The Thinker

Updated on December 26 with a newer restored version that further improves quality. The previous version has been replaced. Enjoy, and feel free to contribute by making additional enhancements using the original LaserDisc MKV as the reference source.

Preservation and Restoration Overview /* The official thread of my project is now here, the previous ones will be deleted, I could not move your comments, so feel free to write below and I’ll get back to you. */ The YouTube video isn’t perfectly synchronised (the actual files you can download below are), but it gives you an idea. LaserDisc version (MKV) on the left, Restored Version 2 (M2V) on the right. Source Material (Original LaserDisc Capture) You can download DLE-NTSC-Side1.mkv and its WAV audio file, both captured directly from the original LaserDisc. These files represent the highest-quality extracts available They are lossless, authentic, and frame-accurate They must be used as the primary source for any restoration or archival work Restored Version (For Playback and Emulation) Because the original footage has inherent limitations, a restored edition is also available: DLE-NTSC-Restored.m2v (video) DLE-NTSC-Restored.ogg (audio) This version has been carefully enhanced to improve visual quality while preserving original timing and content. Fully compatible with Hypseus Designed for practical use and emulation Does not replace the archival source, but complements it Download Links Dragon’s Lair Limited Edition (Original) https://mega.nz/folder/HoZSCL6S#fgXN5-FMnWTSd0vCUd8ETw Dragon’s Lair Limited Edition – Restored (Version 2) https://mega.nz/folder/OlARAY4Q#cOzmwdxRxVe0SCRfKnWjtQ Version 2 includes enhanced graphics and replaces the previous release Frame and Duration Verification Both versions are perfectly matched in timing and structure. Timing and Frame Data File Duration Frame Count Frame Rate DLE-NTSC-Side1.mkv 1853.318 s 55,544 29.97 fps DLE-NTSC-Restored.m2v 1853.318 s 55,544 29.97 fps Aspect Ratio and Image Area File Display AR Sample AR Active Pixels Notes Original MKV 4:3 352:413 760 Full analog scan captured Restored M2V 4:3 8:9 720 Same image, mathematically resized Important Update (Hypseus Compatibility) The first 157 frames were removed from DLE-NTSC-Restored.m2v This fix ensures correct playback in Hypseus Required Files for Proper Operation Make sure the following files are present: DLE-NTSC-Restored.m2v DLE-NTSC-Restored.ogg dle21.txt lair.txt Archival Capture Details (Technical Summary) The LaserDisc was captured directly to an uncompressed YUV4MPEG2 (.y4m) master using a high-quality professional capture chain. Raw Capture Header YUV4MPEG2 W760 H488 F30000:1001 It A352:413 C444p16 XCOLORRANGE=LIMITED What This Means (In Simple Terms) Resolution: 760×488 Captures the entire NTSC active image Preserves more picture information than standard 720×480 Frame Rate: 29.97 fps Exactly matches NTSC LaserDisc timing Interlacing: Top-field-first Keeps motion and transitions authentic to the original arcade output Color Format: 4:4:4 at 16-bit precision Every pixel contains full color data No chroma subsampling is introduced during capture Prevents rounding errors and preserves maximum detail Color Range: Broadcast-safe (16–235) Fully compliant with NTSC video standards Although the original LaserDisc signal is naturally limited in color bandwidth, capturing in 4:4:4, 16-bit ensures no additional loss occurs during digitisation. Archival Strategy This capture method creates an archival-grade digital master, suitable for: Long-term preservation Future restoration work Accurate color correction Historical documentation From the original .y4m master: A lossless FFV1 version was created for archiving A visually lossless MPEG-2 (.m2v) version was created for compatibility and distribution Summary Original MKV + WAV = authoritative archival source Restored M2V + OGG = enhanced, emulator-ready edition Both versions are frame-perfect, timing-accurate, and faithful to the original LaserDisc

Moved to the right section so this thread can be deleted

Enjoy and if you want to help, improve, or refine the restoration even further, your contribution is very welcome.

I have now finalized version 2 of my restoration project, it looks great and I will release it shortly as a Christmas present.

The project is proceeding and I’m enhancing the footage further. The quality is great. Are you still interested? Also I believe this thread should be under the Arcade PC section, can an Admin move it there please?

UPDATE: Removed the first 157 frames from DLE-NTSC-Restored.m2v. The restored version now works correctly with Hypseus. Make sure you include DLE-NTSC-Restored.ogg, as well as dle21.txt and lair.txt.

It's been a while....stay tuned...

Great job!

That's great, everyone is welcome to join this project!

Hi @ducon2016, sure thing, I tried Topaz on your sequence. https://limewire.com/d/WIuqZ#0lt4n7dnw0 Let me know what you think.

Hi @ducon2016, I used my licensed copy of Topaz Video AI for Mac with the Dione model and several custom settings. If you have a video feel free to share it and we can try to enhance it further.

I captured the Dragon’s Lair Limited Edition (2002) LaserDisc directly to an uncompressed YUV4MPEG2 (.y4m) master using a high-quality capture chain. The raw file header reads: YUV4MPEG2 W760 H488 F30000:1001 It A352:413 C444p16 XCOLORRANGE=LIMITED This means the footage was recorded at 760×488 resolution — the full NTSC active image, preserving the entire analog scan area beyond the standard 720×480. The frame rate is 29.97 fps (30000/1001), interlaced top-field-first, exactly matching the LaserDisc’s NTSC cadence. The most important detail is the C444p16 format, which indicates 4:4:4 chroma sampling at 16-bit precision per channel. This means every pixel contains full color information with no chroma subsampling (unlike 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 formats). While the original LaserDisc signal itself is effectively limited to about 4:2:2 color bandwidth, capturing in 4:4:4 ensures that no additional loss or rounding occurred during digitization. I also used broadcast-safe limited range (16–235), consistent with NTSC standards, and retained the interlaced field structure, which keeps motion and transitions authentic to the original arcade timing. This approach provides an archival-grade digital master, ideal for future restoration or color correction. From this .y4m file, I later created lossless FFV1 and visually lossless MPEG-2 versions for compatibility and distribution.

I have uploaded the files 😎 I’m not an expert with Hypseus, so please test to make sure everything works properly. If the frame file needs any adjustments, kindly fix it and upload the updated version.

That's correct. I chose MKV to best preserve everything and then we can go from there. Property Result Verified Frame rate 29.97 (30000/1001) ✅ Resolution 760×488 full raster ✅ Aspect ratio 4:3 ✅ Field order Progressive ✅ Colorimetry SMPTE-170M ✅ Codec FFV1 (lossless) ✅ Audio PCM 44.1 kHz 16-bit stereo ✅ Frame count 55,544 (matches original) ✅ Duration 1853.3 s (≈ 30:53) ✅ Crop/scale None ✅ Sync Perfect ✅ ✅ MKV and WAV files are fully verified, authentic, lossless transfers from the original Y4M and audio captures.