Are you interested in Blu-ray Audio (Profile 3.0)

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

There's nothing to stop an independent act (such as Nine Inch Nails) or independent label from releasing an audio Blu-ray disc without any copy protection.

I thought AACS was mandatory on Blu-ray? I thought R&B Films also didn't want to use AACS on Blu-ray but had to?

[JadedRaverLA]

Although Josh sort of explained this in the first post, the actual title is sort of misleading...

Profiles (1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.0) apply to players, not discs. A player can be profile 3.0 (no video output, special navigation for audio-only playback). A disc is just a disc -- they have no profiles. A BD-audio disc either has encoded video, or would need a "blank" video screen if it is truly just audio. But it doesn't have a "profile" per se.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by prerich

I actually don't care because I enjoy listening to my music in 2-channel. I've heard some DVD-A and I liked it but would I replace my exisiting 2 channel music collection for a 7.1 experience - I don't thnk so. Would I buy some, yes I would, but I don't think its fesable for the average person (its hard enough to get people to mass accept BD let alone going Profile 3.0).

I'm with you on the two-channel listening preference. My dedicated SACD listening room is two channel, and even in my home theater room I run music in two channel stereo. However, if BD 3.0 can become commercially accepted, and the sound quality is comparable to a DSD recorded SACD, then count me in. They would have to offer the original two-channel recording with the multichannel track to really work for me though. SACD and DVD-A failed to gain commercial acceptance, but now that we have HDMI as the standard copy protected digital interface I think a BD audio profile would be accepted.

One thing that would prevent acceptance, beyond the horrid MP3 state we're in, would be lack of CD compatibility. People would want to be able to throw it in a car or other CD player of sorts. Is there any provision for a BD/CD hybrid like we have with SACDs? That would help some, but unfortunately it would be really difficult for any new permanent music media to successfuly be adopted by consumers now that MP3s are running rampant. Better sound quality or not.

[Hep]

Count me in. I have been collecting SACDs and DVD-As of my favourite artists for years. I am cautiously optimistic that BD Audio will gain some traction; to the point where it is viable for all artists to use the format as an option/alternative to the CD/MP3. Some are suggesting that this needs to be a strictly audio endeavour. I believe it should be handled like most DVD-A releases, to include video media to supplement the audio. The BD release of NIN "Ghosts" is a prime example of how it could be done, integrating the music with a slideshow.

[Bobby Henderson]

Blu-ray has enough data capacity to allow separate 2.0 channel and 5.1/7.1 channel high resolution mixes. Again, Blu-ray audio shouldn't be about going 100% in only just one narrow direction. The format has the ability to fulfill every digital music listening need. No other existing audio format has been able to deliver that.

[welwynnick]

One more for Blu-ray audio - strongly in favour.

I use SACD - very happy with the sound, less so with the catalogue. I'd be happy to use PCM, just as long as everyone agrees that SACD & DVDA will be replaced.

Nick

[marzetta7]

Hell yeah I want my cheesy poofs...err, I mean Blu-ray Audio.

[Branden]

absolutely i'd be interested in blu-audio! but before i'd invest in it i'd need to know it has broad support from across the music industry (this is why i never got SACD or DVD-A) and that i would be able to rip it (as i am legally entitled) to mp3/m4a/wma for portability.

[CptGreedle]

I would be interested, as long as they support 7.1 and push the format more!
They have to make it more popular than SACD and DVDa, since neither of those are really main stream. They have to find a way to make it more popular with the existing MP3 crowd. Perhaps offer MP3 and surround MP3 formats with them?

[AlexKx]

Am I to understand that this format would be able to include the huge loads of audio recordings in stereo and 5.1? Such as unreleased tracks, demos, outtakes, instrumentals, remixes, short promotional films (music videos), interviews (new and old audio and film), and a documentary or documentaries on the l.p. and project? I just hope that they go back to making the package like a vinyl in size but in better material that will last throughout life such as using plastic instead of the cardboard slipcases as they not only don't hold up over time but also turn yellow.

[Lucy Diamond]

I was always (an still am) an old analog war dog and would prefer analog anyday, but when I started listening to lossless digital formats, I began to relax a little.

Analog will always be better, but lossless digital will always be a good stand-by and a LOT less of a pain in the ass.

I'm in.

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by AlexKx

Am I to understand that this format would be able to include the huge loads of audio recordings in stereo and 5.1?

Up to 50GB of capacity allows for a LOT of possibilities. Certain DVD-A titles with less than 1/5 the data capacity would feature 24-bit 96kHz 5.1 surround and 24-bit 192kHz 2.0 stereo mixes on the same disc. Blu-ray would certainly allow for the same thing, but also allow for numerous audio formats, different languages, alternate versions, etc.

Originally Posted by AlexKx

I just hope that they go back to making the package like a vinyl in size but in better material that will last throughout life such as using plastic instead of the cardboard slipcases as they not only don't hold up over time but also turn yellow.

I liked 12" vinyl LP packaging because it allowed for elaborate cover illustrations and large goodies inside. The Jazz album by Queen came with a large poster showing over 100 attractive nude women on the starting line of a bicycle race. The re-mastered CD makes that poster into a sad joke; the image is reduced to the size of a freaking postage stamp.

