Gundam SEED Movie I Japanese Mono? [Archive]

View Full Version : Gundam SEED Movie I Japanese Mono?

Keith

08-18-2005, 10:33 AM

I just got finished watching SEED movie 1 last night, and noticed that the Japanese audio appears to be in mono (huge difference between the english & japanese tracks). Strange since the TV series was stereo for the Japanese track, and while it's possible, I don't see why the movies would be downmixed to mono just for the sake of being movies. Does anyone here have (or possibly have seen) the R2 disc's to compare?

In addition, this seems like a very sloppy release for Bandai overall. There's absolutely no timestamp, the menu audio is blarring compared to the feature audio, and there are even a couple of subtitle glitches. I'd love to tell you exactly where they are, but seeing as there is no timestamp, I can only give you a general idea.

After Everyone boards the Archangel for the first time, and Mu is giving Kira a peptalk about being the only one who can pilot Strike, a whole line of subtitles is underscored with "_______________" This also happens one more time later, unfortunately I don't remember that placement as well, but very strange, as I've never seen such a slip in a Bandai release.

As for the disc, 100% sure it's legit. Bought it at best buy, it was still factory shrinkwrapped, has all the proper logo's in all the proper places, etc.

And I'm using a Pioneer DV-525, only a dolby 2.0 setup, but I'm very adept at picking up audio irregularities wtih my earphones.

joelgundam01

08-18-2005, 11:24 AM

I'll check my copy tonight. I've only listened to the dub so far.

kiseki

08-20-2005, 02:44 PM

I just got the disc from TRSI today and it's definitely mono. Luis' review only said it was flat, but I ripped out the audio tracks and both channels are exactly the same for the entire movie. The dub is fine. Along with the issues you mentioned, the seek bar doesn't even work on the DVD either.

All the video and audio issues from various releases are really getting on my nerves /images/graemlins/anger200.gif

kusanagi-sama

08-20-2005, 03:49 PM

FYI, Bandai's releases for some odd reason always have had problems with random Pioneer DVD players. If this problem shows up on a different brand, then obviously it is bad.

Keith

08-21-2005, 12:53 AM

If Bandai can find a way to make Japanese stereo & timestamps completely disappear on only Pioneer players, then I'd image there was some kind of vendetta involved there /images/graemlins/happy.gif

But this is enough comfirmation, to Bandai's customer service mail I go...

Hayate Kurogane

08-21-2005, 01:08 AM

Quick spot-checking confirms mono audio on the R1 release. I own the R2s, and the audio for those is stereo.

Keith

08-26-2005, 12:13 AM

Hmm, 5 days since mailing Bandai's customer service, and still no response. Has anyone else tried to contact them about this?

slerch666

08-26-2005, 05:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Keith said:
Hmm, 5 days since mailing Bandai's customer service, and still no response. Has anyone else tried to contact them about this?

[/ QUOTE ]
I haven't watched mine yet, so I haven't bothered.

Keep emailing them until you get a reply. Something tells me that with Jerry leaving, who seemed like the last person to jump from a sinking boat type, that everything isn't rosey in the land of Bandai.

Keith

08-27-2005, 12:38 AM

I haven't heard about that, when did Jerry leave? That explains a lot already.

kiseki

08-27-2005, 01:23 PM

I used the contact form on their website and no response yet either. The automated email says to expect a response within 7 business days, so I'll try again in a few days.

Endymion

08-31-2005, 02:01 PM

Yeah, Bandai really screwed the pooch on this one.

I'm seeing the same problems, no timestamp, no chapter marks, mono Japanese audio and add that this release is also not widescreen tv friendly since the subtitles go right off the bottom of the screen since due to being placed to low right at the bottom of the letterbox with parts of the text descending over the black area which pretty much is cropped off if you zoom for widescreen.

What a waste this release turned out to be. I'm definitely not gonna waste my money on the other 2 movies.

Keith

09-03-2005, 12:31 AM

Just finished Movie II:

Good news - The Japanese audio is in stereo this time (dub is too)
Bad news - There's still no timestamp, there are now 4 instances of underscored text "_ _ _ _ _" (once before the first battle at orb, and 3 times during the second battle at orb). And of course, the menu audio is still way too damned loud.

The other thing that has me worried is the lack of any degree of extra's (trailers are filed under special features). There's still one movie to go, and I'm pretty sure we were promised the 5 minute SEED epilogue would be included, so hopefully it'll be there....in stereo!

Also, still no word back from Bandai on the vol 1 problems, how about you guys?

Jigen_Daisuke

09-03-2005, 02:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Keith said:
Hmm, 5 days since mailing Bandai's customer service, and still no response. Has anyone else tried to contact them about this?

[/ QUOTE ]

The lack of response, sad to say, does not surprise me.

Click on the link below to the thread I started on the DVD Talk Forum (I'm Ryo Saeba there) a few months ago to read about the extraordinary difficulties I encountered in securing a replacement from Bandai Entertainment for a defective Gundam SEED Vol. 6 DVD.

