Lord of the Rings: Return of the King EE

mighty mint · 12-14-2004, 02:10 AM

Well, since no one else started it, I guess I might as well...oh yeah...it comes out tomorrow...too bad I got mine a DAY EARLY!! WOOHOO BABY!

Anyhoo, I did not spot any problems with the DVDs themselves but I will say that I found the sound editing to be so inconsistent that it pissed me off. The best example is the final chapter disc one. Up to this point everytime we see the Wringwraiths flying on their beasties the bass has signalled the large amount of air those wings are moving when they pass by...well, in the battle seen when 5 of them fly into the seen only the last one has any emphasis set from previous precidents. When the first gate on the seige tower drops there is NO bass to signify the heaviness but when some men fall 9,000,000 feet and land on the roof of a building a mile away, the bass kicks in. Whoever did the editing needs a shot to the head...or a knee to the groin. These inconsistencies seem brutal in light of every other scenerio before it that set expectations - "When the dragon thingys fly by, this is what one hears...when a large iron gate drops down, crushing stones, this is what one hears..." It's too bad.

The up side is this - I listened to it originally in DTS but for the sake of Psycho insisting on the superior sound of DD I thought I would try it in case there was a mastering disaster...nope...the lower frequency accents are absent in both.

Sycho · 12-14-2004, 02:22 AM

it's Sycho, no P, well except for avsforum, but that's not where we are.

mighty mint · 12-14-2004, 02:29 PM

My apologies...I was very tired...but hey, I was thinking of you man! That's gotta count for something

tomdkat · 12-28-2004, 05:18 PM

I've finally gotten around to watching this and didn't notice any lack of bass. I'll play the scenes in question and pay closer attention.

Can you post chapters and/or timestamps?

Peace....

Sword of Whedon · 12-28-2004, 06:26 PM

Make sure you haven't engaged Midnight Mode on your receiver

mighty mint · 12-30-2004, 03:08 AM

Sorry, I was not clear enough in my critique. It has nothing to do with the audio quality or lack of bass or midnight mode...it has to do with consistent sound effects done by the sound editors. The disc is mixed how it is...I just found their choices to add bass effects for some scenes and not for others to be funny.

tomdkat · 12-31-2004, 04:01 AM

Interesting observation. I just watched part of chapter 36, which is the last chapter on disc one and I sort of see what you mean. I also noticed your subs have a frequency response of 50Hz - 150Hz, which means if there is bass present below 50Hz in this scene, it would be missed by your sub. Mine have a frequency response of 25Hz (I don't know what the upper end is since they are integrated in my front mains) and I did hear a fair amount of fairly deep bass in some parts of that scene but not when all 5 wraiths are flying in. I didn't play the entire scene.

If we could get a technical analysis of the LFE bass in that scene, we could then determine if the bass is there but just VERY low or if the bass is just missing from the audio mix. As an example, I believe U-571 has LFE bass that goes down to 5Hz in some parts.

Peace...

12-14-2004, 02:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
mighty mint The Freshmaker! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the Land of the Ice and Snow, eh!	Lord of the Rings: Return of the King EE Well, since no one else started it, I guess I might as well...oh yeah...it comes out tomorrow...too bad I got mine a DAY EARLY!! WOOHOO BABY! Anyhoo, I did not spot any problems with the DVDs themselves but I will say that I found the sound editing to be so inconsistent that it pissed me off. The best example is the final chapter disc one. Up to this point everytime we see the Wringwraiths flying on their beasties the bass has signalled the large amount of air those wings are moving when they pass by...well, in the battle seen when 5 of them fly into the seen only the last one has any emphasis set from previous precidents. When the first gate on the seige tower drops there is NO bass to signify the heaviness but when some men fall 9,000,000 feet and land on the roof of a building a mile away, the bass kicks in. Whoever did the editing needs a shot to the head...or a knee to the groin. These inconsistencies seem brutal in light of every other scenerio before it that set expectations - "When the dragon thingys fly by, this is what one hears...when a large iron gate drops down, crushing stones, this is what one hears..." It's too bad. The up side is this - I listened to it originally in DTS but for the sake of Psycho insisting on the superior sound of DD I thought I would try it in case there was a mastering disaster...nope...the lower frequency accents are absent in both.

12-14-2004, 02:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sycho I needs to show ID with a personal check Join Date: Dec 2003	it's Sycho, no P, well except for avsforum, but that's not where we are. __________________ On the bed, on the floor, on the towel by the door. In the tub, in the car, up against the mini-bar.

12-28-2004, 05:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	I've finally gotten around to watching this and didn't notice any lack of bass. I'll play the scenes in question and pay closer attention. Can you post chapters and/or timestamps? Peace.... __________________ My DVD Aficionado List "At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi, at last we shall have revenge!"

12-31-2004, 04:01 AM	#7 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	Interesting observation. I just watched part of chapter 36, which is the last chapter on disc one and I sort of see what you mean. I also noticed your subs have a frequency response of 50Hz - 150Hz, which means if there is bass present below 50Hz in this scene, it would be missed by your sub. Mine have a frequency response of 25Hz (I don't know what the upper end is since they are integrated in my front mains) and I did hear a fair amount of fairly deep bass in some parts of that scene but not when all 5 wraiths are flying in. I didn't play the entire scene. If we could get a technical analysis of the LFE bass in that scene, we could then determine if the bass is there but just VERY low or if the bass is just missing from the audio mix. As an example, I believe U-571 has LFE bass that goes down to 5Hz in some parts. Peace... __________________ My DVD Aficionado List "At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi, at last we shall have revenge!"

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12-14-2004, 02:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
mighty mint The Freshmaker! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the Land of the Ice and Snow, eh!	My apologies...I was very tired...but hey, I was thinking of you man! That's gotta count for something

12-28-2004, 06:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sword of Whedon Actor Join Date: Jan 2004	Make sure you haven't engaged Midnight Mode on your receiver

12-30-2004, 03:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
mighty mint The Freshmaker! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the Land of the Ice and Snow, eh!	Sorry, I was not clear enough in my critique. It has nothing to do with the audio quality or lack of bass or midnight mode...it has to do with consistent sound effects done by the sound editors. The disc is mixed how it is...I just found their choices to add bass effects for some scenes and not for others to be funny.