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"Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

post #1 of 35
8/16/05 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 
Man, it gets more interesting by the week!

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/News...IVERSAL-DC.XML

Does this mean UMG may now abandon DualDisc in favor of hi rez audio on Blu-ray?

-p
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post #2 of 35
8/16/05 at 2:15pm
Very interesting...thanks Paul.
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post #3 of 35
8/16/05 at 2:19pm
Thread Starter 
Lee, you're the first person I thought of upon reading this news. IF UMG does what they could/should do, this is arguably a harbinger--as you've called for in another thread a while back--of Blu-ray being the media for both hi def vid AND hi rez aud.

My fingers are crossed. If UMG were, say, half as aggressive with their sizable catalog in releasing BDs as they were with DVD-A and SA-CD, it would be a damned good thing.

It would also further complicate the notion of "One Format Only" . . .

-p
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post #4 of 35
8/16/05 at 6:40pm
Still not sure that it'll be hi-rez (even though the disc has all that capacity). They may using noraml resolution CD combined with a buttload of video and extras (a different sort of DualDisc).

If they do hi-rez, I bet it's hi-rez PCM.
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post #5 of 35
8/17/05 at 10:35pm
Neither blue laser format supports DSD in the specs.

Blu-Ray supposedly has 8 channel discrete support for Dolby Digital Lossless, DTS-HD Lossless, and uncompressed LPCM.

24/192 LPCM resolution for at least 6 channel discrete audio, but where it gets confusing is whether or not 8 channel is only 24/96 or 24/192 as I've seen both mentioned.

You would think that with the amount of bandwidth given by Blu-Ray to just audio that uncompressed LPCM would be used for music only releases. There is plenty of room for it on even a single 25 GB disc.

The problem is that AACS requires audio watermarking, unless the studio releasing the disc opts to not use CP. Will it be the type that negatively effects the quality like Verance with DVD-Audio? Hmmm...

Dan
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post #6 of 35
8/19/05 at 3:49pm
Quote:
24/192 LPCM resolution for at least 6 channel discrete audio


This is already more channels than DVDA can support in 24/96 so we are at least making progress. It would be better in DSD however.
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post #7 of 35
8/19/05 at 4:27pm
Lee,

You've always claimed 24/192 LPCM was as good as DSD. You're not happy with 24/192 LPCM?
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post #8 of 35
1/28/06 at 11:46am
Thread Starter 
Bump.

Anyone seen any more news on this?

-p
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post #9 of 35
1/28/06 at 1:33pm
I say, So what?

If none of SACD, DVD-A, or DualDisc has proven that they have any staying power with the mass market, why would a music version of Blu-ray be any different?

I have said it in the past, and I'll say it again: the iPod generation proves that most people don't care about quality audio reporduction, and they don't care about multichannel music either. Some people do, but most don't.
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post #10 of 35
1/28/06 at 1:50pm
This may start out as a vehicle for music videos and performances in high resolution audio... and then move from there.

With a BR-50 you could have a live concert and also the regular audio-only studio album in ultra high resolution surround as long as the concert wasn't a really long one.

Dan
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post #11 of 35
1/28/06 at 2:09pm
Thread Starter 
What Dan said.

And then some: It seems to me that it's quite significant, Kevin. Although it's still too early to tell (thus my interest in wanting to keep up with new news), if HD DVD players are not going to support DVD-A and Blu-ray players are not going to support SA-CD, UMG supporting Blu-ray may be the only way to get more consistent hi rez aud on a going forward basis. UMG was the biggest mainstream label supporter of hi rez.

This is underscored by the lack of consistent presentation of true hi rez aud on DualDisc (above and beyond all the other problems those who frequent these pages know you have with the DD format).

