Neil Young: High Resolution Audio in 2012

[blu2]

http://www.neilyoung.com/messagepage.html

A message from NY

2012 will be the year that record companies release High Resolution Audio. [...]

Sounds like a major campaign is coming.

See also:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13645_3-20...?tag=cnetRiver

[Clark Kent]

There have been rumors that Warner Music is about to launch some Hi-Rez initiative. What that means, no one really knows yet. I would have to believe it has to do with Blu-ray audio on some level.

[Josh]

The only issue will be if Warner decides to come out with their own proprietary format, even its based on the same physical Blu-ray format. Making people buy yet another player is going to spell immediate failure, and without Warner's full support, Blu-ray audio is likely to follow the same footsteps as DVD-A and SACD.

Hopefully, they will continue their work they have done with Blu-ray Audio releases thus far and take advantage of this opporunity rather than screw it up by trying to make an extra buck licensing a new format.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Josh

The only issue will be if Warner decides to come out with their own proprietary format, even its based on the same physical Blu-ray format. Making people buy yet another player is going to spell immediate failure, and without Warner's full support, Blu-ray audio is likely to follow the same footsteps as DVD-A and SACD.

Hopefully, they will continue their work they have done with Blu-ray Audio releases thus far and take advantage of this opporunity rather than screw it up by trying to make an extra buck licensing a new format.

Do you have reason to believe that a new format is something WB is considering?

[dobyblue]

I don't think there's any reason to believe that, given that Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records' CEO and Chairman, just went on record saying they're going to LEARN from the SACD/DVD-A format war rather than trying to REPEAT the same mistakes, which is exactly what a proprietary format would mean.

[Clark Kent]

There is no way a major label would try to introduce another proprietary format into the marketplace. The only reason we got SACD and DVD-Audio was the commercial music market was at a 40-year revenue peak when they were introduced.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

There have been rumors that Warner Music is about to launch some Hi-Rez initiative. What that means, no one really knows yet. I would have to believe it has to do with Blu-ray audio on some level.

I don't have any Blu-ray audio discs yet but I wonder if the same HDCP protocols are used as for a regular Blu-ray? I believe it is HDCP that makes me have to turn on my TV with the HDMI connection to make my receiver play properly. When I really want to listen to music I prefer to do it in a darkened room, better yet with my eyes closed, having the TV on is just a pain.

Whatever the new format/method is used I hope I can make a copy for playing in my car as well.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by zicmubleu

I don't have any Blu-ray audio discs yet but I wonder if the same HDCP protocols are used as for a regular Blu-ray? I believe it is HDCP that makes me have to turn on my TV with the HDMI connection to make my receiver play properly. When I really want to listen to music I prefer to do it in a darkened room, better yet with my eyes closed, having the TV on is just a pain.

Whatever the new format/method is used I hope I can make a copy for playing in my car as well.

How is it hooked up? I use a TX-SR805 Onkyo and never have to turn on the TV when I'm listening to a Blu-ray or any other media.

When I use my Pioneer Elite DV-48 for SACD's and DVD-A's then I have to switch off HDMI output if I want to turn the TV off, which takes 3 seconds in the menu.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

How is it hooked up? I use a TX-SR805 Onkyo and never have to turn on the TV when I'm listening to a Blu-ray or any other media.

When I use my Pioneer Elite DV-48 for SACD's and DVD-A's then I have to switch off HDMI output if I want to turn the TV off, which takes 3 seconds in the menu.

I use an HDMI cable from the Blu-ray player to the receiver/amp and HDMI cable from the receiver to the TV. I don't recall if I tried using the analog cables, since I generally use a DV-49A to play CD/SACD/DVD-A for my music and have not messed with too many concert Blu-rays. I don't want to run a whole new group of cables between the elements, big advantage for HDMI in my mind, so I live with that. I don't remember the particular Sony receiver model but it does say something about HDCP control capability.

Overall I prefer music not to need a displayed menu to be used, like a CD.

