Laser Video Question

[uffeviking]

This afternoon I wanted to watch Lawrence of Arabia on my LVD player - Folks, it's snowing here and 23°, I needed the desert! - but side 1 of disc 1 had only the audio, no video. Can you see all the frantic clicking going on here among my various components to find the bloody video? No luck. Side 2 worked perfectly, as did both sides of disc 2.

Anybody here with a solution? PLEASE! - Thank you! 

[head-case]

This afternoon I wanted to watch Lawrence of Arabia on my LVD player - Folks, it's snowing here and 23°, I needed the desert! - but side 1 of disc 1 had only the audio, no video. Can you see all the frantic clicking going on here among my various components to find the bloody video? No luck. Side 2 worked perfectly, as did both sides of disc 2.

Anybody here with a solution? PLEASE! - Thank you! 

Do you have a dumpster?   

[uffeviking]

I do, but side 2 is still in good shape! 

Next technical help, explanation or advise?

[BachQ]

Didn't LVD players die out during the mid-1970's?

[longears]

Maybe http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/odfaq.htm?

[uffeviking]

Didn't LVD players die out during the mid-1970's?

They didn't die, D Minor, they just faded away! 

Sometimes one can be found at ebay! 

[SonicMan46]

Hello, Lis - well I'm not sure 'how many' of these laser discs you own, but I hope that it's not a LARGE investment - 

My brothers bought into this technology years ago, but no longer own any laser discs - have switched to DVDs - one suggestion (of course depending on the number you own) would be to convert these to 'burned' DVDs (which could be done on a computer or a 'stand alone' DVD burner; not sure about copy protection on these discs, though?).  From my limited reading these 'larger' laser discs may be more prone to not play as they age, so if you've noticed problems w/ others, you might need to 'convert' them or buy commercial DVDs - sorry, but good luck - Dave 

[uffeviking]

Dave, I have over 700 of those laser discs in my collection!!

Most of them are operas, concerts and ballets; a small number are great movies and converting them to DVDs would be a big job. I might even attempt to do it, but I would have to learn how. You plan on visiting the State of Washington soon? 

Thank you for your advise and help, Dave, food for thought indeed! 

Lis

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I have over 700 of those laser discs in my collection!!.........................

Lis - OMG!    You have got a REAL investment in this technology - boy, just hope that all of your other discs are working OK!  Converting that number to DVD would be an 'ordeal' - plus, I assume that these discs are copy protected (Macrovision or other?) which would make duplication difficult w/o programs (hardware/software) to 'break' that protection (of course, illegal -  )

But, your offer to visit Washington State would be easily accepted (have not been there in about 10 yrs!) - and just finished a book on Washington State wines (most of which do not ship to NC -  ) - so, would give me a great opportunity for sipping on some great vinous products from that wonderous state!  Dave 

[head-case]

The problem is that laserdisc was so commercially unsuccessful that there is insufficient incentive for any company to make new hardware to play them.  One reason for the failure of LD is that the media was so unreliable.  At one point I found a movie I wanted on laserdisc for almost nothing.  Then I bought a player on ebay for less than it would have cost to get the DVD of the movie.  I watched the laserdisc, which was very disappointing in quality, and then chucked the entire lot into the trash.  You can buy a working laserdisc player for $20 on ebay, or you might be able to find that laserdisc of Laurence of Arabia for 50 cents at a used record store (which is what I paid for a LD movie).  Or join netflix.  I don't know what other solution you can expect.

PS, I think the last version of laserdisc had sound stored in a separate digital format, rather than encoded with the picture.  That might by why you get sound but no picture, the digital portion is intact but the video portion has deteriorated too much to be read anymore. 

Dave, I have over 700 of those laser discs in my collection!!

Most of them are operas, concerts and ballets; a small number are great movies and converting them to DVDs would be a big job. I might even attempt to do it, but I would have to learn how. You plan on visiting the State of Washington soon? 

Thank you for your advise and help, Dave, food for thought indeed! 

Lis

[uffeviking]

Great idea, head-case, to get a LVD player at ebay - I bought two of them as back-ups, both in working order; they should last me for some time! 

[PerfectWagnerite]

This afternoon I wanted to watch Lawrence of Arabia on my LVD player - Folks, it's snowing here and 23°, I needed the desert! - but side 1 of disc 1 had only the audio, no video. Can you see all the frantic clicking going on here among my various components to find the bloody video? No luck. Side 2 worked perfectly, as did both sides of disc 2.

Anybody here with a solution? PLEASE! - Thank you! 

THis might sound stupid but did you check to make sure side 1 is in good working order? Do you see any scratches or worse yet gouges on it?

[uffeviking]

No, it's not a stupid idea and I appreciate you bringing it up. I did check very thoroughly and it looks perfect!