Saturday morning I was treated by a visit from Mr. postman and among the pile of letters and packages he left for me, was an envelope from Chuck Rudy. I had sent in an order for the NYPower DVD to Chuck on the Friday before, so I cleared out an hour and went down in the basement to give the new DVD a spin.

The DVD is separated into three chapters: Quick / Problem launches, Unusual machines / High Power / Hybrids, and Level 2 / Midpower / Last flight of the weekend. The DVD does not make use of any other scene selection device, wich in my opinion is one of the strong points of the Extreme Rocketry LDRS DVD.

Being both clear and sharp, The video on the disc is very nice - much better than the standard VHS tapes of launches that you see. The first chapter sets the tone with several launches back to back. Smoke trail after smoke trail disappearing into the blue sky. The problem launches section details very well the "CATO" problem that showed itself at NYPower. Several rockets blowing their tops and spewing grains are featured, as well as some classic skywriting. Chuck uses slow and stop frame replays to show you "what went wrong" on some of the more memorable failed launches. Nice touch.

Unusual machines features just what you would think. If it does not look like a rocket, it's here. Ed Miller's Hug and Monocopter are featured, as well as pyramids, caution cones and anything else not 3FNC. The High Power section shows many of the big projects that flew from the away cell over the weekend. A few multi staged rockets, K impulse flights, and all of the M powered rockets that flew over the weekend. There is a nice music video that accompanies Robert DeHate prepping, setting up and launching his Terrier/Sandhawk. In many cases the music, while very good, is mixed a little loud for my taste. The hybrid cell gets a workout next, as several of the weekends hybrid flights are featured. Flight info (rocket, motor, flier), when available, is presented via text that pops up on the lower left hand of the screen throughout the entire video.

The final section features L2 powered rockets. Many J and K flights are represented here (Even a couple of mine!). Then, after showing the "heads up" flight of a Delta II rocket that lands very close to the videographer, Phil Stein's awesome L3 flight is shown, and replayed from a few different angles.

In the end, the DVD video is a good representation of the fun and excitement that was had at NYPower 2002.

Pros:

• 1) The DVD format is GREAT! I await the day when all rocket video makers switch to this format. Crisp and clear.
• 2) Fast shipping. Had my DVD 1 week after I ordered it (with a personal check)
• 3) Most of the high-profile flights are here.
• 4) It's all about rockets. Some of the other videos have too much irrelevant information disguised as interviews. All rockets here.

Cons: The editing was good, but some small issues keep it from being a great disc.

• 1) Not enough info on the BFR flights. Extra research could have been done to get the name of the rocketeer, rocket and motor info.
• 2) More use could have been made of the features that the DVD format allows.
• 3) The music is mixed in a bit too loud, and wipes out most of what should be in the foreground. A more "background" oriented music track would have made the disc a more polished, professional affair.
• 4) The audio during the "slow motion" sections is irritating at best. Silence would have been better.

If you were at NYPower 2002, the disc is a must buy. If you did not attend NYPower, but like to watch a good rocket video, the disc is a solid buy. I bought it for both reasons, and I was not disappointed.

UPDATE: I just got an updated DVD from Chuck at EISLaunch (now VooDoo Digital Productions), with edits made to the audio track based on this review... These edits serve to make the already good disk just that much better. I can see no reason why you would not want to add this to you collection.