[blue11]

this news sounds promising....can't wait to see what the offerings will be next year. My vinyl copy of Live Rust needs a break....
I can't wait to hear Cortez on Hi-Res

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by blue11

this news sounds promising....can't wait to see what the offerings will be next year. My vinyl copy of Live Rust needs a break....
I can't wait to hear Cortez on Hi-Res

Yeah, Zuma was my favorite NY album and that entire period will be represented in Archive Vol. 2...can't come soon enough.

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

I don't think there's any reason to believe that, given that Craig Kallman, Atlantic Records' CEO and Chairman, just went on record saying they're going to LEARN from the SACD/DVD-A format war rather than trying to REPEAT the same mistakes, which is exactly what a proprietary format would mean.

So here is my hope...they don't think about the format, only about making HiRes a reality and success for music. Meaning, release everything going forward as both physical and downloadable digital format and determine if there is a market for it based on total sales.

If the yard stick is just going to be how many BD music releases sell, then I think they will look at it as a failure. But maybe if they look at total sales of HiRes music regardless if it is from digital download or BD disks sold, then maybe we will get a lot more releases.

I am happy to buy both formats depending on the release. I can play 24/96 or 24/192 FLAC files which will be the same resolution to what would be on the BD without any extras.

To me, I think they will make a mistake if they just stick to a single format...lets just release all music going forward with a HiRes option.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by jdc115

To me, I think they will make a mistake if they just stick to a single format...lets just release all music going forward with a HiRes option.

I agree. I think HR music should be available on BD-A discs for a physical format as I imagine most if not all enthusiasts would have a BD player by now, and FLAC and/or DSD HR downloads for those who prefer that method.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I agree. I think HR music should be available on BD-A discs for a physical format as I imagine most if not all enthusiasts would have a BD player by now, and FLAC and/or DSD HR downloads for those who prefer that method.

Personally I'm a huge fan of 2L's SACD/Blu-ray releases. If they can figure out how to do this in a commercially viable way, other companies should be able to as well. I think 2L also offers FLAC downloads, so as far as I'm concerned they should be the model for Warner and others.

[dobyblue]

I would probably consider giving up a testicle or kidney in order for the major labels to emulate 2L's releases.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Personally I'm a huge fan of 2L's SACD/Blu-ray releases. If they can figure out how to do this in a commercially viable way, other companies should be able to as well. I think 2L also offers FLAC downloads, so as far as I'm concerned they should be the model for Warner and others.

What is an SACD/BD? Is it a hybrid disc of the two formats so you can get the same quality audio as long as you have a SACD or BD player?

[PanaPlasma]

Originally Posted by singhcr

What is an SACD/BD? Is it a hybrid disc of the two formats so you can get the same quality audio as long as you have a SACD or BD player?

Nope, it's a combo pack.

1 sacd + 1 blu-ray.

Isn't 2L offering multichannel downloads (from dxd and dsd-sources)?

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by PanaPlasma

Isn't 2L offering multichannel downloads (from dxd and dsd-sources)?

Yep, but I haven't opted for any of those. Just the SACD/Blu-ray stuff.

[singhcr]

Has there been any more news on this?

I just listened to Alter Bridge's ABIII. There is a lot of layering and depth in the LP I have (unfortunately it's just a CD port), but it's totally lost in the compression and low sampling rate.

After finding that the Bee Gees albums that aren't on LP are availiable on HDCD (which is 44.1/24), going from 16 bits sampling rate to 24 bits makes a significant difference in sound quality. The depth of the soundstage along with the overall increase in general clarity is astouding- it's not quite as good as a nice LP but it's sooo much better than a standard CD that it infuriates me to think that my Alter Bridge music is trapped at 44.1/16 when a CD master is 96/24 I believe. I can't wait for high quality music to be a standard, but somehow I think this won't happen.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by singhcr

Has there been any more news on this?

Not really, there has been no significant news related to the supposed initiative. HDTracks has gotten a few more albums now for Hi-Rez downloads, but they are simply duplicating what was already available from Warner on DVD-Audio.