-p
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post #12 of 35
1/29/06 at 12:44am
Quote:
Will it be the type that negatively effects the quality like Verance with DVD-Audio?
I'm not trying to be unpleasant and bring up old arguments, but: use of Verance has always been optional. And when it is used, it is usually placed where it won't audibly affect sonic quality. But supposedly the only times it even has the potential to be heard is on recordings that feature something like solo flute or other "quiet" performances. So I can't imagine any audiophile label using it (do pirates care about jazz trio or solo flute perfomances?). And I have never read a disc review where watermarking effects-if it was used at all-were noticed. And don't get me started on all the flaky things (IMO) happening in the DSD format sonically-speaking.

BTW: other audio formats can use watermarking too.
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post #13 of 35
1/29/06 at 12:51am
Quote:
This is underscored by the lack of consistent presentation of true hi rez aud on DualDisc (above and beyond all the other problems those who frequent these pages know you have with the DD format).

But this is the problem. I don't think *most* people know or even care if they are getting high res on DualDisc or not. Not us, but *most* people.

Shoot, I remember the small hubbub when it came out that the stereo tracks on the Roxy Music Avalon SACD were found out to be 16/48 sourced from DAT. But in the big picture of things, didn't affect the sales of the disc positively or negatively at all.

I would really like to see *any* multichannel format make it. But one problem that might continue is simply the lack of titles that people want to buy. More releases by Pink Floyd have been rumored for a long time. Supposedly, quite a few of Genesis's discs have been already remastered. How about the rest of Nine Inch Nails and Yes's catalogs? I got my first universal player, geez, more than 5 years ago now. Know how many DVD-A's, SACDs, and DualDiscs I have right now? Not because I don't want them, but because the titles aren't out there that I'm interested in. 15. And 4 of those are test discs.
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post #14 of 35
1/29/06 at 12:35pm
One additional thought is, for any new format, they should have to specify what the source res was. Similar to how it's done on DVDs (5.1, 2.0).

2 ch: 16/44
5 ch: 24/96

etc.
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post #15 of 35
1/29/06 at 9:35pm
Quote:
Supposedly, quite a few of Genesis's discs have been already remastered.
Add to that list the 7(?) Moody Blues albums from the late 60s/early 70s. They are one of my favorite prog rock groups. I also own some Genesis albums, Trespass, ...and then there were three and I've owned Abacab since it debuted and still listen to it-same with their self-titled album that came out in 1984 I think (but don't listen to it nearly as much).

If all these came out on sacd only, that's when I would buy an sacd player.

I read somewhere that Elliot Scheiner said there are a lot of surround mixes already in the "can", but the labels won't release them for production. In fact I heard this about The Cars self-titled first album three years ago-I was hoping that since Ric Ocasek is now working for Elektra it would be approved for release but oh well.

Don't know if this sounds nutty but in emails to Universal Music and DTS Entertainment I said I would pay up to $25 per surround album, but that the mixes would have to be truly immersive and feature artists I really like. As it is, so far I only own 14 dvd-audio discs (and I only listen to about half of them on a regular basis-no more musical experimentation!) and there are only about three more I would want to buy right now.

If surround music were available only on DTS-CDs I *would* buy those, but the title selection would HAVE to improve.
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post #16 of 35
1/29/06 at 11:42pm
I have a suspicion, and I don't know if it's a hope or not. With all those remastered discs already done, *maybe* they are waiting for Blu-ray's (or HD-DVD) introduction.

I know the Genesis ones would be released on SACD over in Europe. Don't know about here.
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post #17 of 35
1/29/06 at 11:52pm
Thread Starter 
. . . same with . . . [Genesis'] self-titled album that came out in 1984 I think . . .


1983. "Mama" still packs a punch and "Home By the Sea" is choice.

With all those remastered discs already done, *maybe* they are waiting for Blu-ray's (or HD-DVD) introduction.

[Fingers foolishly crossed.]

