New Feature Length VOD "Mesa of Lost Women" Now Available!

[gammer]

This one doesn't do well on a good sound system.  Not sure if it's the ducking or the levels or what, but the guys were overpowered by the movie quite often watching the DVD on my home theater.

I have to agree with this.
Since they stopped offering the seperate source audio and riff audio, I thought the audio levels were ok. But this is the first one where I wasn't happy with the audio levels. It is obvious that the movie audio is louder (at most points) then the riffing audio. And there are many times when the movie audio drowned out the riffing audio. This seemed to happen more when the guitar was playing in the background and I didn't detect any audio ducking during those parts.

I know Thrash has been pretty adamant that his audio mixes have been adequate. But I have to say that when the riff audio is hard to hear, its makes the overall riff experience less enjoyable. I know that some of the audio mixing processes that some of us experienced mixers use definitely addresses this type of issue. Its too bad we couldn't have an open dialog about this to try and help with these types of issues so the mixing is spot on for all rifftrax releases.

Oh, and I listen to my rifftrax through stereo headphones.

[eegah]

This one doesn't do well on a good sound system.  Not sure if it's the ducking or the levels or what, but the guys were overpowered by the movie quite often watching the DVD on my home theater.

I have to agree with this.
Since they stopped offering the seperate source audio and riff audio, I thought the audio levels were ok. But this is the first one where I wasn't happy with the audio levels. It is obvious that the movie audio is louder (at most points) then the riffing audio. And there are many times when the movie audio drowned out the riffing audio. This seemed to happen more when the guitar was playing in the background and I didn't detect any audio ducking during those parts.

I know Thrash has been pretty adamant that his audio mixes have been adequate. But I have to say that when the riff audio is hard to hear, its makes the overall riff experience less enjoyable. I know that some of the audio mixing processes that some of us experienced mixers use definitely addresses this type of issue. Its too bad we couldn't have an open dialog about this to try and help with these types of issues so the mixing is spot on for all rifftrax releases.

Oh, and I listen to my rifftrax through stereo headphones.

One bad tendency that the mixers at Rifftrax have had in the past is to have the riff audio too low and then overcompensate with too much ducking. The riff audio should always be slightly higher than the movie, as if the riffers were in the room with you watching it. Ducking should not be noticeable unless you are specifically listening for it.

I was also bothered by the audio mixing the first 20 minutes or so of this movie; after that, it seemed ok to me. Perhaps the music was louder early on (I've only watched it once so I'm not sure). In this case, they forgot to overduck (good), but left the riff a bit low. The mix could definitely be improved, but I'm not too bothered by it.

The recent crop of VODs have been done well, except maybe the Christmas one where the riff audio was also a little low. The Abraxas mix was horrible, but that's a bit older and they provided source and riff audio for that so I was able to fix it. Hopefully, they will listen to our complaints and fix bad mixes now that they no longer provide the separate audio files. I've certainly appreciated the time saved in doing the mixing myself on the last few, but am nervous about each VOD purchase.

[TheUnabeefer]

I haven't noticed any ducking problems since I began demuxing, compressing audio, and then remuxing each and every short and VOD since the 4th or 5th short released.

Compression... it makes things happy.

[gammer]

I've certainly appreciated the time saved in doing the mixing myself on the last few, but am nervous about each VOD purchase.

I echo this feeling. I do appreciate that I don't have to worry about the mixing myself too. However, I think there are some valuable tips some of us can provide; some feedback, that can make their mixing a touch better.

[CHF01]

I am in agreement with gammer and eegah's assessments here. Why was the decision made to exclude the source files for VODs? Is it a cost of storage issue?

[MartyS (Gromit)]

I haven't noticed any ducking problems since I began demuxing, compressing audio, and then remuxing each and every short and VOD since the 4th or 5th short released.

Compression... it makes things happy.

That's probably why I found the hi-res mp4 much easier to listen to, next time I watch it I'll load the mp4 into iTunes so I can watch it on my home theater through my AppleTV box.

[CHF01]

I am in agreement with gammer and eegah's assessments here. Why was the decision made to exclude the source files for VODs? Is it a cost of storage issue?

Because if it's a storage issue, I'd be happy to throw in another .25-.50 cents to get hold of the commentary MP3 and source audio track with my VOD purchase. I love your stuff, but audio issues have been occuring for years with no real resolution (other than offering the mp3 commentary track and source audio track with each short; TYVM for that by the way). There has to be a solution you can provide, Mr. Moderator?

[eegah]

I see three possible "business models" here:

(1) Quickly put out product with source audio files, so mediocre mixes can be corrected by those who care to.
(2) Quickly put out product without source audio files, but respond to complaints with corrections.
(3) Delay release of product until thorough testing has made it perfect.

Option (2) is preferable IF corrections are made, because it saves customers time and fixes the files for future purchasers. Plus, it gives the Rifftrax folks incentive to do it right the first time but allows for initial problems so quick releases are still possible. However, if complaints are not addressed, not providing audio files is kind of disrespectful to the customer (it feels like: "you don't like it? well, too bad").

[Blaine]

I've thought about the source audio question a bunch.

Honestly? I'm now at a point where if I really, really wanted it... I'd go get it myself. Most of these movies are pubic domain.

Here's Mesa: http://archive.org/details/MesaOfLostWomen

Once you have that, you can isolate the Riff

That said, I'm not questioning the value of having source and riff... I'm just saying I know how I could make it happen, I'm just wondering how important it is to me considering I haven't bothered yet.

[eegah]

Once you have that, you can isolate the Riff

That said, I'm not questioning the value of having source and riff... I'm just saying I know how I could make it happen, I'm just wondering how important it is to me considering I haven't bothered yet.

I've often thought that there should be a way to do that, and now I have to slap my forehead for not figuring it out. Thanks for that!

However, if the original and your copy are not from the same source, this could be really challenging for two reasons: slightly different speeds and/or different edits. I'm not saying it's not possible, just that it could be very difficult and time-consuming.

[CHF01]

So I've noticed that the riff commentary MP3 and source audio tracks are not included with any of the newer shorts now. Does anyone know why RT has stopped offering this to its customers?   

[eegah]

So I've noticed that the riff commentary MP3 and source audio tracks are not included with any of the newer shorts now. Does anyone know why RT has stopped offering this to its customers?   

They have never really said why, they've just implied that their mixes are good enough. So there.

[losingmydignity]

Slight change of subject here but isn't the spider in Mesa the same one in Missile to the Moon, World without End, etc? Makes sense--doesn't look like they had enough money to make their own.

[Bob]

Slight change of subject here but isn't the spider in Mesa the same one in Missile to the Moon, World without End, etc? Makes sense--doesn't look like they had enough money to make their own.

Which proves the spider is a real actor and not a special effect......

Must be from Mars.