Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

[StarFuryG7]

Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

[pixote]

Originally Posted by StarFuryG7

Are Blu-Rays the new vinyl? Physical Media will be different – but better – in 2024

There is a difference that wasn't touched on in the article. The record someone bought in 1963 has the same sound quality, and sometimes better, than the same album re-released in 2023. You can't say that about film. Nobody is comparing their 1986 VHS tape to a BD or 4k disc in regards to picture quality. The problem with Blu-Ray's, 4k, DVD, VHS is there's always an upgrade as TV's are always being upgraded. Vinyl doesn't have to fight this endless upgrade battle, it just has it be itself.

[latweek]

Originally Posted by pixote

There is a difference that wasn't touched on in the article. The record someone bought in 1963 has the same sound quality, and sometimes better, than the same album re-released in 2023. You can't say that about film. Nobody is comparing their 1986 VHS tape to a BD or 4k disc in regards to picture quality. The problem with Blu-Ray's, 4k, DVD, VHS is there's always an upgrade as TV's are always being upgraded. Vinyl doesn't have to fight this endless upgrade battle, it just has it be itself.

Consider that just like vinyl, there are timelines involved here as well. Scarcity is the basis for physical sales, audio or video.

Physical media for video may have its day not in 2024 of course, but at some future point down the road when the lemmings discover their subscription costs are skyrocketing, the content they want is distributed over fragmented/competing subscription services, is only available in new "so called improved versions" or not available at all, and they finally grasp that they ensnared themselves in a trap of their own making, with no way back due to shutdown of physical media manufacturers and the lack of sufficient market interest to ramp up again. Its clear the studios {or whatever investment companies that will buy them}cannot get to sub fast enough and they will have no interest in starting up the model again.

Thats when physical media for video will become valuable again, scarcity. Whether anyone has any interest in watching quality content at that time is a separate debate altogether. Im not so sure it will matter to the tik tok generation anyways.

Lastly, coming from someone who has lived and worked for the studios in Hollywood since the mid 90's, the traditional content owners are in crisis and techtonic shifts are inenvitable. It will be a tumultuous decade for content, I would not anticipate business as usual. Where it all ends up has never been more uncertain. Im just glad I now own what I wanted to own.


Oh, and Happy New year!

[Thomas Veil]

People have been trying to put a fork in physical media for years, meanwhile I spent more this year than any other.

Streaming has lost billions, my hope is companies embrace the extra revenue at a time of leaking money.

[latweek]

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

People have been trying to put a fork in physical media for years, meanwhile I spent more this year than any other.

Streaming has lost billions, my hope is companies embrace the extra revenue at a time of leaking money.

To have an informed viewpoint, its important to understand the difference between a personal experience relative to the market in order to remove one's own interpretive bias.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.ph...&id=1676045374

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by latweek

To have an informed viewpoint, its important to understand the difference between a personal experience relative to the market in order to remove one's own interpretive bias.

https://www.flatpanelshd.com/news.ph...&id=1676045374

I'm informed, thanks for the snooty comment though. I've read these very same articles for years, with similar numbers but yet here we are with multiple new labels coming out this past year. It's a niche now for sure but it's not going anywhere anytime soon. Someday it's going to end like everything else but why panic now and act like the sky is falling.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

Streaming has lost billions, my hope is companies embrace the extra revenue at a time of leaking money.

Streaming has lost money because of content creation, not because people aren't watching streaming services. Theatrical, broadcast, cable TV and physical media have all dropped by a huge measure, while streaming is approaching numbers to compare with those mediums at their peaks. Physical media is an ancillary market. The cost of production isn't factored in to its bottom line like it is with streaming.

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Streaming has lost money because of content creation, not because people aren't watching streaming services. Theatrical, broadcast, cable TV and physical media have all dropped by a huge measure, while streaming is approaching numbers to compare with those mediums at their peaks. Physical media is an ancillary market. The cost of production isn't factored in to its bottom line like it is with streaming.

