sacd

Looking into my vinyl collection and playing some of it I'm aware that CD has been losing out musically in some cases. The November Record Collector mag underlines this in observations by and on the new Rolling Stones releases. A few quotes appear below.

RCA Living Presence reissues. There are now 20 in all, including the Berlioz "Grande Messe Des Mortes"!

These were recorded on 3 tracks, not two. The reissues are mostly based on three of the tracks or only two where only two were used

There is a tendency towards 2 channel SACD releases, rather than 5 channel "surround" as favoured by Home Cinema on DVD.

Mercury reissues.

These were recorded on THREE tracks, not two. The third centre channel can now be heard as recorded. There are also possible more recent Nimbus "Ambisonic" recordings and "Quadraphonic" ones which should also be re released

These reissues need full range speakers left right and centre.

Universal decision on SACD. Can we protest and reverse it?

This will affect a considerable back catalog of classic recordings from many labels.

They are apparently not going to release any more SACDs OR for that matter new Classical recordings! This is a very negative move, since they ARE supporting lower fidelity downloads, podcasts and the like which will not do justice to even older recordings! In fact SACD is a more realistic delivery of analogue recordings of any age! FFSS will not reveal its best in the formats they plan to use!

Quadraphonic reissues by Pentatone. These have "Opened Pandora's box", according to Ivan March. Many such recordings exist.

These recordings date from the 1970s THIRTY or more years ago, but have gained rave reviews in the Gramophone Jan 2007 page 66.

Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon is available as a quad recording, now on SACD. It needs full range speakers all round. The Central SUB woofer isn't enough for such recordings.

They offer the original 4 channel recordings fully remastered for surround sound - The rear speakers carry the acoustic atmosphere of the venue - including the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Brent Town Hall and Watford Town Hall,

Muse Hullabaloo.

Recorded in full 5 channel surround.

The Halle Planets. (Including Pluto)

The SACD has standard stereo and SACD data on it.

The situation is complicated by the parallel development of DVD Audio as well. Now there is Blu ray and HiDef DVD as well! There is a danger that true hifi audio will miss out, especially if the lower capacity HD DVD wins out. If the computer is to be the centre of music and video provision it MUST become SILENT in operation! Cooling fans are noisy!

Smaller Labels.

Many of these are releasing on SACD, often with excellent results. Also DVD sound is multi channel, as are the New formats of the DVD. Blu Ray offers the needed greater capacity to cope with sound of the same kind of quality as the images it produces. HD DVD would need two discs for longer material!

Rush (see US Bands Page)

The band recordings could be on Net Radio.

Geddy Lee of Rush used various types of synthesiser on Hemispheres and other albums.

Portishead

This Page PKM 2002/3 Created 2nd. Nov. 2002 Revised May 25th. 2008.

RCA Living Presence reissues. There are now 20 in all, including the Berlioz "Grande Messe Des Mortes"!	These were recorded on 3 tracks, not two. The reissues are mostly based on three of the tracks or only two where only two were used	There is a tendency towards 2 channel SACD releases, rather than 5 channel "surround" as favoured by Home Cinema on DVD.
Mercury reissues.	These were recorded on THREE tracks, not two. The third centre channel can now be heard as recorded. There are also possible more recent Nimbus "Ambisonic" recordings and "Quadraphonic" ones which should also be re released	These reissues need full range speakers left right and centre.

Universal decision on SACD. Can we protest and reverse it?	This will affect a considerable back catalog of classic recordings from many labels.
They are apparently not going to release any more SACDs OR for that matter new Classical recordings! This is a very negative move, since they ARE supporting lower fidelity downloads, podcasts and the like which will not do justice to even older recordings! In fact SACD is a more realistic delivery of analogue recordings of any age! FFSS will not reveal its best in the formats they plan to use!

Quadraphonic reissues by Pentatone. These have "Opened Pandora's box", according to Ivan March. Many such recordings exist.	These recordings date from the 1970s THIRTY or more years ago, but have gained rave reviews in the Gramophone Jan 2007 page 66.
Pink Floyd Dark Side of The Moon is available as a quad recording, now on SACD. It needs full range speakers all round. The Central SUB woofer isn't enough for such recordings.
They offer the original 4 channel recordings fully remastered for surround sound - The rear speakers carry the acoustic atmosphere of the venue - including the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Brent Town Hall and Watford Town Hall,

The Halle Planets. (Including Pluto)	The SACD has standard stereo and SACD data on it.

Smaller Labels.
Many of these are releasing on SACD, often with excellent results. Also DVD sound is multi channel, as are the New formats of the DVD. Blu Ray offers the needed greater capacity to cope with sound of the same kind of quality as the images it produces. HD DVD would need two discs for longer material!

Rush (see US Bands Page)	The band recordings could be on Net Radio.	Geddy Lee of Rush used various types of synthesiser on Hemispheres and other albums.
Portishead