___
#### [**Series Information**](https://myanimelist.net/anime/114/Sakigake_Cromartie_Koukou)
### **Video**
Sources | Resolution | DAR | Format | Bitrate | Framerate | MediaInfo
:---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: |
R2J, R1 DVDs | 716 ✖ 480 | 4:3 *(Anamorphic)* | H.264 10-Bit | ~1500 kbps | 23.976 fps | [**Link**](https://pastebin.com/MxZ7amdt)
### **Audio**
Language | Channels | Format | Bitrate |
:---: | :---: | :---: | :---: |
Japanese | 2ch | FLAC | 712 kbps
English | 6ch | AC3 | 448 kbps
### **Subtitles**
Language | Style | Format |
:---: | :---: | :---: | :---: | :---: |
English | Styled Modified R1 Dialogue [**(Modified Jarzka)**](https://nyaa.si/view/354016) | ASS |
English | Styled Modified R1 Signs / Songs [**(Modified Jarzka)**](https://nyaa.si/view/354016) | ASS |
English | Unstyled Modified R1 Dialogue [**(Modified Jarzka)**](https://nyaa.si/view/354016) | SRT |
English | Unstyled Modified R1 Signs / Songs [**(Modified Jarzka)**](https://nyaa.si/view/354016) | SRT |
#### **Filters used:**
KNLMeansCL *(chroma noise removal only)*, FineDehalo, aWarpSharp4xx *(chroma sharpening only)*, F3kdb, BalanceBorders
#### [**Source Comparison (WEB-DL vs USBD vs R2J vs R1 DVDs)**](https://slow.pics/c/o7kcyw8f)
#### [**Encode Comparison vs. Source**](https://slow.pics/c/fib6N1WD)
------
#### **Notes:**
A hopefully definitive release of this early 00s delinquent gag series.
The R2J DVD set was, for the first time, used as a base for the video as even the recent streaming 1080p & USBD sources were both slightly cropped by comparison and contained terrible over-sharpened upscaling which smeared much of the fine hatched shading emblematic of the series artstyle whereas the old R1 DVDs were poorly compressed, losing detail in high motion and darker scenes. Additional light treatment to reduce or eliminate haloing, chroma noise, and banding was also applied. See comparison screenshots above.
With respect to the audio, the R2J DVDs actually contained uncompressed PCM tracks *(compared to the lossy R1 DVD tracks)* which were losslessly encoded to FLAC. Upon further investigation, despite having lower bitrate/bit-depth compared to the USBD's high-definition tracks the R2J DVD audio nevertheless exhibited higher frequency extension confirmed by [**spectrogram comparisons here**](https://slow.pics/c/8vpkL3j4) with the original audio topping out near 24 kHz whereas the USBD audio was brickwalled at ~19 kHz. This was further corroborated by DR Meter analysis of both the [**R2J DVD**](https://pastebin.com/JEpTTWrA) & [**USBD**](https://pastebin.com/MH1myLAp) tracks, confirming the Japanese DVDs' audio presented more dynamic range. It was the same story for the English dub where [**spectral plots**](https://slow.pics/c/vwwOrnlq) showed evidence of compression in the USBD rerelease which also resulted in [**lower dynamic range of the USBD**](https://pastebin.com/G1mbiPtd) than the [**original lossy audio on the R1 DVDs**](https://pastebin.com/JTt1Zvne). Therefore, the R1 DVD dubbing was selected to be synced with the R2J DVD video for this release.
Styled subtitles were based on [**Jarzka's old release**](https://nyaa.si/view/354016) with significant additional QC by me to correct the following:
* Completely retimed script to the R2J video
* Correct spelling/grammar errors
* Add several missing lines/signs
* Typeset songs
* Notably, with the help of several kind benefactors the old ADV script translation was re-checked and the Japanese DVD-exclusive extras have now been fully subbed for the first time!
Unstyled subtitle options are also included for those that prefer them as well as Signs & Songs-only tracks for dub viewers.
See also, my release of the [**live-action movie**](https://nyaa.si/view/1271001) for additional Cromartie content.
Nice! Looks like that 24bit USBD track probably would've been sourced from a Dolby Digital source not only from the 19kHz cutoff but also the channel coupling at 15kHz. I wonder why they did that.
@DamianV8501
My guess is probably the easiest method to officially source the audio?
As a point of reference, here's the [**spectral plot**](https://i.ibb.co/rGXjhjj9/Jarzka-Cromartie-High-School-01-I-Used-to-be-a-Bad-Boy-Bragging-Contest-480p-10bit-X264-DVD-Dua.png) for the Japanese audio track on the R1 DVD *(which was half the bitrate of the R2J audio @ only 224 kbps)* that mirrors the same behavior as the USBD minus the channel coupling at 15kHz you observed, meaning they probably just directly copied over the lossy audio from the R1 DVD and then upsampled it for the lossless USBD track. It's a shame, but understandable. What bothers me more is one would think at least the English dub would have seen an improvement on the USBD as presumably they would have had easier access to the original masters rather than the lower quality output that was used in the final package.
Dang, I suppose ADV probably would've been done releasing VHS by the time this came out lol. With some of ADV's older releases they did use a 20kHz cap but that didn't seem to last too long, still in their VHS era. That can be seen in the first six Evangelion episodes and the first two episodes of Gunsmith Cats for example. The easy way I check channel coupling is taking a channel, invert it, and merging with either the other (works with 5.1 too). If there's coupling the output will look almost completely shaved at 15kHz (stereo or 448 5.1) if the algorithm deemed the audio similar enough. Your image of that track with a clear separation at 15kHz made me think that must be the case for that track. Aside from the top frequencies being flattened, observing the channel coupling was the give away for the EVA USBD ADV EP17 PartA and Death Manga dub (13kHz for 384kbps 5.1, yikes). EoE's was sourced from the DTS DVD track, same frequency cutoff, clip point, speed timing. Both EVA Manga dubs were originally 48kHz PCM since the VHS Hi-Fi tracks top out at 24kHz.
Comments - 7
Kuraze (uploader)
kopudop2
archivisth
DamianV8501
uly
Kuraze (uploader)
DamianV8501