My Thoughts on Old No. 7

This is a copy of a PM I sent to David Flamma, who was kind enough to send me this:


Got it today.

I was able to compare it to two other versions:

1. The BTB version (previous record holder for cleanest version) that was available for download at Van Halen Cafe a couple of months ago...

2. My VHS version.


So.....my conclusion is this:

I actually think the BTB version is better for a couple of reasons. First of course is all the titles, the crowd shots and the pre-concert backstage stuff. Secondly, (and this is something everyone else noticed) the BTB version seems slightly washed out. And in my case, I do not have a direct copy of the BTB version, only the downloaded version, which suffers a bit visually from the compression.

So....the only thing necessary to fix the washed outedness of the BTB version is to reencode the video and up the contrast a bit, and maybe increase the color saturation. By doing that, it would be just about identical in appearance to Old No. 7.

However, I am not necessarily making any comparison in sound quality, as they both appear to be pretty similar.

Now...the other comparison is to the VHS tape I have.

Considering this was broadcast on TV, I must say the VHS version I have looks way sharper and life like than either of the digital versions I have.

The only negatives are that the sound is not quite as great (which could easily be fixed) and there is some visual noise as this is a lightly generated video (I would estimate this is no more than 4 or 5 generations from whatever master was used).


Overall though, yes I must say the VHS loses to both digital versions due to overall quality, but the BTB version actually nudges out the Old No. 7 by a hair because of the additional content.

Thus endeth the review.


Dammit! I wish to fuck that Deadward would quit sticking Smoking Loon bottles up his ass trying to become even drunker than even HE thought possible, and release this.

Actually, I just happened to think of something.

I know of a source for this....and the source would have access to the masters.

Hmmmmm.......I am gonna have to do some checking.

I might be able to score the ultimate coup.....

Oh well.

Fuck Deadhead.

That fucker is useless anymore, and it seems we are left to our own devices as far as seeking out video of the CVH glory days.

Hey does anyone have high-res versions of DVD cover art for Old No. 7??

Though of course, we are fortunate to have this at all...

Quote:

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Originally posted by Hardrock69
Hey does anyone have high-res versions of DVD cover art for Old No. 7??

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I can get you this in high-res.
:D
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/9669/831lk.jpg" border="0" width="650" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

my first impression on Old No.7 was like this.....

"wow what a shitty menu!! this author must be a 4 year old, who has no sense of art!!"

um, I also think the BTB version is better as well. it's being attractively packaged....

Yes, the BTB version at least appears like a professional production.

Hmmm....perhaps the answer might be to graft Old No. 7 onto the BTB version and reauthor it.

I hate to say this..but best of both worlds?

Here is another question...was this at San Bernadino? Or Devore?

I see two different cities listed in connection with this show..

Hey Rustoffa, that is a start....though somehow I wonder if maybe getting some high res photos from the show might be the way to go, and just creating some entirely new cover art.

Was it CVH or Dave selling Old No. 7 t-shirts?

Seems I remember some band selling t-shirts that looked like The Jack Daniels label...

I'll be damned....I found the real cover!

Instead of typing into Google "Van Halen Old No. 7" Or "VAN HALEN US FESTIVAL" or some shit I just typed in "Old No. 7" to see about getting some Jack Black labels to use, and here is what I found at vhboots:

http://www.vhboots.com/bGraphics/oldno7_large.jpg

http://www.vhboots.com/bGraphics/oldno7_back_large.jpg

Now notice the same discrepency I was asking about: The back image says "Devore, CA" yet the VHboots entry says "San Bernardino, CA"


Another probelm is that there are no photos whatsoever on the cover from the US Festival...

I think I am gonna haveta create my own after all.

And lastly, the covers are for CD-R, and do not include listings for any bonus material.

Yup! Gonna have to create some new covers for sure.
:cool:

Here is a request likely to get some responses:

Anyone got a hi-res scan of the Jack Black label?

I mean at least 600 X 800 or something like that.


And I need some hi-res pix from the US Festival (not screen caps).

Quote:

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Originally posted by Hardrock69


I know of a source for this....and the source would have access to the masters.

Hmmmmm.......I am gonna have to do some checking.

I might be able to score the ultimate coup.....

O

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This must be done HR!!!:killer:

Thanks DavesPA and source!!I loved the Old #7 version and was a great addition to my collection,I cant believe the negative response that this got from some people.

Thanks again for the effort,i can only imagine the time that you must have invested in putting it up!!

WOOT!
:D

Quote:

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Originally posted by mewisemagic
Thanks DavesPA and source!!I loved the Old #7 version and was a great addition to my collection,I cant believe the negative response that this got from some people.

Thanks again for the effort,i can only imagine the time that you must have invested in putting it up!!

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I cherish my old #7 version, but appreciate the BTB version as well.

I just downloaded the BTB and there are some great extras

I also really appreciate the audio on #7

No one is being negative, just giving opinions.

Same here.

Not complaining at all.

Just glad to have this shit.

I too appreciate the BTB version, and it's fine with me if anyone prefers that version to Old No. 7. They both have their pluses and minuses.

