The war between the audio CD follow up, DVD-Audio and the Super Audio CD (SACD) has taken another turn. Both formats promise an improved sound quality and better surround but require new equipment. SACD have in the past come in dual-sided disks with one side being the easily playable CD version of the recording. This has been to ensure the playback of the purchased items and to encourage people to try SACD. For now this has always been a strong marketing point, but it seems DVD-Audio has learnt from this.
The DVD-Audio camp has now developed a DVD-Audio/CD flip disc with on one side a CD layer which can be played back on normal CD players and on the other side a DVD-Audio layer which can only be played back in DVD-Audio compatible players. According to AudioRevolution test marketing is to be done in Seattle and Boston in the first quarter of 2004.
If the DVD-Audio flip disc makes it to the marketplace, music enthusiasts should watch to see if DVD-Audio supporters like EMI and WEA (and maybe even Universal) start to release stereo versions of the discs in large numbers to populate the CD bins at record stores with flip discs. Even if the flip disc has a higher-resolution stereo DVD-Audio version on the flip side, the format will have made a major marketing breakthrough. Just as Microsoft sells the same software over and over again, the record companies can release 24-192 DVD-Audio versions of thousands of their records relatively easily.
Mixing them into surround is a lot harder, but as either SACD hybrids or DVD-Audio flip discs grow in consumer acceptance, the temptation to remix (and of course resell) the titles will be strong. This one change in format could likely save the music business model of saving discs. While 14 percent of Americans say they “buy” music online, many more buy CDs. Finding a way to have these consumers continue to buy physical albums – not just songs – could be the beginning of a recovery for the ailing music business.
It seems this battle is getting more intense by the day. While in the DVD format war the dual format recorders are responsible for the largest market share also in this war dual format players are becoming more and more available.
AudioRevolution website:
audiorevolution.com.
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