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darren The Bird Who Wrote Too Much
Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 1962 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:20 am Post subject: The Avengers - Series 5 + 6 replacement discs |
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REVISED STATEMENT FROM OPTIMUM:
AVENGERS SERIES 5 & 6 AUDIO ISSUE
It has come to our attention that the audio of all the Avengers Series 5 episodes and one episode (“THE FORGET-ME-KNOT” on Disc One) of Series 6 carries a pitch level that some people may feel is too high. We recognise that some viewers are dissatisfied with the current audio as it stands and so we have returned to each of the effected episodes and pitch shifted the sound throughout to a lower level that has now addressed the concerns raised.
The revised versions of the episodes will be ready from the beginning of January 2011 and if you wish to replace your current Series 5 discs and Disc One of Series 6 please send the your current discs (separate from the original packaging) with your return address and we will endeavour to return the new versions to you within two weeks from the beginning of January.
Please return your discs to:
The Avengers Series 5/6
Optimum Releasing
50 Marshall Street
London
W1F 9BQ
Many thanks
Optimum Releasing
(Apologies to Darren, but I thought it best to over-write the original statement, so that newcomers to this thread are clear of what to do and see the latest announcement. Alan on behalf of Admin team) |
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Prendergast Thingumajig
Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 84 Location: Dark Country House
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Well, that's good. So, I have to order the discs from Amazon UK, take the discs out, send them back to England (at my own expense) and hopefully wait for the replacements.
Ever get deja vu?
Still, cheers for doing the right thing i guess... |
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Dandy Forsdyke Diabolical Mastermind

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5281 Location: Camberwick Green
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Darren, thanks for passing this info on which I've also read on Roobarb's.
It is such a relief that TPTB have acknowleged that this is an issue and they're doing something about it.
What, with stoney silence from Optimum and then even quarrels on Roobarb's that Avengers fans were now nitpicking, leading to infractions and temp. membership suspensions, I really thought that this was getting out of hand.
Sense has prevailed and I'll be ordering the complete box set + extra disc in the New Year. _________________
THE AVENGERS GALLERY |
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Cybernowt Little Wonder
Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 240
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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Dandy Forsdyke wrote: | What, with stoney silence from Optimum.. |
Yesss.. that really was unnecessary. Someone should have said something weeks ago - no matter how short a message.
If someone would care to let us know when Amazon's stocks will be 'upgraded', it would be kind, thank you. |
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jld21 Nutshell
Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 14
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Cybernowt wrote: | Dandy Forsdyke wrote: | What, with stoney silence from Optimum.. |
If someone would care to let us know when Amazon's stocks will be 'upgraded', it would be kind, thank you. |
I agree! I have already bought the set and paid to have it returned for a refund, so I would prefer to wait until I know the stock at Amazon is replacement stock than buy the set again and post it off for replacement discs. |
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dissolute The Ministry

Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 2084 Location: Sydney, Australia
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Dandy Forsdyke wrote: | What, with stoney silence from Optimum... |
I'm not sure that's exactly right - Optimum *did* announce they were reviewing the sets, and now they've announced they've remastered the entire set.
I think we should be thankful that Optimum are receptive to community feedback (and it's probably a good thing they're a subsiduary of Canal+ and can afford to).
Don't bite the hand that feeds - Canal+/Optimum have so much to offer us and there may be more up their sleeves (nudge, nudge) _________________ Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at. |
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Alan A Touch of Brimstone

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 2990 Location: The Edge of Avengerland
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:07 am Post subject: |
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Dissolute is quite right. Optimum made a statement and said there would be a subsequent announcement. There have made that subsequent announcement. Hardly a "stony silence".
Obviously we'd be far happier if these mistakes weren't made in the first place, but this must be a significant operation/expense for Optimum - and they could very easily have decided to ignore the complaints and not correct the discs.
The fact that they have listened and have made the announcements they promised to - and have offered replacements, is to be applauded in a day and age where companies' normal operating procedure is 'put up and shut up'. _________________ Alan
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Hidden Tiger Books |
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Mr S Thingumajig

Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Castle De'Ath, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 2:37 am Post subject: |
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Thank goodness - we need the proper audio to go along with the wonderful picture quality. I know it's annoying that Optimum have made so many mistakes, but at least they're taking the responsibility to fix them. |
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davidf Little Wonder
Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 100 Location: Avengerland Forever
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 2:43 am Post subject: |
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Wait a minute, they pitch shifted back ?
They didn't need to pitch it back, they needed to use the correct audio in the first place.
We don't want wrongly pitch shifted audio to be electronically corrected... we want the correct audio to be used straight.
All the current audio should just be trown away, and then replaced with correct audio.
Apparently, they corrected the audio that was modified. It's still wrong because it's a modified audio in the first place. |
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Frankymole A Touch of Brimstone

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 4448 Location: Carmadoc research establishment
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:15 am Post subject: |
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jld21 wrote: | Cybernowt wrote: | Dandy Forsdyke wrote: | What, with stoney silence from Optimum.. |
If someone would care to let us know when Amazon's stocks will be 'upgraded', it would be kind, thank you. |
I agree! I have already bought the set and paid to have it returned for a refund, so I would prefer to wait until I know the stock at Amazon is replacement stock than buy the set again and post it off for replacement discs. | Looks like there will be no choice. They aren't sending fixed sets to retail.
"...some people may feel is too high". So for those who are aware of it, significant postage costs have to be incurred?
It is a shame that what could have been a glorious showcase edition in Britain of this home-grown show is now on the shelves at less than optimum standard.
Interesting that Optimum say "we have returned to the original material and pitch shifted the audio throughout the episodes to a lower level ". I thought it was Canal+ who did the remastering, including sound, but Optimum say they themselves have "pitch shifted" the originals.
The B&W Emma Peel season wasn't pitch-shifted at all, so it had the standard PAL speedup (4%) which the episodes have always been shown with in the UK. Presumably, though, the colour episodes will feature Emma talking 4% lower in pitch than we're used to. _________________ Last watched: Tunnel of Fear. |
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Dandy Forsdyke Diabolical Mastermind

