Cowboy Bebop »
Torrent / MD5 / AniDB
Note: This is NP-Complete’s second version of Cowboy Bebop. There were enough combs left in the first version that it warranted a re-do.
Video Source: R2 HD-Remastered DVDs
Audio Source: R1 Remix DVDs
Subtitle Source: R1 Remix DVDs
Video: 23.976fps, 720×480 Anamorphic, x264 842-3155Kbps
Audio: Japanese/English, AC3 5.1 448Kbps
Subtitles: English, Styled ASS
Size: 11.0GB
Encoded By: Nite Phire
October 3, 2008 9:57 AM doud
Great work, thank you!
October 3, 2008 10:00 AM doud
I am afraid I won’t be able to help on the bug fixes, but I am looking forward to see the second version, thanks again and keep up!
October 10, 2008 9:27 AM mojo
i found your release through anidb (3 stars, nice) and i am downloading now.
how bad are the combs? is version 2 still in the making?
thanks!
October 10, 2008 11:04 AM Nite Phire
Well, they’re not terrible I suppose. They occur mostly at scene changes with some small ones here and there elsewhere. Version 2 is in the making. I’m finishing up the IVTC later today and will start the actual encoding sometime in the next week (other projects are tying up my CPU right now). After that it’s a final QC and then it’s good to go, so hopefully within about 2-3 weeks. If you’re downloading just to watch, the original version is just fine. If you’re downloading to archive, I definitely think you should wait for the second version.
November 10, 2008 7:54 AM TexasWilly
Just wanted to say that I think your encode looks and sounds amazing, I especially like the dual AC3 5.1 tracks, something that is lacking in most other releases, or if they do they don’t accommodate for the need to increase the file size to keep a decent video quality. I got the first 2 episodes from a friend but am unable to use torrents where I live just now (University Halls) Is there any chance your 2nd encode can be posted on Usenet? I think it would really help get your releases out there too,
Thanks in advance,
Ben
November 10, 2008 9:46 AM Nite Phire
I have no problem with it if someone wants to distribute this release (or any others) through Usenet, or any other sort of downloading service for that matter. I’m a torrent man through and through though, and it’s the only method I’ll be using for official distribution.
November 12, 2008 5:16 AM doud
Looks amazing, I will seed as soon as I get It.
Thank you so much for this promising release!
November 12, 2008 5:28 AM doud
One question though, is the old episodes (14-17) issue corrected ?
November 12, 2008 12:09 PM Nite Phire
Not yet. I’ll be fixing it and starting to seed again tonight when I get home from classes. I still can’t believe that happened. Apparently my brain got put on the back burner sometime last week when I was putting the final touches on the release and deleted the new versions instead of the old ones. I knew there was a reason I always hated v2′s…
Again, sorry for the inconvenience/headaches/mild-newfound-hatred-toward-me. It’ll be up tonight and I’ll make a note on this page when it is.
._.
November 12, 2008 2:22 PM doud
We are just thankful actually, take your time and don’t be so hard on yourself.
November 12, 2008 7:24 PM Nite Phire
Okay. All fixed and seeding again. ^_^
November 12, 2008 7:30 PM doud
Great news! Thanks again.
November 17, 2008 11:25 PM shingle dingle
is this hd? if so 720 or 1080?
It looks better quality thank any other cowboy bebop release’s ive seen so far.
thanks Nite Phire great upload
November 17, 2008 11:58 PM Nite Phire
As you can see, the resolution is specified as 720×480, so no, it’s not HD. Bebop isn’t out in HD yet (other than the movie). I’m not exactly sure what the HD Remaster label on the DVDs means. It could mean that it was remastered for a future HD release and then downsized for DVD, or it could mean that the “HD” moniker could just refer to high quality, rather than HD resolution.
That said, I’m looking to get my hands on the Blu-ray version of the movie for a 1080p release and the same goes for the series if/when it comes out.
November 19, 2008 4:02 PM doud
If you are planning to buy the bluray I can participate using paypal.
November 19, 2008 6:50 PM cestfait
all the ‘hd’ means is that they re-digitized and cleaned up the original analog master. then they downsized to dvd resolution and made a good transfer to dvd (or at least up to modern standards).
I personally favor a good transfer over a shoddy hd signal any day, so I’d say that these remastered dvd encodes are the copy to have, even if they start broadcasting the show in hd.
if they ever do a bluray master at 1080p, that’ll probably be amazing. however, I don’t think anime generally needs too much higher a resolution than 720p when it is mastered well from the original source.
December 25, 2008 6:50 AM Agenthex
Is the audio from Remix (re)synced properly?
Thanks.
December 25, 2008 8:26 AM Nite Phire
I did my best to re-sync the audio to the video. It’s possible that my eyes/ears are a bit off and/or my system has some strange internal delays, but it should be correct or at least close to it. Even if it’s not 100% perfect, it is definitely 100% watchable.
That said, the short answer is yes, it should be re-synced properly.
January 3, 2009 12:30 PM Lemon
Is the Japanese audio also from the Remix DVDs?
How does this compare to the niizk release? I already have niizk’s; but yours looks less grainy, has chapters and character styled subtitles…
January 3, 2009 12:38 PM Nite Phire
That’s a pretty accurate assessment. The Japanese audio is also from the R1 remix DVDs. It made it easier for me to re-sync the English audio if I had the Japanese to work with too, and the tracks were identical anyway (or close enough to it that I couldn’t tell the difference). I removed a bit more grain than niizk and did a tad more sharpening (without significantly increasing haloing, don’t worry) so that it would compress a bit better. So the full encode ends up about 2GB smaller than his, even with the extra 2GB of English audio.
If you already have the niizk release, I’d recommend downloading an episode to compare for yourself. ^_^
January 7, 2009 12:02 PM Lemon
I think I’ll do that! Thanks =)
January 15, 2009 7:02 AM DangerMouse
Just downloaded the torrent for this and am seeing video fine but hear japanese audio with no english subtitles. The pictures show amazing looking subtitles. How do I get them? I don’t have any subtitle files at all.. only .mkv video files. Am I missing something?
January 15, 2009 7:12 AM DangerMouse
Nevermind my last comment, it has dual audio tracks and subtitles built in, but I had to use VLC to change them. Is there a way to change them in Windows Media player?? Anyone know? I preffer not to use VLC or external video software.
January 15, 2009 11:15 AM Nite Phire
The only possible way I know of to get WMP working with this release would be to install the CCCP, then use the Haali tray icon to switch the tracks around. It’s certainly not recommended. The CCCP comes bundled with Media Player Classic, which looks and feels quite like WMP prior to all the new-fangled skinning it’s gotten recently. I’d strongly recommend trying that first.
That said, I support the CCCP and mplayer, and grudgingly accept VLC as an “okay” alternative. I can’t say that NPC releases will play correctly with any other players/codecs.
January 15, 2009 3:39 PM DangerMouse
Bummer, I’d really like to get it working on WMP, without it being Japanese audio and no subtitles.. My preference is Japanese Audio with English Subtitles, just because a lot of times English dubbing is so terribly voice acted. Not always the case though, so finding a plugin for WMP to be able to select video track, audio track, and subtitle options would be really awesome!! If anyone knows about something that can do this, or things they can make something like this, please leave a message about it. :)
January 15, 2009 10:52 PM cestfait
I think someday you will succumb and use MPC, Zoomplayer, or MPlayer, personally. WMP just ain’t on the same level…
January 28, 2009 10:32 PM wfrost
Really excellent job. I look forward to your group’s future releases. I’d like to offer a suggestion though. Use xvid instead of x264. Many of us prefer to stream media to our TVs. x264 is better compression but the only hardware device I know of that handles x264 with AC3 is the PS3. Unfortunately the PS3 will not do subtitles with x264 unless it’s burned on a disc. However the PS3 and many other devices will handle xvid with subtitles. It’s not that big a difference in file size but it’s a huge time saver not having to recode.
January 29, 2009 12:34 AM Nite Phire
I’m sorry, but we’ll be sticking with x264. Like you said, x264 offers much better compression. To get XviD with the same quality, the bitrate would be significantly higher. cestfait and I are basically perfectionists (though of course we let certain things go here and there), but this is one of those things where we notice the difference that other people don’t and it drives us nuts. Also, I’d be willing to bet that the issue with subtitles on the PS3 is that it doesn’t handle softsubs, and we certainly aren’t about to offer hardsubs. Again, I’m sorry, but we’re sticklers on this issue.
April 27, 2009 10:06 AM Whomever
There are tests on modern codecs at here:
http://www.compression.ru/video/codec_comparison/subjective_codecs_comparison_en.html
x264 is better than xvid.
NP-Complete has ripped by x264, what can we do other than enjoying? I think you should forget PS3 and stay with computer as tradition :P
July 28, 2009 3:09 PM greylion
One more difference; x264 requires WAY more processing power (because of the high compression).
Insisting on using x264 means people with old computers will not be able to play it.
For instance; I am completely unable to play x264 on a PC with a 1,2 GHz P3.
Anything in XviD plays just fine..
I looked around and it seems a minimum of 2 GHz P4 / Athlon 2600+ or higher is needed to play x264.
Anything less than that is A LOT of hardware to throw away, just because “x264 is better”.
August 2, 2009 1:55 PM migrena
do not generalize. every x264 encode is different. different resolution, different encoding settings. this has tremendous impact on processing power neded to decode certain file.
now, all npc releases are standard definition shows, which means those requirements are resonably low even when the most demandig encoding settings will be used. you should be able to achieve fluid playback on 1.2 p3, as i was able to do so on duron 900. te key is to use correct software (codecs and players) with correct settings. with a little of luck you even might be able to playback flawlessly 720p material. try cccp+coreavc setup.
pro tip: styled softsubs played with vobsub might consume up to 25% your p3. try using internal subtitle filters from media player classic (not to be mistaken with windows media player).
last but not least – used video cards with h264 decoding support can be bought now for a throwaway price. this might be a resonable upgrade to your system.
ps those requirements for x264 playback you quoted are similar to what apple recomends for their mov (h264) playback. by apple just wants you to buy their new hardware and increases those numbers unresonably. :)
January 24, 2010 10:28 PM Anonymous
Could anyone please resume seeding this release? I’d appreciate it. Thanks!
August 7, 2010 12:28 PM imran
you are awesome. you do good series. can you do wolfs rain, its a prtty good anime !!!plz think about that.thanks !!!
December 26, 2010 2:33 AM AAA
Seed please :O
September 6, 2011 12:47 AM Anonym
First I wanted to thank you for this Version of CB. I love it. Just need someone to seed please
THX
September 6, 2011 8:04 PM thebigmunch
I’ll throw this up on my seedbox for a few weeks and seed from home for a bit as well. Hopefully that’ll get the torrent breathing again.