DVD Box set...question for Jason

[socalledfan]

Hi Jason,

I apologize if this question has been asked/answered before. Here's my deal. Way back when pre-order started, I sent in my order. Back then we were given two options...Box set with eps 1-19, or Box set with eps 4-19...for those who already owned 1-3 on dvd. I chose the latter, because I already have the first DVD (1-3) put out a while back.

Since I ordered this second one, do I still get the fun extras, i.e. lunchbox and bonus disc? Also...the second DVD set is no longer available on Another Universe. Was this just part of a limited run of 4-19 sets?

Thanks Jason. I am just a bit confused and hope you can help clarify. My order # is W3208899, in case you need this.


Best wishes,
Socalledfan

"You're so beautiful, it hurts to look at you."

[Jason R]

The 4-19 set was a limited thing. It was made available because we knew that some people already bought disc one. The only changes will be the addition of subtitles, and I am hoping for a better compression job, but that might be out of our control, and limited to the quality of the master. THERE may still be an opportunity to get a commentary track for the pilot (time is short), so that would be something big, I suppose.

In any case, AU.com is owned by a company that works in the comics and comic collectibles business, CMI Holdings. Early on, the CEO told me that he wanted to make the 4-19 sets available because some people already owned the 1-3 disc. BMG is not offering the 4-19 sets, so essentially AU.com is paying for the full set and removing a disc. I would imagine that they might make them available in the future if people just want that disc, but don't quote me on it.

In any case, they are trying to be sensitive to fan concerns, and have said that they hate it when they have to buy something twice to get something extra. I thought that this was pretty respectable, because my old industry (the music biz) has a habit of making you buy the same thing over again to get new tracks, etc.

[Jason R]

Unless you got in after the cut off. They may have offered the 4-19 a little longer.

[socalledfan]

Thanks Jason for your quick reply. I feel better now! I definitely got in before the cutoff, so it looks like I will soon have in my possession a coveted MSCL lunchbox and box set. Woohoo!



"You're so beautiful, it hurts to look at you."

[ClarenceWorley]

<font color=blue>> The 4-19 set was a limited thing. It was made available because we knew that some people already bought disc one.
> The only changes will be the addition of subtitles, and I am hoping for a better compression job, but that might be
> out of our control, and limited to the quality of the master. THERE may still be an opportunity to get a commentary
> track for the pilot (time is short), so that would be something big, I suppose.</font color=blue>

Frankly, I'm rather concerned about this. I have been reassured several times, that the the first disc in the Box
Set will be identical to the previously released disc. If there was the slightest chance of any difference between
the two, I would have ordered the 1-19 Set rather than the 4-19 Set.

If I were to miss out on a commentary, I would feel a bit ripped off to say the least. <img src="/forum/images/frown.gif">

Are you able to confirm the possible improved compression job, subtitles and other such differences on the new
first disc?


Clarence Worley

[danguyf]

Who told you that?

I don't know about Jason, but I was assured early on the the first disc was being re-done due to the really terrible job that BMG did when they released it. This was a concern when we first learned that BMG would be doing the production, until we were assured that AU was making BMG re-do the first disc at better quality and do the subsequent discs at that high quality level. I've been telling everyone far and wide that, as far as I know, this box set will be of a higher quality than BMG's one disc -- *all* of the box set, first disc included -- so there's nothing for them to worry about.

I fully support giving the customer the option of not re-buying the first disc -- it shows principals and character, IMHO -- but I don't see why a fan would decide to not splurge the extra $10 for what is hoped to be, at the least, a better quality transfer and, at the most, a far superior disc with commentary.

[Guest]

Quoting comments by Jason Rosenfield and Ross Rojek, CEO of Another Universe, from posts on this board on 2/16/02:

In response to a question about any changes to the first DVD, Jason says...
>I believe that Disc One is being redone entirely. I was told that subtitles
>are being added, so to do that they would be remastering. Hope this helps!
>
>Jason

Hours later, Ross Rojek replies to the same original email thusly...
>disc one will be the same as the current release. disc 2-5 will be episodes
>4-19, and bonus material. That way any fan that bought the first disc
>doesn't have to re-buy it from us (I personally hate it when that happens to
>me)."

After which, Jason adds...
>I stand corrected.

Given that, I too will be quite miffed if pilot commentary and quality improvements are added to the first disc, since I was reassured--along with many others who own the first three episodes on DVD already--that I wouldn't miss out if I only ordered episodes 4-19.

[ClarenceWorley]

The following message posted by the CEO of Another Universe, in which he said it'll be the same disc.
<A HREF="http://www.mscl.com/cgi-bin/wwwthreads/ ... ost2156</A>

If the first disc was being remastered, I don't see why this fact wasn't mentioned under DVD News with
all the other useful information.

In regard to spending $10 extra and getting a better transfer...etc, I couldn't agree more. I only wish
this fact (re-done first disc) was made abundantly clear to begin with.

Looks like I'll be attempting to change my order to the 1-19 Set.


Clarence Worley

[Jason R]

We don't know whether a better master is possible, or whether the digibeta (which also uses compression) is the source of the compression artifacts.

So... if we get people to buy the 1-3 disc, what if the quality ends up being the same?

I am going to recommend that the 1-3 disc become available in limited quantities, as a separate order, if you wish to add it on later. This is a win-win situation because AU is paying to have them pressed anyway. You may have to eat the shipping on the disc, but media mail is like $1.70, and this disc might ship for much less based on weight (in a cardboard sleeve or something).

[dTheater]

I clearly recall reading - either on this board, on the AU website or in one of Jason's e-mails - that the first disc would be re-mastered, if only slightly, which is why I chose to include it despite already having it.

- Jim

Kaytee Bodle: Girl With Guitar
http://girlwithguitar.0catch.com/

[Guest]

Jason,
Can you let us know as soon as you find out if there have been alterations to the first disk? I will definitely be interested in purchasing it separately because I too was under the impression that it would be the same as the original BMG disk.

[Jason R]

I was at BMG on Monday, and I can confirm that they still have the subtitles planned. So there's a difference but, to me, subtitles would not be a big enough difference. Quality was also an issue. However, resolution depends on the quality of the master. If digital tools are used to clean up a master, it can leave other types of digital artifacts. That's why I am anxiously awaiting a master.