Laserdisc Transfer to DVD - Audio Questions

[moviebuff2]

Hi everyone:

I already posted my questions regarding laserdisc transfer to DVD - video. I now have a few questions regarding its audio part. I think I should post a new thread in the audio forum. If I'm wrong, please feel free to move it and please accept my apology.

My laserdisc player does not have any digital output (coaxial or optical) and is connected to my DVD recorder by way of the RCA connections. However, in playback mode, the laserdisc player (an inexpensive Pioneer CLD-980) allows me to choose either "analog" or "digital" for the audio part.

Will it be better if I stay with "analog" when transfering my lasediscs since my connection is nothing digital, only the usual left and right plugs? Or, should I choose "digital" since the DVD recorder will make the audio part an AC3 Dolby Digital?

Thanks

[edDV]

A laserdisc can have three kinds of audio. The older analog tracks were moderate quality, similar to the HiFi tracks on VHS.

Digital tracks can be uncompressed stereo PCM or Dolby Digital AC-3 similar to DVD audio.

You are better off using the digital tracks even if the player is limited to analog outputs. AC-3 will get mixed to 2 channel stereo over the RCA plugs.

Laserdisc video is also being discussed at the end of this thread
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=319733&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

[moviebuff2]

Thanks edDV

I already tried 3 different laserdiscs: 2 classical music recitals and 1 movie.

The movie disc sounded a whole lot better when I selected digital. I could tell the difference in various aspects of the sound: more alive, more depth, for example.

One classical music disc (a live piano recital) sounded just the same, analog and digital. The other, the digital sound was worse than the analog, unfortunately. It was distorted with awful noise that sounds like a stylus was being pressed really hard on a record! This is a laserdisc manufactured by Deutsche Grammophon. I bought this disc legally and am only making back-up copy for my own use, in case my laserdisc player dies. It's almost 20 years old.

I think I will just have to try both sounds for each disc to determine which one will be best.

Thanks again for your help.

[edDV]

Thanks edDV

I already tried 3 different laserdiscs: 2 classical music recitals and 1 movie.

The movie disc sounded a whole lot better when I selected digital. I could tell the difference in various aspects of the sound: more alive, more depth, for example.

One classical music disc (a live piano recital) sounded just the same, analog and digital. The other, the digital sound was worse than the analog, unfortunately. It was distorted with awful noise that sounds like a stylus was being pressed really hard on a record! This is a laserdisc manufactured by Deutsche Grammophon. I bought this disc legally and am only making back-up copy for my own use, in case my laserdisc player dies. It's almost 20 years old.

I think I will just have to try both sounds for each disc to determine which one will be best.

Thanks again for your help.

Quality will vary on the digital tracks depending on the source. Remember the old days of CD audio with the AAD, DAD, ADD processes?

Digital is not always better than analog but usually is with modern equipment and trained operators.

[Dr_Layne]

A laserdisc can have three kinds of audio. The older analog tracks were moderate quality, similar to the HiFi tracks on VHS.

Digital tracks can be uncompressed stereo PCM or Dolby Digital AC-3 similar to DVD audio.

You are better off using the digital tracks even if the player is limited to analog outputs. AC-3 will get mixed to 2 channel stereo over the RCA plugs.

Laserdisc video is also being discussed at the end of this thread
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=319733&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

This is partially true. The Digital tracks on a laserdisc can be uncompressed stereo PCM or DTS. The analog tracks can be analog stereo or analog mono with an RF encoded Dolby Digital Track on the other channel, or an analog "director's commentary".

[edDV]

A laserdisc can have three kinds of audio. The older analog tracks were moderate quality, similar to the HiFi tracks on VHS.

Digital tracks can be uncompressed stereo PCM or Dolby Digital AC-3 similar to DVD audio.

You are better off using the digital tracks even if the player is limited to analog outputs. AC-3 will get mixed to 2 channel stereo over the RCA plugs.

Laserdisc video is also being discussed at the end of this thread
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=319733&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

This is partially true. The Digital tracks on a laserdisc can be uncompressed stereo PCM or DTS. The analog tracks can be analog stereo or analog mono with an RF encoded Dolby Digital Track on the other channel, or an analog "director's commentary".

True, there are more audio formats but PCM and Dolby Digital AC-3 are more common than DTS. They are all covered in the Laserdisc FAQ http://www.modeemi.fi/~leopold/AV/LdFaq/