Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[unberechenbar]

Is it possible for hi-fi audio to be released in a physical form or is it limited by technology to streaming or download only?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Is it possible for hi-fi audio to be released in a physical form or is it limited by technology to streaming or download only?

You had many music based blu-rays all are using DTS-HD-MA, Dolby True HD, and a few examples of even Dolby Atmos. I consider those really the ultimate listening experience with video.

High-Resolution Audio files have a sampling frequency of 96 kHz/24 bit, which is significantly higher than the 44.1 KHz/16 bit sampling frequency of CDs. But when you call this hi-fi audio that is usually just CD quality.

CDs remain a convenient way to hear their favourite music in hi-fi sound quality

DVD-Audio is 24-bit, with a sampling rate of 96 kHz
SACD is 1 bit with a sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by unberechenbar

Is it possible for hi-fi audio to be released in a physical form or is it limited by technology to streaming or download only?

Yep.

I only have 1 SACD but I have many Blu Rays with high res and surround sound audio.

I believe online shops like HD Tracks offer high res without DRM which can be downloaded and for example put onto optical media or other storage. This is similar to physical because you can make a physical copy like a USB drive.

Streaming services that offer high res have a lot of stuff I am interested in but I haven't purchased yet.

I currently subscribe to Apple Music and my kids get a lot more use from it than I do but if Apple Music provided high res and or surround sound I would have access to a TON of stuff I can't want to hear. Many albums I love are available in high res audio.

[bhampton]

Lossless and Atmos Audio streaming from Apple Music

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/...ossless-audio/

Apple Music will also make its catalog of more than 75 million songs available in Lossless Audio. Apple uses ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) to preserve every single bit of the original audio file. This means Apple Music subscribers will be able to hear the exact same thing that the artists created in the studio.
To start listening to Lossless Audio, subscribers using the latest version of Apple Music can turn it on in Settings > Music > Audio Quality. Here, they can choose different resolutions for different connections such as cellular, Wi-Fi, or for download. Apple Music’s Lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz (kilohertz), and goes up to 24 bit at 48 kHz and is playable natively on Apple devices. For the true audiophile, Apple Music also offers Hi-Resolution Lossless all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.1

Producer Piper Payne said: “The soul and life of the mix is sitting in the extra bits of data that are stored in the lossless file. As a mastering engineer, having the ability to convey the music to the listener at its highest quality is the end goal of what I work for every day.”




WOW SO NICE. Way to go Apple. I subscribe to Apple Music but haven't used it much so far and now I'm loving this !

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Sorry, that's not the same thing. When you "buy" a title, you're not leasing it. It's supposed to be a virtual equivalent of a physical media object and therefore, you should have it forever. If Apple (or any company) can't guarantee that, then they should get out of that aspect of the business and simply go to streaming subscriptions.

If I'm streaming, then I would expect titles to come and go.

Before I respond I will wait till you show me one TOS/EULA that backs up that statement.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Apple Music will also make its catalog of more than 75 million songs available in Lossless Audio.

Brian, we use Pandora (paid) and with it we select Smooth Jazz, New Age, Classic Rock, etc. then it will play music from that genre for 8 hours. Can you do the same or similar with Apple Music?

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Brian, we use Pandora (paid) and with it we select Smooth Jazz, New Age, Classic Rock, etc. then it will play music from that genre for 8 hours. Can you do the same or similar with Apple Music?

Yeah. I think so and you can share playlists.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Lossless and Atmos Audio streaming from Apple Music

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/...ossless-audio/

Apple Music will also make its catalog of more than 75 million songs available in Lossless Audio. Apple uses ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) to preserve every single bit of the original audio file. This means Apple Music subscribers will be able to hear the exact same thing that the artists created in the studio.
To start listening to Lossless Audio, subscribers using the latest version of Apple Music can turn it on in Settings > Music > Audio Quality. Here, they can choose different resolutions for different connections such as cellular, Wi-Fi, or for download. Apple Music’s Lossless tier starts at CD quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz (kilohertz), and goes up to 24 bit at 48 kHz and is playable natively on Apple devices. For the true audiophile, Apple Music also offers Hi-Resolution Lossless all the way up to 24 bit at 192 kHz.1

Producer Piper Payne said: “The soul and life of the mix is sitting in the extra bits of data that are stored in the lossless file. As a mastering engineer, having the ability to convey the music to the listener at its highest quality is the end goal of what I work for every day.”

WOW SO NICE. Way to go Apple. I subscribe to Apple Music but haven't used it much so far and now I'm loving this !

Given the time when a lot of the music was recorded, there can’t be flipping a switch everything is master quality. Why because a lot of the content was never released as remastered. Then you have Apple offering it using Spatial Audio, which you know is to try to offer someone wearing AirPod Pro or AirPod Max some sense of audio directivity that changes the audio waveforms you are listening to. It’s not the same as Binaural Sound Effects.

Apple today announced Apple Music is bringing industry-leading sound quality to subscribers with the addition of Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos. Spatial Audio gives artists the opportunity to create immersive audio experiences for their fans with true multidimensional sound and clarity.

3D Audio on Headphones: How Does It Work? - wave.com 2/4/21

The perception of sound over headphones is a completely different experience. As a result, mixes done on headphones might translate poorly to speakers in a room.

I like some expert comparisons rather then taking Apple’s word that content is really lossless, especially given their history of audio products.

[JohnAV]

Per the verge

Apple has confirmed to The Verge that lossless audio is exclusive to Apple Music and thus subscription-only. The company won’t offer music purchases in lossless quality, nor will there be any way to upgrade owned tracks to lossless with the paid iTunes Match service.