I agree that the menu on Old No. 7 could be alot better (I did not author Old No. 7, but I author in NERO as well, and I can say from experience that the menu text on the computer screen looks alot bigger than it ends up on the TV), but do we really watch a bootleg DVD for the menu?

To me the sound on Old No. 7 is FAR superior than BTB.

And while the contrast and color is sharper on Old No. 7, for some reason the 'edges' of things seem to be a bit more 'fuzzy' than on the BTB version. Prolly has to do with that 'de-interlacing' thing.

Oh well. To me it is an upgrade, and when I go to watch the actual performance of the US Festival, I watch Old No. 7. When I want to see the interview and before-party, I watch BTB.

...and this should be in Bootlegs...

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dave's PA Rental

Oh well. To me it is an upgrade, and when I go to watch the actual performance of the US Festival, I watch Old No. 7. When I want to see the interview and before-party, I watch BTB.

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yep. Just watched the second dvd of BTB for the first time today, and I was yearning for the more dynamic sound of Old #7.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Hardrock69
Now notice the same discrepency I was asking about: The back image says "Devore, CA" yet the VHboots entry says "San Bernardino, CA"

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Devore is where the Glen Helen Regional Park is (was?). The Blockbuster Pavilion is there now. Dave/Spammy show was there. San Bernadino is a bit further out so Devore is technically more correct.

Question: Supposedly the pre-show backstage stuff was filmed at a different time, not right before they went onstage. Why even go to all the bother of filming all that if you're not planning on releasing it commercially at some point? I'm sure they didn't do it so we'd be talking about watching it on bootlegs in 2006. So they had to have planned a commercial release, right? What the fuck happened?

I wish I knew....
:confused:

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dave's PA Rental
I too appreciate the BTB version, and it's fine with me if anyone prefers that version to Old No. 7. They both have their pluses and minuses.

I agree that the menu on Old No. 7 could be alot better (I did not author Old No. 7, but I author in NERO as well, and I can say from experience that the menu text on the computer screen looks alot bigger than it ends up on the TV), but do we really watch a bootleg DVD for the menu?

To me the sound on Old No. 7 is FAR superior than BTB.

And while the contrast and color is sharper on Old No. 7, for some reason the 'edges' of things seem to be a bit more 'fuzzy' than on the BTB version. Prolly has to do with that 'de-interlacing' thing.

Oh well. To me it is an upgrade, and when I go to watch the actual performance of the US Festival, I watch Old No. 7. When I want to see the interview and before-party, I watch BTB.

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I agree. I think that Old No. 7 is an upgrade. I watch for the show itself (picture and sound) and to me Old No 7 is better. If the question was which looks more professionally packaged than I would say BTB.

Thanks Dave Pa for sharing!

BTB is more professionally done, Old No. 7 looks and sounds better to me.

Quote:

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Originally posted by EbDawson
Devore is where the Glen Helen Regional Park is (was?). The Blockbuster Pavilion is there now. Dave/Spammy show was there. San Bernadino is a bit further out so Devore is technically more correct.

Question: Supposedly the pre-show backstage stuff was filmed at a different time, not right before they went onstage. Why even go to all the bother of filming all that if you're not planning on releasing it commercially at some point? I'm sure they didn't do it so we'd be talking about watching it on bootlegs in 2006. So they had to have planned a commercial release, right? What the fuck happened?

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The pre show back stage stuff comes from the fact that Showtime aired the concert live. And the issues involved in preventing an official release probably have to do with licensing... i.e. who has the rights to the footage. Apple Computers sponsored the concert. Showtime provided the TV footage. VH was under contract to WB, etc. When Time Warner bought Showtime, this matter should have simplified considerably. But then there's always the matter of the band's permission. And as usual, it's Eddie's fault.

The US Festival is great for a number of reasons, but in terms of technical musical performance, it wasn't Van Halen's peak moment. And Eddie is rumored to be embarrassed that a video of the show even exists at all, so if he has anything to do with the decision, an official version will never see the light of day. :(

Deadward should be embarrassed for even showing his toothless face in public anymore....
:mad:

Hey I got a question......

When is the video transfer rate on par with a real 1:1 copy?

I mean, sure I can encode an MPEG video at 8000 kbps, but how many kbps would mean it is an actual full blown 1:1 copy with no loss in quality whatsoever?

I mean, MPEG IS compression....would raw .avi be close to a perfect lossless copy?

With Blu-Ray and HD DVD out on the market, you will be able to get these hi-def movies that are like 40-50 Gigabytes in size....

At the very least we can say goodbye to having to make 2-disc DVDs in order to have the best quality (like Old No. 7).

But then it will be awhile before the next generation of DVDs will be standard, as ya haveta have a player, etc.

I would surely like to get a burner for my PC. I could store shitloads of stuff on one disc.

Like 100 iso images of audio cds in wav file format.

But I digress......

:cool:

Quote:

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Originally posted by FORD
Eddie is rumored to be embarrassed that a video of the show even exists at all, so if he has anything to do with the decision, an official version will never see the light of day.

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Well he should be damn proud of himself that only a handful of videos even exist considering they toured on all 6 albums.

Dave had a few drinks so Eddie's embarrassed of the show and a official version will never be seen, fine. Re-do Largo then. Of course I realize we've all beat this topic to death. :rolleyes: