As you might know the DVD
format war isn't the only war covered on this site. Also the war between the
audio CD follow up, DVD-Audio and the Super Audio CD (SACD) has generated a
decent amount of news posts. Both formats promise an improved sound quality and
better surround but require new equipment. SACD was available as a hybrid which
contained a SACD layer with the improved quality that can only be played back on
a SACD compatible player and a CD layer that contains the same music but in the
normal CD quality. This 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.
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 (source: CNN Headline News), 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. Will it go the same way or will only one
format be able to survive? Only time will tell, or do you have an
opinion?
Source: AudioRevolution