DVD Talk Forum - Bandai Entertainment Customer Service Difficulties (http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6128773)

I'm heading off shortly to the Japanese forums to see what's going on with Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 46 will air soon in Japan.

Keith

09-04-2005, 12:09 AM

It took me nearly 2 months to get a replacement copy for my SEED vol 3 last November. They kept saying they had to wait for their warehouse to send them a copy to replace mine with. It used to be within a matter of weeks, and I'm not sure about yours, but mine came back in the same box I shipped it in (they used to send an actual newly packaged copy).

Whatever Bandai did to break their customer service, they need to fix it, especially since they seem to have more problems authoring disc's now.

ObiKenobi

09-06-2005, 07:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Keith said:
The other thing that has me worried is the lack of any degree of extra's (trailers are filed under special features). There's still one movie to go, and I'm pretty sure we were promised the 5 minute SEED epilogue would be included, so hopefully it'll be there....in stereo!

[/ QUOTE ]

Since it's an epilogue, it would probably be included on the last movie.

Hayate Kurogane

11-13-2005, 12:57 AM

Just a quick update that's barely an update. I'm sure no one ever received a response to any messages sent to Bandai about this issue. I know I didn't. The most recent message I sent, about a week ago, has yet to result in any sort of response either, not that I was really expecting one. I think we can safely and unfortunately file this one away as another "swept under the rug" glitch for Bandai, with an additional sarcastic "way to go on your first try" notation for Ocean's DVD authoring folks. I'd still like to be proven wrong, and to hear news of replacements coming, but I never had very high hopes that Bandai would take the time and money these days to fix the DVD release of a compilation movie that people probably aren't buying in the first place.

Keith

11-14-2005, 12:33 AM

Also still haven't heard back from any inquiries sent. Though at this point I'm curious if they'll bother to fix it on the UMD (do those things even have multiple audio tracks)? I know someone must have been listening, as it was fixed on Vol 2, but now the other issue I'm concenred about is the inclusion of the SEED epilogue that we were promised a year ago. Pretty sure it was supposed to be included in the movie release, but no retailer's are listing it as an extra.

Hayate Kurogane

11-14-2005, 02:30 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Keith said:
Also still haven't heard back from any inquiries sent. Though at this point I'm curious if they'll bother to fix it on the UMD (do those things even have multiple audio tracks)? I know someone must have been listening, as it was fixed on Vol 2, but now the other issue I'm concenred about is the inclusion of the SEED epilogue that we were promised a year ago. Pretty sure it was supposed to be included in the movie release, but no retailer's are listing it as an extra.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it's more likely that volume 2's stereo audio can be attributed to someone not screwing something up, as opposed to there being a consistent problem that needed fixing every time. Unless, of course, their equipment was defective, and would have resulted in a mono audio volume 2 if no one had noticed the problem with volume 1.

The Red Comet

03-29-2007, 12:58 PM

Sorry to bump an old thread but I was wondering if Bandai ever fixed this issue. I thought I read elsewhere that they did eventually make a corrected copy. Any truth in this?

joelgundam01

03-29-2007, 08:12 PM

Hayate Kurogane

03-29-2007, 08:33 PM

Sorry to bump an old thread but I was wondering if Bandai ever fixed this issue. I thought I read elsewhere that they did eventually make a corrected copy. Any truth in this?

In another thread (can't find it), someone mention that they did corrected this in the box set release (Holiday Exclusive). I'm not sure how much merit this info has though.

The copies included in the most recent complete set (the one in the flimsy cardboard box that also included the CD) are fixed. You can also e-mail Bandai Ent. and request a replacement, which they do have available.

The Red Comet

03-31-2007, 12:16 AM

Then the corrected version isn't available as a single then? The box set is out of print and while I don't think it's too rare I would liked to have ordered it during the current Bandai sale at TRSI and they don't have it listed. I suppose I'll order the single and send away for a fixed copy. Thanks for the info.

Keith

03-31-2007, 03:04 AM

The recently released box version definately fixed the problem, and I was also able to get a replacement for my single.

Now if they'd fix the audio on episode 8 of Destiny vol 2...

Hayate Kurogane

03-31-2007, 01:30 PM

Keith

04-01-2007, 01:30 AM

Now if they'd fix the audio on episode 8 of Destiny vol 2...

It'd be nice. I quit buying the series as a result, though I'd gladly start again if there were a replacement made available. (Not that one less buyer is making a big difference in the grand scheme of things, of course.)

If it makes you feel any better, as of vol 4 or 5, Destiny got bumped over to the A quality studio, and the improvcement in authoring is noticable.

The only thing I don't like right now is Bandai's trend in stretching out 50 episode series over a 2 year release. I can't imagine anyone other than diehard fans would put up with that kind of wait. I'm sure it has something to do with broadcast deals (Eureka Seven on CN & YTV, and Destiny on YTV), but I'll be damned if it feels at all natural. It's like waiting for the original Giant Robo release, excruciatingly slow, though at least that had a production reason.

Hayate Kurogane

04-01-2007, 05:39 PM