Add this also
AirPods, AirPods Max and AirPods Pro Don't Support Apple Music Lossless Audio - Mac Rumors

*AirPods*, *AirPods Pro*, and *AirPods Max* are limited to the Bluetooth AAC codec when paired with an iPhone, and won't be able to stream *Apple Music* lossless files, Apple confirmed to T3.

Should really make AirPods Max owners day.

Apple’s $549 AirPods Max can’t play lossless Apple Music — even when plugged in - TheVerge

Streaming music might be entering a new era of hi-fi audio, but Apple’s AirPods Max aren’t technically ready to go along for the ride. The company has confirmed to The Verge that its premium noise-canceling headphones do not natively support playback of lossless music files.

“Lossless audio is not supported on AirPods, any model,” an Apple spokesperson said by email. “AirPods Max wired listening mode accepts analog output sources only. AirPods Max currently does not support digital audio formats in wired mode.”

It makes complete sense that the AirPods and AirPods Pro have no way of playing lossless audio. They’re totally wireless, and Apple supports the AAC codec over Bluetooth. AAC sounds plenty good, but it’s nowhere near the bit rate of CD-quality or high-resolution tracks. To do any better, Apple would need to come up with some new wireless codec — its own version of Sony’s LDAC, sort of — or make these things play music over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth. None of that is happening today or by June when Apple Music will start offering lossless.

[cheez avenger]

The Live in Moscow: Lindemann CD/BD is released this week and they're doing a one night only screening at my local iPic Theater (where I saw Army of the Dead this past Saturday) this Thursday, but I decided to purchase the CD/BD discs instead. Yeah, I know the theatrical experience would have been better, but I could not justify the double cost.



https://www.amazon.com/Live-Moscow-C...s=music&sr=1-3

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Should really make AirPods Max owners day.

Yeah,.... some suggest you need expensive high end gear to listen to lossless but it's more like you need a system set up correctly.

Bluetooth audio does not support it at all but I suppose that could change.

Apple is very brave to offer quality better than any of their headphones can play. There will be lots of confusion.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by alchav21

Yes, I'm a Stock Holder in AT&T, and I think they are headed in the right direction along with the other Telco's. My other Stock picks are Apple and Disney!

Hows this for a reaction.

Jim Cramer hits AT&T after move to merge WarnerMedia, Discovery - YouTube

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Hows this for a reaction.

Yes AT&T is dumping Warner Media, and they want to get out of the Content Business. They just have too much debt, and no deep pockets. We'll have to see how all this plays out, because for now it does not look good for AT&T. They sold Warner Media for 43Billion, but they still have 71% stack. AT&T never wanted to be a Dumb Pipe, so like Bullwinkle they might have something up their sleeve!

Rocky and Bullwinkle - Hey Rocky Watch Me Pull a Rabbit Out Of My Hat - YouTube

[Wendell R. Breland]

Decision time, to buy or not buy Dirty Dancing for the 6th time, one review here.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Sad to see studios becoming nothing more than production companies.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Decision time, to buy or not buy Dirty Dancing for the 6th time, one review here.

What's one more purchase? It will probably please the wife to see Patrick Swayze make his moves in 4K Dolby Vision. It has an Atmos track, too.

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Sad to see studios becoming nothing more than production companies.

The Streaming Wars are heating up and only the strong will survive. It looks like someone at AT&T is still listening to their Stock Holders. Maybe no Dumb Pipe, Fiber and 5G with more Content.....Sounds like a Plan!

https://www.convergedigest.com/2021/...iber-and.html?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by alchav21

The Streaming Wars are heating up and only the strong will survive. It looks like someone at AT&T is still listening to their Stock Holders. Maybe no Dumb Pipe, Fiber and 5G with more Content.....Sounds like a Plan!

https://www.convergedigest.com/2021/...iber-and.html?

Are they listening to this happy stock holder?

Originally Posted by gkolb

I own AT&T shares, I’ve read the dividend will be halved.
And get new shares of whatever the NEW thing gets named. Doubt it will be paying dividends anytime soon.

Stockholders love seeing their dividends cut in half; makes them feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Originally Posted by randian

How did saddling AT&T with billions in debt then dumping the purchases for billions less than paid for benefit AT&T shareholders?

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

What's one more purchase? It will probably please the wife to see Patrick Swayze make his moves in 4K Dolby Vision. It has an Atmos track, too.

Talk about moves, Cynthia Rhodes sure had some, does well in Flashdance as well. Interiors and frontal motel shots were done at Mountain Lake Lodge VA. All other shots (cabins, lake, etc.) were done at Lake Lure NC about 30 miles from me.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by alchav21

The Streaming Wars are heating up and only the strong will survive. It looks like someone at AT&T is still listening to their Stock Holders. Maybe no Dumb Pipe, Fiber and 5G with more Content.....Sounds like a Plan!

Oh sure its so valuable a company . . ..not!

Ad-Supported HBO Max to Launch at $9.99 Per Month - Hollywood Reporter 5/19/21

The advertising-supported tier of HBO Max will launch the first week in June at $9.99 per month, the company said Wednesday.

The name, “HBO Max With Ads,” and the pricing details were announced as part of WarnerMedia’s upfront presentation to advertisers.

The ad-supported tier of HBO Max is seen as a crucial piece of the company’s strategy to grow its streaming business. The company last reported that it had a combined 41.5 million HBO and HBO Max subscribers in the U.S. and 61 million worldwide, but that it expects to have between 120-150 million subscribers by the end of 2025.

Do you see Netflix or Disney offering ad-supported ploys? Yeah Netflix tested it, but no one wanted it.

80s Commercial | Where's the Beef | 1984 - YouTube

When you let AT&T do the driving and the poor shareholders are in the backseat, I hope you got air bags for their debt.