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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Orbital-The Altogether (2001)

Orbital-The Altogether (2001)

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Released 18-Oct-2001

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Music DVD-ROM Extras-Game
Main Menu Audio & Animation
Music Video-Doctor?
Audio-Only Track-Meltdown
Multiple Angles-Funny Peculiar
Additional Footage-Pay Per View Commercials
Multiple Angles-Pay Per View
Additional Footage-Waving Not Drowning
Multiple Angles-Shadows
Multiple Angles-Tension Live
Rating Rated M
Year Of Production 2001
Running Time 48:20 (Case: 96)
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 2,3,4,5,6 Directed By None Given
Studio
Distributor

Warner Vision
Starring None Given
Case Amaray-Opaque
RPI $39.95 Music Orbital


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (320Kb/s)
English dts 5.1 (1536Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    Orbital: The Altogether is a DVD release of the current album for UK electronic band Orbital.

    Many listeners may be familiar with work from this album, such as the first single Funny Break or their interpretation of the Doctor Who theme, Doctor?. This disc contains all of the tracks from the CD release in the main program except for Doctor? and Meltdown. Both these tracks are included as extras but only a single Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is provided. The disc also replaces the short CD version of Meltdown with the complete twenty two minute edition.

    If you are unfamiliar with this band's work you may wish to sample some of the tracks from this release at their official web site. If you are already a fan of the band then you should definitely enjoy this DVD release.

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Track Listing

1. Tension
2. Funny Break
3. Oi!
4. Pay Per View
5. Tootled
6. Last Thing
7. Shadows
8. Waving Not Drowning
9. Illuminate

Transfer Quality

Video

    All videos and extras provided on this disc are presented at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and are 16x9 enhanced.

    Sharpness levels vary with the different videos presented throughout the transfer. Some videos such as Tootled and Waving Not Drowning are extremely sharp but others such as Pay Per View are a little softer. These variations are inherent in the original source material. Some low level noise may be detected during Pay Per View at 19:15 and for the entirety of Last Thing, again inherent in the source material. Shadow detail does vary through the video clips but at no stage does it pose any problem for the viewer.

    The different video clips intentionally display various ranges of colour and intensity but when required, such as in Waving Not Drowning, where bright and vibrant colours are displayed.

    No MPEG artefacts were detected during this transfer.

    A small amount of aliasing can be seen at 17:54 during Pay Per View. Luckily this is very short and is not disruptive.

    Other than a very small instance at 6:50, no other film artefacts were detected during the transfer. The video clip for Oi! displays extremely high levels of film artefacts but their presence is intentional. Some obvious and slightly distracting grain is visible during Funny Break.

    Some small moire artefacts may be seen at 24:37 and 43:06. A small amount of dot crawl is also visible at 22:37 but due to their short duration, each of these artefacts are only slightly noticeable.

    No subtitles are included on this disc.

    The layer change occurs between clips and consequently is undetectable by the viewer.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    Three high quality audio mixes are provided for the main programme material. The default track is a Dolby Digital 448 kbps 5.1 mix but a Dolby Digital 320 kbps 2.0 mix and a dts full bitrate 1536 kbps mix are also included. I listened to each of the tracks in full and found them all to be of extremely high quality. I found that the dts mix provided a slightly larger soundfield and consequently this would be my track of choice.

    The few lyrics on offer are always clear and easy to understand, and no problems with sync were detected during the transfer.

    The surround channels are used aggressively throughout the two surround mixes and this works well with the electronic music presented.

    The subwoofer is used throughout the transfer but at no stage does it draw significant attention to itself or become overpowering.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

    All the extras are presented with a Dolby Digital 448 kbps 5.1 mix at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and are 16x9 enhanced.

Menu

    The animated menus are presented at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1.

Music Video: Doctor? (5:33)

    This video is provided with two alternate angles. The first angle displays a video showing computer-generated images similar to Winamp visualization options Geiss or G-Force. The second angle overlays a number of pictures of people that Orbital has previously been involved with.

Audio Track: Meltdown (22:00)

    This track was composed by Orbital for Scott Walker's Meltdown project. The press release states that this is the full twenty four minute version but the running time of the track is twenty two minutes. I was unable to determine if this track is edited or if the running time listed on the press release is incorrect.

Funny Peculiar: making of Funny Break (3:56)

    This clip contains two angles showing the final music video and the making of the clip. The viewer may switch between these angles during the clip.

Pay Per View (6:11)

    This clip contains two audio tracks: the final music video mix and another with more natural sound allowing the viewer to hear what is portrayed on screen. The viewer may switch between these mixes during the clip.

Pay Per View Commercials (6:11)

    This extra shows the collection of TV commercials that are played in part during the Pay Per View video.

Waving Not Drowning (Can't)

    This is a series of clips depicting the making of the Play Factory TV show. The arch clip (5:11) shows some production material and then a clip with the director singing. The circle clip (5:02) shows some production material and then a clip at the Disctronics factory. The square clip (5:02) shows some production material and then a series of host auditions.

Waving Not Drowning (Won't)

    This section is divided into the same three sections. In the arch clip (2:28) a single audio track is provided as the TV show director dances. For both the circle (2:40) and square (2:35) clips three different audio tracks are provided. These are the original musical mix, the effects and production audio mix as well as a combination of both.

Shadows (6:11)

    This clip provides three different angles showing different versions of the Shadows music video. The viewer may switch between these angles during the clip.

Tension Live (6:18)

    This clip provides two different angles showing the standard and a live version of the Tension music video. The viewer may switch between these angles during the clip.

DVD-ROM: Orbital Oi ! - Interactive Promo

    This extra is a small flash game that allows the user to dodge and jump obstacles. If you do not have access to a DVD-ROM you are not really missing much.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

    This disc does not appear to be currently available in Region 1.

Summary

    Orbital: The Altogether is a disc that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the band.

    The video is well presented and has no problems that would be disruptive to the viewer.

    The excellent selection of audio mixes will perform well on any system.

    The interesting collection of extras are often amusing and will be of interest to fans but unfortunately a dts mix is not provided for Doctor? or Meltdown.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Anthony Kable (read my bio)
Sunday, August 26, 2001
Review Equipment
DVDToshiba 1200, using S-Video output
DisplaySony KP-E41SN11. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
AmplificationFront left/right: ME75b; Center: DA50ES; rear left/right: DA50ES; subwoofer: NAD 2600 (Bridged)
SpeakersFront left/right: VAF DC-X; Center: VAF DC-6; rear left/right: VAF DC-7; subwoofer: Custom NHT-1259

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