-p
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post #18 of 35
1/30/06 at 9:24pm
Quote:
"Mama" still packs a punch and "Home By the Sea" is choice.
I'm not just sucking up here when I say that those two tracks are among my favorite 80s-era Genesis tunes. And even though Mama is creeeepy, it's still good. Though the cover for that album is so lame! "Put Another Record On" from Abacab is good too, but makes me feel old-ish now (couldn't really relate to the lyrics back when I was 18).
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post #19 of 35
6/9/06 at 10:43pm
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Another bump. Anyone seen any new news?
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post #20 of 35
6/10/06 at 6:52am

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Let's not get too delusional here people. Let's look at the facts:

1.) DVD-A and SA-CD were around for years before Blu-Ray/HD-DVD were even rumored, and the consumer didn't care.

2.) Universal players and dedicated players for both formats are now available for 100-200 bucks and the consumer doesn't care

3.) First Gen Blu-Ray players will run 500-1000, and software will cost in excess of current DVD/CD/Dualdiscs. The consumer will not buy.

4.) UMD has stopped releasing SA-CD over the last couple years. (Remember those rumors of 200-300 titles to be released in 2005..well they never happened!).

5.) UMD has been trickling out Dual-Discs over the past year with Hi-res PCM, but sales are probably not there.

All this leads me to the conclusion that if Universal Music supports Blu-Ray it will be for concert/live video releases, not a music only product. There may be a surround track, but for a live recording, Hi-res will do very little to improve the presentation. DSD is out in Blu-Ray, so don't look for Super SA-CD.

J
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post #21 of 35
6/10/06 at 2:51pm

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

"You've always claimed 24/192 LPCM was as good as DSD. You're not happy with 24/192 LPCM?"

I like 24/192 a lot actually but it would be nice to have SACD remain in play with a DSD option and it would be better for a lot of the hundreds of pure DSD recordings done recently.
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post #22 of 35
6/10/06 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Thx for your comments, Justin. But that's all ground that's been covered before.

My reason for 'bumping' the thread was to see if anyone may have read a recent news item about this.

(Btw, I disagree that high resolution would do "very little to improve the presentation" of concerts.)
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post #23 of 35
11/27/07 at 2:39pm
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

A late release announcement, just a week before street date.

Elton John: Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden

330 minutes?

Looking forward to more details . . .
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post #24 of 35
11/28/07 at 9:57am

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

I'm not up-to-date with all the latest news on music on Blu-ray (or HD-DVD), but just based on my observations it seems there isn't a whole lot available. Is that correct?
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post #25 of 35
11/28/07 at 7:35pm
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

That's correct. There's a smattering on HD DVD and several BD titles from Sony (ranging from Live At Donington to John Legend).

But this is the first BD from UMG after announcing support for the format over two years ago.

I understand that the length--not duplicated on the standard def release--is due to the inclusion of the evening's entire celebration.
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post #26 of 35
11/30/07 at 4:23pm

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul.S
That's correct. There's a smattering on HD DVD and several BD titles from Sony (ranging from Live At Donington to John Legend).

Don't forget the Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds "Live at Radio City" offering...it is BREATHTAKING in high rez audio on Blu-Ray.

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/964/...radiocity.html
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post #27 of 35
11/30/07 at 5:41pm
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Yup. Dave and Tim are in my Queue. Have heard terrif things about that disc.

Can anyone who picks up Elton next Tuesday please post their comments? (It's on my shopping list, but stuff for others has to take priority over even more stuff for myself. Bah! Humbug.)
.
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post #28 of 35
12/3/07 at 8:15am
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

A little more from HDD:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh..._Elton_60/1211
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post #29 of 35
12/3/07 at 8:31am

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Does anyone think it odd that Universal Music would support Blu-Ray while Universal Studios (until recently) was the ONLY major studio that steadfastedly refused to do so?
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post #30 of 35
12/3/07 at 8:34am
Thread Starter 

Re: "Universal Music backs Sony's Blu-Ray" - (Reuters UK)

Paul, not to be cheeky, but this has been mentioned many, many times. Again for those who missed it: GE bought VUE. Vivendi Universal Entertainment was the theme parks, the TV properties and the movie studio. NOT UMG.

Universal Music Group is still owned by the French and now has nothing to do with the movie studio.

Google around to get more info on the transaction. It was a very interesting deal.
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