So, a few fellows from my batch (I'm sure there are others out there who have thought about it as well) had a brainwave and decided to compile the tapes, snip away all scenes that do not show well-postured gentlemen in black, and burn the lot onto a CD. Thus, the Project was born...
Format:
The VideoCD is in standard VideoCD format, also known as 'White Book' format. The medium used is a standard 5 inch Compact Disc, and the data compression method employed is the international standard MPEG-1.
VideoCDs can be played back on dedicated VCD players which have recently entered the market, or on any Multimedia Personal Computer system that is equipped with:
For more info on Video CDs, click here.
Read more on Video CDs at Wikipedia.
Some people have asked me about inclusion of Indoor footage and perhaps even an RIMB music CD. Here's what I think:
RIMB's Prometheum series of public concerts began in 1990. There was no professional recording, either audio or video. Subsequent concerts, to the best of my knowledge, were not recorded professionally either. The best we have is some scratchy recordings made on a Walkman (R).
A music CD brings with it demands and expectations for "CD quality" audio, which means crisp and clear sounds made under very controlled studio environments. The quality of Walkman (R) recordings do not meet these expectations, and a CD produced with such masters will necessarily be of inferior quality. (A CD is only as good as its source; this holds true even for Video CDs).
So, the story is, we have no indoor footage, and audio recordings are not worth making a CD out of. Perhaps you can persuade the present RIMB to make some CDs.
Contents:
At present we have:
Note that for formations from the later years, we have two versions of the performance during Finals, taken from different cameras at different viewing angles. Together with the slight differences in sound quality between versions, we have truly given you the best in sights and sounds from all available video tapes we have in hand.
Also, we want our CD to reflect the contents and sequence of events of a traditional SYF Outdoor Band Display, which includes the grand assembly of participating bands, Minstrel Parade marchpast, Belphegor march-ins, prize presentation ("Raffles Institution..... GOLD!") and the beloved "Sunset" (i'm from Cornet section!). So you really get all scenes from all tapes that show gentlemen in black.
Presentation:
Total videotape footage duration is 116 minutes, so we have to distribute 2 CDs as a complete set (each CD holds about 60 minutes). It is already extremely hard to try and compile all the tapes together to get a master tape that we will send in for the actual encoding, so please be nice to us should there be any blips.
Also, just like a music CD, where you have tracks for each song, the Video CD is divided into "chapters". This would allow rapid searching for the particular event you're interested in. We have divided the discs into chapters based on the year of performance. Remember you used to complain that you couldn't fast forward accurately on a VHS tape? Frustrate no more! and take joy in the fact that finally you can rewind and play, rewind and play, rewind and play your favourite three-quarter turn, or favourite Pendulum Throw over and over again with no fear of tape decay.
Costs and Funding:
Back in 1997, each of the VCD masters cost us $60 to produce. Today, you can get a VHS tape converted into VCDs for $20 per hour.
The VCD will only cost you as much as it's needed to duplicate two CDs. In this day and age a blank CD-R costs next to nothing. I will duplicate it for you, just send me two blank CD-R in replacement. Alternatively, contact me to make arrangements to download all 12 tracks off the WWW. I don't make any profit out of this, hence this VCD set really costs you NOTHING.
The people involved:
All the guys from my batch have in some way or another contributed ideas or encouragement to the Project.
Credits also to:
I hope you can relive those glorious days as you view the "Drop Check !" Video CD. May the Rafflesian Spirit live forever !
This page is maintained by Ivan Ngeow.
Please direct all enquiries and orders to me.
email: rimb1991 -at- yahoo.com
Created: 31 December 1996, using vi, God's own editor.
Updated: 30 May 2006