Is multichannel-ness holding back hi-rez audio?

Rachael B · 01-26-2004, 10:41 AM

Is it? I say yes. Since it's costly to remix all this old stuff into some kind of sometimes barely listenable multichannel mix. In an alternate universe we might get more stereo titles faster. I'd favour that. Multichannel is intresting and it's gonna grow but it's better served with newly recorded material for obvious reasons.

I'd rather see catalog titles in SA-CD and the oft' rumoured hybrid DVD-A flow in stereo rather than trickle out with everything M/C all the time. I could imagine discs that had some M/C content but the album is stereo. Face it, alot of stuff really isn't worth mixing to M/C anyway.

So, do you like hamburger 'A', a future of slow tedious M/C releases? Or, hamburger 'B', the fresh, juicy, delicious, stereo burger that you can get fast at the drive-in window?

PhilBoy · 01-26-2004, 10:51 AM

Excellent thought...

Most of what I would get doesn't lend itself to M/C.

An advanced resolution STEREO issue would be great. It might even help the medium fly.

Phil A · 01-26-2004, 10:58 AM

Rachael, I agree 100%. 85% of the multi-channel mixes don't do it for me. With DPLII, DTS Neo6, Concert Hall, etc., there are tons of DSP modes that someone who likes surround sound can choose from in order to enjoy stuff in surround, if they so choose, and most of those DSP modes, even though not necessarily my choice are certainly more listenable and better sounding than many of those horrid mixes done. I think it is a marketing thing for the hi-rez labels with hurting sales of music to tell the public they are getting a lot more than just a 2-channel CD. I have not heard any of the handful of the new MoFi multi-channel SACDs but I'd bet they sound good and they are only using the multi-channel mix when it is appropriate.

01-26-2004, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Multichannel is intresting and it's gonna grow but it's better served with newly recorded material for obvious reasons.

May I issue a dissenting opinion?

I do have a few newer titles in MC (Heathen, Sea Change, Linkin Park, Steely Dan), and they are for the most part great and very enjoyable (well, I am on the fence WRT LP).

But I also have a big 'ole pile of older stuff that I like even better. Aerosmith, Elton, The Who, Floyd, ELP, Chicago, Eagles....

That stuff has taken on new life in MC. Even Dylan (Blood on the Tracks) is fabulous in MC, and I have never been much of a Dylan fan.

Sitting in the sweet spot while Aerosmith rocks out around my room on TITA was quite literally breathtaking.

In fact, I don't normally listen to the 2 CH mixes, because they seem flat and lifeless compared to the MC mixes on the discs that I own (Lee, if your looking in, PLEASE do not offer to help me fix my system. It ain't broke

).

So, while I agree with your premise that having to do a MC mix probably does delay hi-rez releases, I will take burger A please.

While I have bought some 2 CH only stuff (the Stones, Police), for the music I listen to, MC has been a breath of fresh air and has allowed me to revisit stuff I have not heard in years, and enjoy it more than I ever have.

BGL

Mike Broadman · 01-26-2004, 11:40 AM

The MC classical music I have alone is worth it and it is a key selling point of DVD-A. It absolutely has to stay. It just doesn't need to be necessary.

**HTF Ads**

John Kotches · 01-26-2004, 12:42 PM

In the real world, as opposed to the audiophile realm, improved stereo fidelity is meaningless.

Regardless of whether a particular mixing style is liked, the difference between stereo and multi-channel is something that everyone gets.

So, if you want to get the new formats to sell you have to provide something demonstrably different.

Cheers,

Larry Geller · 01-26-2004, 01:00 PM

Burger A, all the way! The fact that they all have MC mixes is DVD-A's biggest advantage over SACD. Now, if only all DVD-As had stereo tracks (do you hear me, Silverline?).

Lee Scoggins · 01-26-2004, 01:00 PM

Quote:

In the real world, as opposed to the audiophile realm, improved stereo fidelity is meaningless.

I think any early adopter, audiophile, HT fan, serious music fan, etc. finds value in the extra musical content on any hirez disc. Their world is just as real as anyone else's regardless of how big it is.

I agree with John about having something different. I think multi-channel can be a point of differentiation to the masses so I think it is good to bundle in, but I mostly listen to stereo and most times lose none of the "enevloping experience" of a good M-C disc. People who have never heard a stereo with good soundstaging often are not aware how realistic and 3-D a good 2-channel recording can sound.

And some M-C music can place one on the performing stage in a very unrealistic fashion.

The problem has been in awareness I think. Why don't we take some of these great multi-channel experiences and demonstrate them for the movie audiences? Think of the difference going from 2 channel to surround and back again and back and so forth. That would make an impression on people. I know that Sony has held Super Audio demos in German theaters, but that is a limited market.

As an audiophile, I am plenty happy with 2 channel but if M-C leads to more titles in any fashion, then I am fine with it.

I do think Rachael has a good point in that it can lead to time delays in releases, but hopefully these will decrease as the formats grow.

Phil A · 01-26-2004, 01:11 PM

John. "In the real world, as opposed to the audiophile realm, improved stereo fidelity is meaningless." That is why I noted "I think it is a marketing thing for the hi-rez labels with hurting sales of music to tell the public they are getting a lot more than just a 2-channel CD." If music sales were not so depressed it might be a different story. The labels are trying to win back customers by marketing it to be more. Rachael's point is that slowing down releases to do it may offset any potential gain in customer satisfaction.

Michael St. Clair · 01-26-2004, 01:37 PM

I personally feel that multichannel is the only chance of high-res to grow from a very small audiophile niche. This does not mean I think all multichannel mixes are good.

Angelo.M · 01-26-2004, 02:22 PM

I think that it makes no difference: high-rez will remain a niche regardless of whether software is 2-channel or multi-channel or both.

The typical end-user wants portability, rip-ability and compatability with typical hardware (and usually, that means something other than a 5.1 or greater speaker array).