MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: Question about ALG driver status

> > Yes it should. And it should output the composite video so we can decode it in a programmable shader and provide a set of dynamic picture controls like you'd get with a real system.>

If that is to be true, will you also bring back interlaced content for systems, where it is already throw out? I remember discussions, where the conclusion was, "no one use a CRT anymore and it is to hard to maintain", but in this case here you will do it???

> In my mind, the final "laserdisc dump" format should contain enough information that if someone had the ability to master a new laserdisc, that it would contain all the
information required to do just that and result in a reasonable duplicate without significant data loss, understanding that with the number of analog-digital and
digital-analog transitions we've been discussing here, wouldn't be exactly the same.>

No one will ever be able again to do that, except he owns the industrial park that you would need for that task.
"significant data loss" is exactly what? the capturings? The loss is so small, that you wouldnt see it with your eyes, if its done properly. Also a capturing that has the VBI data intact wouldnt be a 100% clone, but a very close and good functional copy and not something with "significant data loss".

> And eventually have enough bells and whistles that if, say, someone from various laserdisc movie collecting societies wanted to use our format and the dumping hardware and software solution created to preserve their rare discs, that it could do that.>

The theory sounds nice, but the practice (currently and how you wish to setup the hardware) is to open already rare and hard to replace hardware, probably with soldering included, just to get a doubtful result (that also needs to be proved, if it is really better) with a potential risk, to render the hardware out of commission. It is not something, where you can easily connect your setup and its done. Therefore i dont think you will find those people, who will gladly agree to this and have the knowledge to operate such a setup.

As we are at audio examples: It is like capturing a WAV from a lousy 128kb mp3 file with decent audio equipment and 192khz AD converters and expect a better result vs. just do a 320kb mp3 of it again. Both could be transfered back again to a CD/DVD.

If artefacts are such a concern, write a video-capturing app than can capture frame by frame (LDPs with RS 232 are there, you can jump from frame to frame). It will take a while to finish a capture as it is not in realtime, but i am very sure that visible/blocky artefacts will be gone. Since most of you are more into software writing, it could be done. You would have a setup, that would work non-destructive to any LDP hardware. All you need is a capture card, that you support with your written software.