WTH with this thread...I never said...never said...it was because people werent watching streaming. Of course its because content creation. I said from the begining they couldn't sustain the spending. My point is people gave been saying physical media is dead with facts and figures for years now....still waiting. Do I have to freaking repeat every time I know its a niche and a small niche at that but it will be here for at least another five years or so and by then we'll have most of what we want. Steaming is pulling titles left and right and to have something you can play anytime I want is awesome.

Im done posting and will just lurk for occasional info. Tired of having posts misread and crapped on. Why dont we just make this a streaming info site. Too much negativity and they keep kicking out all the interesting guys like Joel anyway.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by bigshot

Streaming has lost money because of content creation, not because people aren't watching streaming services. Theatrical, broadcast, cable TV and physical media have all dropped by a huge measure, while streaming is approaching numbers to compare with those mediums at their peaks. Physical media is an ancillary market. The cost of production isn't factored in to its bottom line like it is with streaming.

Streaming is becoming more about who produces what, and oh, will you subscribe to their platform because...it's better. So people have to pick and choose, unless they're wealthy or are television and movie gluttons. Not everyone can afford to pay a monthly fee for all of the platforms out there. Add to that the fact that many people lead busy lives and wouldn't have the time for all of it anyway.

Oh, and, what exactly is so bad about one having their own physical library of titles to watch when they feel like it? Where exactly is the downside to that for people that like, if not even prefer, that option?

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by pixote

There is a difference that wasn't touched on in the article. The record someone bought in 1963 has the same sound quality, and sometimes better, than the same album re-released in 2023.

Wrong. Unless it's a bad remix, 90% of the time the newer vinyl formulations and modern mastering techniques will make it superior.

[50strat54]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Wrong. Unless it's a bad remix, 90% of the time the newer vinyl formulations and modern mastering techniques will make it superior.

No

New vinyl is not as good as old original vinyl.

There is a lack of pressing plants as well and there are more mistakes.

If you have a choice between new Abbey Road or the original vinyl always go for the original.

Once you remix you've also changed the original sound and intent of the original recording.

CDs are still the best for pure sound.

I also want to say, in my opinion, those Giles Martin remixes of Beatle albums is a crime and should never have been done.

[smithb]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

I also want to say, in my opinion, those Giles Martin remixes of Beatle albums is a crime and should never have been done.

I'll have to completely disagree there. I've enjoyed them immensely. You have a choice to not buy/support and that is your right. However, as to whether it was a crime or not is just silly. As to whether they should have been done or not will be left to consumer demand, and considering they have continued with more albums likely shows there is a demand.

[50strat54]

Originally Posted by smithb

I'll have to completely disagree there. I've enjoyed them immensely. You have a choice to not buy/support and that is your right. However, as to whether it was a crime or not is just silly. As to whether they should have been done or not will be left to consumer demand, and considering they have continued with more albums likely shows there is a demand.

To get the outtakes you also had to get the Giles remix. I know Ringo and Paul and the estates approved but it was just to put “new” product into those Beatle Deluxe Boxes.

Giles Martin nepotism at its finest.

My old stereo had a Loudness button that just boosted the bass and created a thicker sound. That is what these remixes sound like.

George Martin did some remixing when the Beatle CDs first came out, I didn’t hear that much difference but he was The Beatles’ producer which gives him a lot of leeway.

The 2009 releases reverted back to the original mixes for the most part but still there some “fixes” like the drop out in Day Tripper, reinstated on the Capitol and US Albums releases.

The CD era brought a lot of changes and fixes, some for the better, some for the worse.

I am a HUGE Beatle fan, listening since Feb. 9, 1964 but these remixes are pointless. When I said crime I was being hyperbolic, I think you know that.

But all I can do is state my opinion, I can’t overrule Ringo, Paul and the estates.

In my opinion, Giles Martin is not all that.

Taylor Swift and Producer Jack Antonoff won the Grammy album of the year. Antonoff, now he IS all that. Not a huge fan of Taylor’s music but as a collaborator (like dad George Martin was) and Producer he deserves the accolades.

