[cloudbaseracer]

Saw this listed in an Audiogon forum and it is a very interesting article:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/the-future-of-music

Makes me think that the push towards HiRez may be doomed?? 

James

[ted_b]

I disagree that the article specifically spells doom for Hirez; the article is mainly about the loudness wars and the overcompression that plagues the whole industry.  They spend one whole paragraph explaining the demise of SACD and DVD-A as proprietary formats, and offer some hope fopr downloads and for a renewed interest in dynamic range (replay gain, etc.)....but conclude again that unless compression is dealt with it's all moot.   Like Miles Davis once said, "the music is the space between the notes"....and if that space is gone (filled with loud distortion and clipped waveforms) then the music becomes a mess.

[Mott]

Saw this listed in an Audiogon forum and it is a very interesting article:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/the-future-of-music

Makes me think that the push towards HiRez may be doomed?? 

James

Just because something is hi-res doesn't make it better, sometimes it makes it worse if the mastering sucks. Many SACDs and DVD-As I own are useless and are bettered by their much older CD counterparts because they're squished and pinched of all life in mastering. So frustrating.   

[ted_b]

Saw this listed in an Audiogon forum and it is a very interesting article:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/the-future-of-music

Makes me think that the push towards HiRez may be doomed?? 

James

Just because something is hi-res doesn't make it better, sometimes it makes it worse if the mastering sucks. Many SACDs and DVD-As I own are useless and are bettered by their much older CD counterparts because they're squished and pinched of all life in mastering. So frustrating.

Which ones?  There are a few bad ones out there, but 99% of all hirez I've heard is certainly on par or better than it's redbook counterpart.

[Dan Banquer]

From Ted B.
"but conclude again that unless compression is dealt with it's all moot.   Like Miles Davis once said, "the music is the space between the notes"....and if that space is gone (filled with loud distortion and clipped waveforms) then the music becomes a mess."

Exactly! Hyper compression on a hi-rez (and CD) format will not only negate the entire purpose of the format but it also negates stereo/multi channel basics such as loudspeaker & room, frequency response, distortion & noise.
With a source this compromised really nothing matters as their is little or no "high fidelity" left in the recording.
Regards;
    Dan Banquer

[Mott]

Saw this listed in an Audiogon forum and it is a very interesting article:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/the-future-of-music

Makes me think that the push towards HiRez may be doomed?? 

James

Just because something is hi-res doesn't make it better, sometimes it makes it worse if the mastering sucks. Many SACDs and DVD-As I own are useless and are bettered by their much older CD counterparts because they're squished and pinched of all life in mastering. So frustrating.

Which ones?  There are a few bad ones out there, but 99% of all hirez I've heard is certainly on par or better than it's redbook counterpart.

Off the top of my head ... Most of the bad ones I own are all rock and pop.
There isn't a single Elton John title, the SACDs and the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road DVD-A, that betters the mfsl gold discs or even the late '80s CDs. The two-channel SACDs are ok but overall a missed opportunity.
Alice Cooper Billion Dollar Babies and Welcome to My Nightmare are each bettered by the standard redbook (not the Rhino reissues).
The Leon Russell DVD-a doesn't match the silver DCC cd. Too compressed.
Simple Minds New Gold Dream DVD-a is but a digital beer coaster. The original UK redbook kills it; it's warm and open. The hi-res literally hurts to listen to. 
I can't listen to the Beach Boys Pet Sounds DVD-a. Too crunchy and bright. The Audio Fidelity gold CD is much better.
Queen A Night At the Opera DVD-a is a letdown and I prefer the DCC gold cd and even the original UK EMI version.
Queen The Game is best on the MFSL gold followed by the old EMI followed by the DVD-A, which is shamefully compressed.
The Big Star SACD #1 Record/Radio City is ruined because it's so bright.
I like the 1999 rhino reissue and the DCC gold of the Doors' LA Woman better than the DVD-A.
Forget the Moody Blues and Genesis SACDs ... ruined by heavy-handed mastering. The old Deram CDs of the former and the Charisma CDs of the latter are better.
Deep Purple Machine Head SACD might be the worst one I've ever heard. The DVD-a is good tho.
Bowie's Ziggy Stardust is much better on the Ryko gold and even silver CDs. 
Allman Brothers Eat A Peach is best heard on the old 1990 (or around there) redbook, to me.
The Sarah Vaughn self-titled SACD is bettered by the old Phonogram CD.
I don't like many of the Stones SACDs. The original West German London CDs are sooo much better.

Of course, I have many hi-res titles that are downright great. The SACDs on Mobile Fidelity, Analogue Productions, Living Stereo ...

How it all sounds to me, anyway ...

Mott