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5281 Location: Camberwick Green
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:36 am Post subject: |
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I should have said initially there was a stony silence. And there was. The Roobarb's Avengers thread documents the concerns quite clearly.
Yes, they've responded now, and are making amends. But I'm still not happy with Optimum on a number of levels.
A quite significant error occured on every set bar one. A different error each time, but enough for customers to wonder if these discs were being proofread at all, then there was the inconvenience, and minor expense, of returning discs for a replacement. Not once - but for every set (bar one).
Then after the sets are released plans to release the whole series again in one megaset plus an extra disc of extras. Not so good for customers loyally buying each (error ridden) set.
Expressing truthfully the recent experiences of dealing with Optimum is hardly biting the hand that feeds. _________________
THE AVENGERS GALLERY |
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Dandy Forsdyke Diabolical Mastermind

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5281 Location: Camberwick Green
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:41 am Post subject: |
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Frankymole wrote: | Looks like there will be no choice. They aren't sending fixed sets to retail. |
In other words customers will need purchase faulty discs, in the full knowledge that they then have to go to the trouble of sending them off for replacements? While stocks last?
Hopefully the fixed sets will be in the complete box set. _________________
THE AVENGERS GALLERY |
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jld21 Nutshell
Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 14
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:10 am Post subject: |
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With it looking doubtful that sites like Amazon will receive new stock, I ordered Season 5 earlier this morning. When sending discs back, have people been putting them in cases or just loose in envelopes? Thanks! |
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Mr S Thingumajig

Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 55 Location: Castle De'Ath, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:55 am Post subject: |
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I might put a bit of card in with the discs, but don't see why any of us should go to any more expense than necessary. After all, the discs are useless, they just need proof you bought them before they exchange them. |
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Frankymole A Touch of Brimstone

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 4448 Location: Carmadoc research establishment
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:04 am Post subject: |
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jld21 wrote: | With it looking doubtful that sites like Amazon will receive new stock, I ordered Season 5 earlier this morning. When sending discs back, have people been putting them in cases or just loose in envelopes? Thanks! | The original post above contains the instructions. It says do not send the cases. Just the disks. _________________ Last watched: Tunnel of Fear. |
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supersimon Thingumajig
Joined: 21 Mar 2010 Posts: 95 Location: Timperley
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 7:29 am Post subject: Seies 6 |
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I was wondering whether there are plans to replace the disc in series 6 which contains The Forget Me Knot. The early indications are that this episode suffers from the same audio problem, presumably as it was remastered in the same way
Can anyone confirm the audio quality of this episode? Too early of course to know what Optimum will do, but past record would suggest replacing the disc if a fault exists |
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Cybernowt Little Wonder
Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 240
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Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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Frankymole wrote: | Looks like there will be no choice. They aren't sending fixed sets to retail. |
Is this true? So that people who don't browse the forums, and don't know of the replacement discs have to put up with 2nd rate audio. |
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darren The Bird Who Wrote Too Much
Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 1962 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:08 am Post subject: Re: Seies 6 |
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supersimon wrote: | I was wondering whether there are plans to replace the disc in series 6 which contains The Forget Me Knot. The early indications are that this episode suffers from the same audio problem, presumably as it was remastered in the same way
Can anyone confirm the audio quality of this episode? Too early of course to know what Optimum will do, but past record would suggest replacing the disc if a fault exists |
Yes, The Forget-Me-Knot is the only episode on the series 6 set that has the same pitch shift as the series 5 set
There's no reason not to suppose they won't get around to offering a replacement. |
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Dandy Forsdyke Diabolical Mastermind

Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 5281 Location: Camberwick Green
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:01 am Post subject: |
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Please note the following message from Optimum ...
If you wish to replace your current Series 5 discs with the revised audio versions please send all seven discs in the new year (separate from the original packaging) with your return address and we will endeavor to return the new discs within two weeks. _________________
THE AVENGERS GALLERY |
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supersimon Thingumajig
Joined: 21 Mar 2010 Posts: 95 Location: Timperley
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Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:56 am Post subject: Exchange of correspondence |
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Thought you might like to see what has gone between me and Optimum today. I received this as I was on their mailing list following correspondence re the b/w Diana Rigg boxset
Message 1Dear Simon Turner
It has come to our attention that the audio of the Avengers Series 5 episodes carries a pitch level that some people may feel is too high. We recognise that some viewers are dissatisfied with the current audio as it stands and we have pitch shifted the audio throughout the episodes to a lower level that has now addressed the concerns raised.
If you wish to replace your current Series 5 discs with the revised audio versions please send all seven discs in the new year (separate from the original packaging) with your return address and we will endeavor to return the new discs within two weeks.
Please return your discs to:
The Avengers Series 5
Optimum Releasing
50 Marshall Street
London
W1F 9BQ
Many thanks
My reply
How quickly will this new audio version be available from Amazon and play.com?
I have not bought this yet but will do once this issue is resolved. It seems pointless to buy a product simply to have to divert it to you for immediate replacement
Thanks, Simon
Their reply
Dear Mr Turner
Thank you for your email.
Retailers will have corrected versions in the new year.
Many thanks
Optimum Releasing
Optimum Releasing |
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