Collecting LaserDiscs
Building a LaserDisc video library is very rewarding. Many LaserDisc movies and features are not available on DVD. Furthermore, many LaserDiscs have special features that are not available elsewhere. 12 3/8 inch LaserDisc jackets have ample room for artwork and inserts that can not be duplicated in smaller formats. Add natural analog video and uncompressed sound for a more film-like experience and you will see and hear why many movie buffs still collect LaserDiscs. Below are some suggested ways to collect.
Audio
The best sounding LaserDisc technology is Uncompressed DTS and Uncompressed Dolby Digital AC-3 audio.
DTS Audio
Digital Theater Systems introduced in 1993, its new 6 channel digital encoding system to Movie Theaters worldwide. Technically DTS offers up to 5.1 channels of 20-bit audio with five full-range channels including a subwoofer channel that are encoded on the digital tracks of a DTS LaserDisc. There are over 143 DTS encoded LaserDiscs with approximately 120 unique titles.
Movie Theater Like Sound
With a properly modified LaserDisc System, DTS sounds way better than DVD's! This is because most DVD's only encode the DTS tracks at 1/2 the bit rate whereas LaserDiscs are full-bit rate encoded.
Dolby Digital AC-3 Audio
Introduced in 1992, Dolby Digital sound is available in Mono, Stereo, and 5.1. Commonly referred to as AC-3 (Audio Codec 3) in the LaserDisc industry. There are over 1,000 Dolby Digital AC-3 encoded LaserDiscs with over 600 unique titles.
Dolby Digital Surround EX
Introduced in 1998, Surround EX is available as 6.1, which added a single rear channel. There are only 8 Dolby Digital Surround EX LaserDiscs and 7 unique titles.
Movie Theater Like Sound
With a properly modified LaserDisc System, Dolby Digital sounds almost as good as DTS and way better than DVD's! This is because most DVD's only encode the Dolby Digital tracks at 1/2 the bit rate whereas LaserDiscs are full-bit rate encoded.
Video
The best picture for LaserDiscs is Anamorpic or Squeezed video which offers up to 30 percent more resolution. The history of anamorphically squeezed LaserDiscs is not well documented. It is estimated that the first US squeezed LaserDiscs were produced in 1994. There were only 4 US titles pressed and these were not available at retail as they were only available with select widescreen televisions. There were 12 unique Japanese squeezed available at retail. Therefore, these squeezed LaserDiscs are rare and very collectable.
Not on DVD
Would it surprise you to find out that there are over 4,000 titles on LaserDisc that are Not on DVD? This is because many times they are unable to get the rights to transfer the film to DVD because of contractual issues or when certain Actors have passed away!
DVD Transfers
Many DVD's were transferred from LaserDiscs and not the original film! In addition, there are many DVD's that are Full Screen when a Widescreen LaserDisc is available.
Some Examples of Not on DVD LaserDiscs
Atlantis The Lost Continent 1960 - Sci-Fi
Al Jolson Collection 8 Musicals from the 1930s - Musical
Destiny Turns on the Radio - Cult Sci-Fi
Hyper Sapien People From Another Star - Sci-Fi
The Invaders 1995 - Sci-Fi
It Came From Outer Space II - Sci-Fi
The Kid from Brooklyn 1946 - Drama
Man From U.N.C.L.E. TV Series 1960 - Spy
The Power 1967 - Sci-Fi
Wild, Wild Planet Cult - Sci-Fi
and 1000's more...
Grazie,
Da Don
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