MovieChat Forums > Pure Luck (1991) Discussion > Recently got a sealed LaserDisc; suggest...

Recently got a sealed LaserDisc; suggestions to convert to DVD?

posted 16 years ago by CurtisTheGreat
10 replies | jump to latest

I recently came across a sealed version of this amazing movie on LaserDisc. To make a very long story short, I was able to convert the LaserDisc to DVD format by running the movie through my DVD Camcorder from my LaserDisc player.

For those who aren't familiar with LaserDiscs... they were the precursor to DVDs. A quick overview of video qualities (from Wikipedia):

* 330×480 (250 lines): VHS
* 440×480 (330 lines): analog broadcast (TV)
* 560×480 (420 lines): LaserDisc
* 720×480 (500 lines): DVD

Audio quality is quite a bit better as well. I get 8 channels of audio from my LaserDisc and only 2 from my VHS.

But, I'm concerned that I didn't get the best quality possible (though my LD rip is quite a bit better than my VHS rip) and I am looking for suggestions on how to improve the ripping process and quality of this movie.

I am 100% ready to spend some money on the computer hardware I need to make this happen, but haven't a clue the best way to go about this. Maybe a TV Tuner card? Software to digitally re-master the movie? I'm not sure here... any advice is welcome.

I want to be able to provide high quality DVD backups of people's old VHS tapes of this movie. Good VHS copies are hard to come by these days, and they are slowly dying. It's a movie that should be on DVD, but Universal says it will never happen. (Below is a quote from the e-mail they send me about it.)
"No plans have been announced for the DVD release of "Pure Luck." A multitude of factors, including contractual issues, influence the timing and content of our DVD releases. Unfortunately, no further information is available at this time."

Anyhow, it's apparent that we, the people who love this movie, are going to have to come up with our own way to get this movie on to our DVD players in the best quality possible.

[–] Samus Aran 16 years ago

Any chance you could send me a DVD of this fine movie? I looked all over the place for a DVD, only to find out that I can't find it because it doesn't exist. =( Haven't watched it since it came out, and want to see if it is as funny as I remember it being.

[–] oopendorf 16 years ago

Pure Luck is on Starz Kids & Family channel (sk&fm) right now. It'll be on again on the 23rd and 29th I believe. Its, of course, also on the hd version of that channel but its definitely not hd. But you do get the full image (no chopped sides). I'm going to set the dvr to record it when it is next on.

I too had looked high and low for the dvd but to no avail.

_______________________
"Don't argue with a fool. The spectators can't tell the difference."

[–] Samus Aran 16 years ago

I have not had a television for more than a decade now.

[–] oopendorf 16 years ago

Then were you asking for Pure Luck on dvd?

_______________________
"Don't argue with a fool. The spectators can't tell the difference."

[–] Samus Aran 16 years ago

DVD technology is not the same as television technology, they are actually quite different. I have a 1080p 42" LCD monitor hooked up to my computer and my DVD player. I have no troubles watching DVDs. I do not have television, as I do not enjoy spending my time watching forced advertisement and government propaganda.

[–] CurtisTheGreat 16 years ago

I can host it as a Torrent somewhere, but I want to re-make the DVD I have to include menus with a chapter selection. As it stands, it's a long play, one chapter, DVD.

But I was able to get the quality quite a bit better since I last posted this, so the audio is digital, as is the image.

It's still lower quality than a DVD made to today's standards, but quite a bit better than VHS.

[–] Samus Aran 15 years ago

Any chance of posting that for those of us who can't find this anywhere at all?

[–] bobgallico 16 years ago

If you haven't been able to convert yet, it's on MoviePlex - Free Movie

[–] imdb_owner 15 years ago

CurtisTheGreat, awesome movie to find on laserdisc. It may be to late to mention, however, i have had great results transfering out-of-print laserdisc movies to dvd-r using a decent standalone DVD-R recorder often. As long as the standalone has a setting to adjust the Mbps of the DVD (quality of recording) -- here is an easy to use calculator to calculate the Mbps needed for the best quality transfer: (http://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm)

When I made a personal DVD from a out-of-print laserdisc using a standalone DVD recorder, I have not found any type of copy-gaurd protection on laserdisc movies. I used the S-video connection (when possible), as it seemed to give sharper results with slightly brighter color.

Once completed, Then I ripped the DVD to my computer, using DVDshrink (in non-compression mode) or DVD Decrypter. Once on my computer, TMPGenc DVD author worked well to create a nice looking, simple DVD menu.

Thanks, please message me here if I can be of any assistance.

[–] vrongav 14 years ago

I have Pure Luck on DVD, copied it from my Video, to hard drive, then hard drive to DVD-R, i did it a couple of years ago from a sealed VHS video and watch it when i need a pick up.