 20 odd years and currently does all the work for the Cincinnati Historical Society (now you know where I'm from).
The origins of this film continues to be mysterious. It's a magnetic track film, which is rare in itself, but it's even more unusual in that the track was physically applied after the print was made and then was dubbed. Let's just say this is a highly non-standard film. The "film transfer guy" said he was excited to see something like this and mentioned he'd probably give us a discount. He seemed quite happy that he'd get to dig out his old editing equipment to *attempt* to get the audio off this film. Pointing to a mechanical sync editor behind some boxes on a workbench, he quipped, "we use that for a paperweight most of the time".
Phreon
HORRIFYING NEWS ...but there's a bright side.
I just got off the phone with the folks doing the transfer. The company I tried the first time, AMERICAN VIDEO of Cincinnati, OH, completely screwed the film. Most of the sprocket holes are cracked or ripped out.
However, the real pros I'm now working with were able to get a clean take of the video (God knows how...) and recovered the audio track. Reading the audio effectively ended the film's life though. Can you imagine how angry I am with AMERICAN VIDEO?
All that aside, they told me that despite the film breaking multiple times, the audio track was in surprisingly good condition. They also made an intriguing remark; the narrator is a male with a German sounding accent.
In any case, they expect to finish syncing up the audio sometime next week. Given the amount of work they're putting into this, I'm preparing for sticker shock (they seemed pretty honest though).
Phreon
However, the real pros I'm now working with were able to get a clean take of the video (God knows how...) and recovered the audio track. Reading the audio effectively ended the film's life though. Can you imagine how angry I am with AMERICAN VIDEO?
All that aside, they told me that despite the film breaking multiple times, the audio track was in surprisingly good condition. They also made an intriguing remark; the narrator is a male with a German sounding accent.
In any case, they expect to finish syncing up the audio sometime next week. Given the amount of work they're putting into this, I'm preparing for sticker shock (they seemed pretty honest though).
Phreon
UPDATE: GREAT NEWS!
The video transfer is complete. I pick it up this Saturday. Cost is $ 347.44 + tax (6% around here). I'm told they put 3 hrs. of editing into it, but only charged for one since, "it was a fun project". The owner of the business was excited by the results, he's an old canoer himself. If the transfer turned out as well as he described, the cost is worth it.
This of course leaves me little or no reserves to produce and mail the DVDs (have to do the math when I get home) . I'll chip in some funds to keep things going. I might also hit up AW, since they offered.
I'll be cashing your checks and pulling from Paypal tonight/tomorrow.
Thanks,
Phreon
This of course leaves me little or no reserves to produce and mail the DVDs (have to do the math when I get home) . I'll chip in some funds to keep things going. I might also hit up AW, since they offered.
I'll be cashing your checks and pulling from Paypal tonight/tomorrow.
Thanks,
Phreon
I have the video in hand. All in all, it looks pretty good. The audio and video are a little rough in spots, but this was unavoidable.
Since the film broke multiple times during the audio transfer process, the audio had to be spliced together multiple times. Given this, the audio sync gets a little weird in spots since the gentleman doing the work really didn't know what an "S turn' or "peel out" was and did his best to put things where he thought they should be. My friend and I will spend time cleaning this up, but given the film is a work print and not a final print, it will never line up perfectly.
The narrator has a European accent reminiscent of Lawrence Welk. I'll try to post a link to a snippet of the audio once I find a place to host it; I'm *very* curious to find out who he is.
BTW, in the original credits, Dave Kurtz is listed as both an adviser and financial contributor.
Thanks,
Phreon
Since the film broke multiple times during the audio transfer process, the audio had to be spliced together multiple times. Given this, the audio sync gets a little weird in spots since the gentleman doing the work really didn't know what an "S turn' or "peel out" was and did his best to put things where he thought they should be. My friend and I will spend time cleaning this up, but given the film is a work print and not a final print, it will never line up perfectly.
The narrator has a European accent reminiscent of Lawrence Welk. I'll try to post a link to a snippet of the audio once I find a place to host it; I'm *very* curious to find out who he is.
BTW, in the original credits, Dave Kurtz is listed as both an adviser and financial contributor.
Thanks,
Phreon
I've made several attempts to fix the audio sync with the film. I'm not throwing in the towel, but folks have been waiting around long enough. Straightening out the sync on an old work print is a feat; I have to respect how close Aztec Video got it with old school analog equipment.
We'll move on to finishing the final DVD and try to get it sent out ASAP. After this, if I manage to successfully clean up the sync, etc., I'll send another copy to whoever wants it.
Thanks,
Phreon
We'll move on to finishing the final DVD and try to get it sent out ASAP. After this, if I manage to successfully clean up the sync, etc., I'll send another copy to whoever wants it.
Thanks,
Phreon
UPDATE:
We've been a man down at work and I've been traveling all over the country lately. Last week though this Monday, I was in Memphis working 12-16 hr. days and this week I've been bouncing around Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage Alaska since Tuesday. Needless to say, a decent internet connection isn't easy to come by outside of Anchorage (where I am now).
Essentially, all we (my friend and I) have to do is finish the titles, author the final product and burn the DVDs; this is a few hours of work at most. I profusely apologize this has taken as long as it has; the work life balance hasn't been in my favor lately. I'll try to finalize things this coming weekend (I fly home tomorrow, Fri.), but these time changes have been wearing be down and there's a good chance I'll be wrecked by the difference between Alaska Daylight savings and Eastern Daylight savings time.
On an unrelated note, if you ever have the chance to come up here (Alaska), don't miss it. Aside from the horrendously long flight from the east coast and the volcano dust grime all over the city, this is the most beautiful country I've ever seen. We had a few free hours this morning, drove up the inlet from Anchorage to Girdwood and took the tram up from Alyeska resort to a mountain top 3000 ft. up. I understand how some people come up here and wind up never leaving. I'll post a link to my digital pictures when I get them uploaded.
Thanks,
Phreon
We've been a man down at work and I've been traveling all over the country lately. Last week though this Monday, I was in Memphis working 12-16 hr. days and this week I've been bouncing around Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage Alaska since Tuesday. Needless to say, a decent internet connection isn't easy to come by outside of Anchorage (where I am now).
Essentially, all we (my friend and I) have to do is finish the titles, author the final product and burn the DVDs; this is a few hours of work at most. I profusely apologize this has taken as long as it has; the work life balance hasn't been in my favor lately. I'll try to finalize things this coming weekend (I fly home tomorrow, Fri.), but these time changes have been wearing be down and there's a good chance I'll be wrecked by the difference between Alaska Daylight savings and Eastern Daylight savings time.
On an unrelated note, if you ever have the chance to come up here (Alaska), don't miss it. Aside from the horrendously long flight from the east coast and the volcano dust grime all over the city, this is the most beautiful country I've ever seen. We had a few free hours this morning, drove up the inlet from Anchorage to Girdwood and took the tram up from Alyeska resort to a mountain top 3000 ft. up. I understand how some people come up here and wind up never leaving. I'll post a link to my digital pictures when I get them uploaded.
Thanks,
Phreon