[meremortal]

Not sure. Most adults probably do not watch the same movie twice and most likely do not want to collect physical copies. There's also no youth movement towards movie collecting as far as I know. Vinyl has a certain ritual, prestige and so forth that I just don't see with blu and 4k. I also don't think the overwhelming majority of consumers care about extras, unfortunately.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by meremortal

Not sure. Most adults probably do not watch the same movie twice and most likely do not want to collect physical copies. There's also no youth movement towards movie collecting as far as I know. Vinyl has a certain ritual, prestige and so forth that I just don't see with blu and 4k. I also don't think the overwhelming majority of consumers care about extras, unfortunately.

Depends how you define adults. Older adults are always watching the same movie more than once. Even if it’s on a cable or streaming channel/service.

Even streamers seem to have favourites for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. I think you have made a sweeping statement that has no statistical evidence.

Anyone who loves film is going to be watching films twice (at the very least)

[random123]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Depends how you define adults. Older adults are always watching the same movie more than once. Even if it’s on a cable or streaming channel/service.

Even streamers seem to have favourites for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. I think you have made a sweeping statement that has no statistical evidence.

Anyone who loves film is going to be watching films twice (at the very least)

Almost all people will indeed have at least a few movies they really love to the point they will rewatch them once in a while.

Originally Posted by bigshot

LPs are only selling well in comparison to the 90s when they didn't sell at all. Compared to the 60s, 70s and early 80s, sales of LPs are minuscule. Streaming is the dominant format now, by several orders of magnitude.

So? What’s the point? No one here is arguing that streaming isn't the dominant format by many miles. And no one is arguing that is gonna change. But vinyl has shown a constant increase of sales every years for over 15 years at this point. That is a rebound. Will they become mainstream again? No, they are always gonna primarily be for collectors and enthusiasts. A niche. And that’s fine. Physical media is a premium format. Like all premium formats, it’s not something that most people will need, but it has its benefits for passionate enthusiasts. Nothing needs to be mainstream to still be a success. Physical media is doing well as a good niche. I don’t consider Laserdisc to have been a failure, even though it was vastly overshadowed by VHS. Laserdisc was still important and relevant to films and its biggest enthusiasts, it offered superior quality to VHS. It had its worth, it had its place.

I made all these points in greater detail here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...7&postcount=38

By the way, you were a jerk to an user in another thread. The user said that Gone With The Wind is one of the most profitable films ever, and too big to not get an UHD. You, as a jerk, quoted his answer as referring to Barbie rather than Gone With The Wind. It's a fact that Gone With The Wind is one of the most profitable films of all time, and it's still the highest-grossing film ever when adjusting by inflation, while Barbie doesn’t even reach the Top 10 of the same list. Everyone else in the thread pointed out your nonsense, and you ignored them all.

[lupinskitten]

I don't see people upgrading again to 4K. At least I won't be. BluRay looks pretty damn good, and I already doubled dipped on most of my collection.

[surfinhank]

Originally Posted by lupinskitten

I don't see people upgrading again to 4K. At least I won't be. BluRay looks pretty damn good, and I already doubled dipped on most of my collection.

But what sucks is the number of films only getting a restoration on 4K disc. The Hitchcock films, The Natural, The Italian Job, Batman Begins... the majority of 4K releases from the big studios just include a recycled blu-ray with the older transfer (a noticeably dated transfer - usually riddled with DNR and EE). Fortunately the boutique labels are great about including a remastered blu-ray with their release.

[StarFuryG7]

Originally Posted by surfinhank

But what sucks is the number of films only getting a restoration on 4K disc. The Hitchcock films, The Natural, The Italian Job, Batman Begins... the majority of 4K releases from the big studios just include a recycled blu-ray with the older transfer (a noticeably dated transfer - usually riddled with DNR and EE). Fortunately the boutique labels are great about including a remastered blu-ray with their release.

Duel 4K Blu-ray Review

[Darylbcool]

My fingers are crossed for the good and future of Blu Ray!!!