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Category | Music | Theatrical Trailer(s) | None |
Rating | Other Trailer(s) | None | |
Year Released | 1991 | Commentary Tracks | None |
Running Time | 62:51 minutes | Other Extras | Biography
Discography Interview - Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (from Double Trouble) Menu Audio and Animation |
RSDL/Flipper | No/No |
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Start Up | Menu | ||
Region | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Director | Dennis Saunders |
Distributor |
Sony Music |
Starring | Stevie Ray Vaughan
Double Trouble:
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Case | Black Brackley | ||
RRP | $34.95 | Music | Stevie Ray Vaughan |
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Pan & Scan/Full Frame | Full Frame | MPEG | None |
Widescreen Aspect Ratio | No | Dolby Digital | 5.1 |
16x9 Enhancement | No | Soundtrack Languages | English (Linear PCM 48/16 2.0, 1536Kb/s)
English (Dolby Digital 5.1, 224Kb/s) |
Theatrical Aspect Ratio | 1.33:1 |
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Macrovision | No | Smoking | Yes |
Subtitles | English | Annoying Product Placement | No |
Action In or After Credits | Yes, of sorts (crowd tape) |
This DVD is the the complete recording of the appearance of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble at The El Mocambo, an intimate club in one of my favourite cities - Toronto, Canada. Although released in 1991, it was obviously recorded earlier than that (otherwise we are all watching a ghost), and actually it was recorded back in 1983. In that regard it makes an interesting comparison to the first three songs off the previous DVD, recorded in the same year. The track listing is:
The concert is presented at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 and of course it is not 16x9 enhanced.
The big difference here to the earlier DVD is the fact that this is distinctly more variable in sharpness and detail, and in general is not exactly exemplary in this regard. Presumably it was shot on videotape, and to compound the situation, in the inherently inferior resolution of NTSC as well. At times the focus does border on being decidedly dodgy, although overall it is more than acceptable. The transfer is reasonably clear throughout and the shadow detail is decent if nothing more. There did not appear to be any low level noise in the transfer.
The colours have come up reasonably in the transfer, although this does suffer a little from washout and flare problems as a result of the stage lighting. In general it lacks just a little in the depth of colours, although somewhat perversely it does suffer from slight oversaturation at times owing to the failure of the tape to handle the wide variances in the stage lighting. However, in view of the age of the transfer and the source of the material, allowances are readily made.
There were no apparent MPEG artefacts in the transfer. There was a very minor and barely noticeable problem with aliasing during the transfer, which again in all honesty is probably more due to the inherent lack of solid resolution of an NTSC transfer rather than actual aliasing as a result of the transfer process. There was no problem with film artefacts in the transfer.
There are two English audio tracks on the DVD, a Dolby Digital 5.1 track and a Linear PCM 48/16 2.0 track. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is far more listenable than that of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Live From Austin Texas, but not by a whole lot. The Linear PCM soundtrack makes for infinitely better listening and is the track to stick with.
The music and vocals came up pretty well in the Linear PCM soundtrack, but the Dolby Digital soundtrack is a different matter altogether. Although nowhere near as pronounced as the earlier DVD, the problem with the Dolby Digital soundtrack is that the sound mixer has again decided to mix the bass too prevalently in the mix and it really does tend to drown out not just the vocal track but also the instrumental tracks. The overall sound is extremely muddy and it lacks a lot in definition, making this far less like a Dolby Digital 5,1 soundtrack and more like an early Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack with bass enhancement. Once again, I was never able to get a good enough balance in the sound to make this a pleasurable listening experience, although at least I was able to suffer the whole soundtrack this time. However, you really should just stick with the excellent Linear PCM soundtrack that lets the master guitarist shine through.
Audio sync did not appear to be a problem with either of the soundtracks.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack does not only suffer from too much bass in the mix. As well as this, the surround channels seem to be very congested, especially in the front, giving the whole soundtrack a very rearward sounding balance to it - not exactly the best way to listen to great guitar playing. In comparison, the Linear PCM soundtrack is a lot clearer, with a lot more space in the sound and it really ends up sounding very natural indeed.
A good video transfer for both its age and the source.
A very average Dolby Digital audio transfer offset by a very good Linear PCM audio transfer.
A pretty decent extras package.
Video | |
Audio | (Linear
PCM)
(Dolby Digital) |
Extras | |
Plot | |
Overall | (Linear
PCM)
(Dolby Digital) |
© Ian Morris (have a
laugh, check out the bio)
13th June 2000
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DVD | Pioneer DV-515; S-video output |
Display | Sony Trinitron Wega 84cm. Calibrated with the NTSC DVD version of Video Essentials. |
Audio Decoder | Built in |
Amplification | Yamaha RXV-795. Calibrated with the NTSC DVD version of Video Essentials. |
Speakers | Energy Speakers: centre EXLC; left and right EXLR; and subwoofer ES-12XL |