Unfortunately, I don't think retail music packaging anywhere near the size of a vinyl LP will ever make a comeback. Retailers would fight such a thing because of that kind of product would hog valuable shelf space. I believe that's one of the reasons why Laserdisc never became a mainstream item. Most retailers simply would not stock it.

Audio-oriented Blu-ray discs need to keep the same packaging form factor as movies on Blu-ray. Changing the size or shape may confuse potential customers.

Originally Posted by Lucy Diamond

Analog will always be better, but lossless digital will always be a good stand-by and a LOT less of a pain in the ass.

I don't agree with that blanket statement.

Some forms of analog audio have better playback quality potential than standard 16-bit "red book" music CD. If an analog-based audio master is acquired at high resolutions, such as 24-bit 192kHz, every nuance of the original recording is going to be there in the data. Any perceived "warmth" or whatever coming from a vinyl turn table or cassette tape deck is more likely going to be mechanically induced abberations from that playback device.

Right now, the main problem with recorded music isn't playback -it's the quality of the original recording itself. Many new music titles suck in terms of recording quality. So many are made loud and harsh so they can be loud on radio and have consistent audio quality between music CD and the bit-starved MP3 & AAC formats. Music marketing has stepped in the way of audio quality. The evidence of this is easily seen when you import a lot of modern music into sound editing applications. The peaks of audio waves are not just clipped. They're downright amputated. In jacking up levels past normal peaks, lots of audio detail (big parts of the wave form) have been deleted. With that kind of crap being passed off for recorded music these days, there's little point in going to the trouble to get a new release on vinyl.

[LORDs_angellos]

I own all of the Lord of the Rings complete recordings, and in each of the boxes there's a DVD-A with the music in 5.1 surround. I don't have the equipment to enjoy it fully right now, but I will one day. When I do, I would love to get music on Blu-ray discs.

[hoogoosedmoose41]

I bought into SACD/DVD-A because it was the latest and greatest thing however poor implementation ( having to connect 6 cables )
and a format war effectivly sealed their fate.
id love to see some of my favorite stuff in high res BD audio...
my biggest issue is with music coming out today, plain and simple IMHO it flat out sucks theres no inspiration or creatitity anymore. on top of that the music is highly compressed etc.

what good is a high resolution disc good for if the source material stinks?
its like buying a movie on blu-ray disc just for the sound quality and picture quality when the movie itself flat out stinks.

also im sure a lot of artists/studios got burned on the cost remastering stuff for sacd/dvda... wont they think twice before spending money to remaster everything to a BD audio discs?

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by hoogoosedmoose41

I bought into SACD/DVD-A because it was the latest and greatest thing however poor implementation ( having to connect 6 cables )
and a format war effectivly sealed their fate.
id love to see some of my favorite stuff in high res BD audio...
my biggest issue is with music coming out today, plain and simple IMHO it flat out sucks theres no inspiration or creatitity anymore. on top of that the music is highly compressed etc.

what good is a high resolution disc good for if the source material stinks?
its like buying a movie on blu-ray disc just for the sound quality and picture quality when the movie itself flat out stinks.

also im sure a lot of artists/studios got burned on the cost remastering stuff for sacd/dvda... wont they think twice before spending money to remaster everything to a BD audio discs?

Hopefully some will take the time to remaster like Niel Young is doing. But even without doing a remaster, can not the original masters be ported over which I assume is at a higher bit and sampling rate of the redbook CDs? Maybe it is possible to get better quality without actually going back and doing a remaster everything?

[hoogoosedmoose41]

I guess what im talking about is the SACDs that were put out.. wouldnt you have to do some kind of format conversion?
the dvda uses PCM anyways and would be easy to port over..
it would be cool to have a 5.1 mix a 2.0 mix and a low bite rate 2.0 mix that can be used for ipods im sure everything would fit

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by hoogoosedmoose41

I guess what im talking about is the SACDs that were put out.. wouldnt you have to do some kind of format conversion?
the dvda uses PCM anyways and would be easy to port over..
it would be cool to have a 5.1 mix a 2.0 mix and a low bite rate 2.0 mix that can be used for ipods im sure everything would fit

If it was recorded in native DSD (probably few SACD are done in native DSD) then it would have to be converted. But true, if you want 5.1 mixes, etc, then there will be more work to be done in the remastering side as I was only thinking about 2.0

[Blaumann]

Definitely interested in highres music. The concert BDs with highres sounds are simply breathtaking.

Stayed away from SACD/DVD-A though, as the offered selection doesn't meet my personal musical tastes. lol

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by jdc115

If it was recorded in native DSD (probably few SACD are done in native DSD) then it would have to be converted. But true, if you want 5.1 mixes, etc, then there will be more work to be done in the remastering side as I was only thinking about 2.0

Others have been saying that it's too late for Blu ever to support DSD, even in hypothetical future players, and I regretfully agree with them.

For the DSD64 recordings probably the best thing would be to convert them to something like 24/176.4 PCM (like the PS3 does) and put this on the disc.

[Josh]

A BD-25 could easily hold a 5.1 and 2.0 192/24-bit tracks in either PCM or one of the compressed audio codecs (DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD). Then, you could get the best of both worlds.