Besides the DVD+RW and DVD-RW format war, we also have to other competitors fighting for their space in our houses. The DVD-Audio and SuperAudioCD formats are both fighting to become the replacement of the current audio CD. While the SuperAudio CD (SACD) seems to be ahead of DVD-Audio, the war doesn't seem to be over yet.
According to an article on Mercury News also the new formats incorporate anti copy technology. According to talks we had with Philips these are mainly meant to prevent unauthorized duplication by professional pirates and should not restrict home users.
Two new digital audio disc formats touted by the music industry for their stellar sound are nowhere near as consumer-friendly as regular old CDs: They're engineered to be copy-proof. |
The proposition thrills digital piracy-fearing record executives. But many audiophiles are cool to the virtual padlocks, which could prove the undoing of one or both formats. About 1,000 recordings are now available in Super Audio CD or DVD-Audio. Both require special new audio components and produce five-channel sound with superb clarity and definition.
Yet each format contains digital watermarks -- extra encoding designed to lock the recordings on the disc. The intent is to foil digital duplication and ripping to MP3 files. Moreover, there are no digital outputs on any SACD or DVD-Audio players now available, making them a tough sell despite the discs' higher tonal quality and fuller audio range.
Unfortunately the companies are still a little vague about the protections on these new formats, and also the article on Mercury News, doesn't always seem to make sence.
Discuss the new audio formats, audio copy protections and all other things related to audio in our Audio Forum.
Source: BayArea
