Quote:
Originally Posted by
jh901
I'm referring to analog films which have been released in the past. Whatever processes that were needed to establish the original look of the film have been decided. Seems to me that the digital transfer should be carried out such that the original analog look is maintained as best as possible. As for sound, I was drawing an analogy to music recordings originally recorded on magnetic tape. The final mix is well established. The mastering engineering uses the best stereo or mono source tapes to transfer to digital. So much can go wrong. Recording engineers and artists have no expertise despite whatever opinions they might come up with 40 years after the original recording. The top mastering engineers should be left to do their work. I'm not sure about film soundtracks, but perfection isn't as necessary (for home theater). My concern is with the 4K/HDR image quality of 20th century films. This is the last chance in our lifetimes, perhaps, to get really close to archive quality.
Audio restoration cannot be compared to video in film restoration, although it is one single thread in the process.
As soon as you mess with the colour grade in any way, especially by creating an HDR grade of a film you need to get the film makers involved otherwise you are changing the directors intent.
If the director is alive the HDR conversion if at all should be done completely within their oversight, as that had the potential to significantly alter the character of the film.
You need to give directors more credit than you are, they are the paint brush wielders and they are the professionals when it comes to bringing all the elements together to create the finished product by directing the individuals involved.
The newest Blade Runner Final Cut was done completely within Ridley Scotts oversight and it looks fantastic.
I would not presume to go an start messing around with a restoration of Close Encounters without consulting Spielberg. If you wouldn't dare touch a film like that without consulting the director first then every other film and film maker should certainly be extended the same courtesy. If they are not alive, then the films next of kin should be consulted, cinematographer, producer etc...
A musician only plays an instrument where as a director is more like an orchestral composer, you would not go changing to tune of their instruments and alter the sound of the violins without consulting them as you potentially depart from the original ideals of the piece/film.