Page 1 of Help & Advice needed please on LOTR: The Two Towers Extended Edition...

I have both the R2 of the theatrical version and Extended Edition of Fellowship of the Ring. I had heard of the audio "flaws" due to the pitch correction, but they never really bothered me because I couldn`t hear them that much at the time.

But, when I got The Two Towers DVD the other week I watched FOTR: EE for the first time in a few months. Now, I didn`t notice any audio flaws in the Two Towers soundtrack (thought it was a great DD 5.1 track). But I noticed many `pops` and `clicks` in the FOTR: EE. This has p***ed me off to no end as now I`m unhappy with my R2 copy of FOTR: EE.

At first I read up on the "pitch correction" and it seems to also apply to the R4 version. It p***es me off and I can`t understand why they didn`t just speed it up without trying to correct it, hardly anyone notices the 4% speed-up anyway (only people with perfect pitch do, which to be fair includes a fair number of people), but these audio flaws are quite annoying and unnecessary.

Now, I want to know what to do about The Two Towers: Extended Edition. I want to get PAL if possible, but not if it is going to be "pitch corrected". I didn`t notice anything on the Theatrical Release, but then again I didn`t notice anything on the Fellowship DVD until recently. But should I just get the R1 version? I`m not the biggest fan of NTSC, but at least I know the audio should be fine. I`m kinda confused to what is worse, NTSC judder or a stupid PAL pitch correction. I mean, who else pitch corrects films on PAL???

I hate EIV >:(

By the way, any help & advice much appreciated :)

Chewie,
I`m just watching FOTR:EE now and have heard of these clicks etc. Are they actually on the soundtrack? i.e is there a click at the same place every time you play it? If so can you give me a time `cos I want to listen out for it. It`s certainly never bothered me before. Infact it`s gone back to my top surround track - the rears are used pretty much throughout the film and generate a fantastic atmosphere.
I`m not really advising (you know more about pitch correction etc. than me) but for me, for a given film with the same extras for similar price (£20.99 from dvdpopcorn) I`d get R2 every time. Me no like NTSC judder either..

Ste

Sj, I don`t really want to give you any times because I don`t want to ruin the experience. I mean, if you did notice this and it ruined your enjoyment of a great film (and it is a great soundtrack also apart from the annoying flaws), wouldn`t you just be p***ed like me? ;)
But yes, there are clicks and pops at the same place everytime.

So I`ll not tell you about them as I don`t want to be responsible for ruining a great film.

And I do think the DD 5.1 soundtrack is great (the DTS is crap though). I get a thrill from just the Mines of Moria scenes. Great score and great use of surrounds and bass. If it wasn`t for the `pops` I would label it a reference quality soundtrack, up there with AOTC. :D

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I`m not really advising (you know more about pitch correction etc. than me)

I doubt that very much. All I know is they lower the frequency by 4% (they don`t slow the sound down which is what I used to think). Why they do this I don`t know. Probably just to p*** off somebody.

I certainly would prefer to just get the R2 version, but I do want the version I can watch with the least flaws (noticeable to me anyway ;) ).

Yeah Mines of Moria is fantastic. Around the bit of Kaza Dum od whatever it`s called and the arrows flying over your head and the `operatic` voices from the rears. Great stuff. Still haven`t listened to Moria in DTS yet although on my player it takes so long to switch from DTS back to DD you forget how it sounded - other than louder. Will listen on DTS tomorrow.

Go on, tell me where there`s a pop. It won`t spoil it for me - I don`t watch the same film again and again too often anymore for it to spoil it.

Ste

Here is a review from an Aussie site regarding the R4 version of FOTR.
I don`t know if the same problems with the sound are on both R2 and R4
but as they are both pal and have been subjected to the same pitch correction
then I would imagine that they are identical.
I have the R1 discs and I have to say that the dts soundtrack is fantastic -
better than the dolby digital one - and not just because it is louder!
Anyway sj, here is that excellent review for you but, as chewie has pointed
out, you have been warned.......
http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ReviewID=2231

if you got to www.michaeldvd.com.au and look at thier review of TTT then they discuss the audio so might help you decide.

If you hate EiV, go for the New Line R1. Guaranteed no pitch correction, and the correct running time without a 4% increase in the speed of the audio. I know you don`t like NTSC, but I really don`t find it that objectionable as long as it`s a decent transfer. The only obvious instance of 3:2 pulldown I`ve noticed is in AOTC, but then I found out that it`s the same on the PAL version as well (so a problem with the film, not the video standard).

BTW, it`s not just people with perfect pitch who can tell the difference. Just wait until you buy a PAL copy of Matrix Reloaded (if you plan to), as the Burly Brawl sounds very odd indeed because of the speed-up.

I reckon the DTS on TFOTR rules on the R1 release, as does the Dolby. Go on, you know you love NTSC really ;)

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I know you don`t like NTSC, but I really don`t find it that objectionable as long as it`s a decent transfer.

Well, in the last few months I`ve warmed to NTSC a little more and see it as an acceptable solution when the R2 is cut by either the studio or BBFC.

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Just wait until you buy a PAL copy of Matrix Reloaded

I already have and I don`t notice much difference, and I have also listened to the soundtrack a lot. PAL speed-up just doesn`t bother me as I don`t notice it. Strange though, because I am a musician as well. Sure, maybe it sounds a little higher, but the 3:2 pulldown is something I notice a lot, especially on something such as LOTR with it`s many landscape panning shots.

But I think I`ll wait to see what the best one is when the review discs start appearing.

Thanks for the info though :)

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I already have and I don`t notice much difference, and I have also listened to the soundtrack a lot. PAL speed-up just doesn`t bother me as I don`t notice it.

I think maybe I notice it because I used to DJ. When you get used to pitch shifting records +/- 1%, sometimes less, a 4% increase is really obvious. It`s not so obvious on X2 though, as I don`t really know the score that well.

Chewie,

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Just wait until you buy a PAL copy of Matrix Reloaded.

I already have and I don`t notice much difference
How`s that then?

Ste