INTERACT FORUM

At least for DVD-A there are ways to get the required-by-spec AC3/DTS tracks off the disc and onto your machine. That is more like ripping a DVD, however, and should not be confused with getting the full 96/24 or 192/24 DVD-A bitstream.

SACD--I believe you are totally out of luck unless you actually record the multi-channel output onto your hard drive.

Best,
Brad

Quote from: bspachman on April 28, 2004, 11:34:41 pm

At least for DVD-A there are ways to get the required-by-spec AC3/DTS tracks off the disc and onto your machine. That is more like ripping a DVD, however, and should not be confused with getting the full 96/24 or 192/24 DVD-A bitstream.

Yes with both DVD-A and Hybrid SACD you'll be able to rip the standard formats but not the higher-resolution formats.

With both formats physical characteristics of the disc are part of the cipher used to encrypt the data.  Even if you found a way to extract the data it is unlikely you'd be able to replicate the physical portion required to decrypt the data.

If someone does find a way to break a manufacturer's hardware to be able to extract the unencrypted stream, that manufacturer likely won't remain in business much longer.  For that simple reason CE manufacturers will do all they can to prevent this.

That's why we should refuse to buy HD audio content until they allow a computer friendly solution.

That's why we should refuse to buy HD audio content until they allow a computer friendly solution.

Matt, define what that means to you: the ability to play the media on a PC, or the ability to rip the content to a PC?  If it's the former, DVD-A has support from Creative Labs today, and Intel in the form of the new high-def audio spec coming this summer on new mainboards.  Intervideo WinDVD will play back DVD-A on any sound card (downsampled to 48kHz - but not compressed AC3) and any unprotected DVD-A (they aren't all protected) at full resolution if a sound card supports those high resolutions.

If it's the latter, well, I'm not sure what to say about the practicality of what you're asking.  MLP-compressed multichannel audio is already massive, it won't get any smaller losslessly, and there isn't any player I'm aware of that would know what to do with it anyway.  If it were only an issue of DRM, the many unprotected DVD-A's should theoretically be floating around the 'net.  But I sure don't see them.

If you really want to exercise your right to take a downsampled version along in the car or on your iPod, current DVD-A's can have their AC3 or DTS tracks ripped.  In the future, they'll likely have pre-encoded AAC tracks right on the disc - though my guess is as good as anyone's on what sort of DRM may exist...presumably similar to iTunes where you can burn a copy for the car, whatever.

As far as I'm concerned, DVD-A has what it takes to be a viable media and my theory is that it will follow the same basic adoption cycle that DVD-Video did, only much slower - the perceived benefits over CD compared to VHS->DVD-aren't as obvious of course.  In spite of that, rising adoption of DVD-V and DVD-A capable home theater (in a box) systems thanks to the hdtv craze is only driving interest in the format, and it's currently one of the few areas of positive growth in the record industry association.


Take care,

-Doug

(Listening to Metallica - "Wherever I May Roam" in 5.1 surround while giving MC10 a much needed break tonight)

Matt,  I think that an open standard is feasible.  Just look at archive.org or etree.org.  They have TONS of concerts recorded legally by fans, mostly uploaded in flac format.  If something better than redbook came along that was an open standard, I am sure those people that record these concerts would love to switch... at least some of them.  After that, it would only be a matter of time before it caught on.  (I just got back from a Gov't Mule concert and there were 5 or 6 guys recording the show).

I agree though with not supporting these new formats.  I am sure I'll buy one or two releases 'just to see', but I'll need a new player first (long way off).  I'd personally rather wait for a while and see what happens.

Matt,  I think that an open standard is feasible.  Just look at archive.org or etree.org.  They have TONS of concerts recorded legally by fans, mostly uploaded in flac format.  If something better than redbook came along that was an open standard, I am sure those people that record these concerts would love to switch... at least some of them.  After that, it would only be a matter of time before it caught on.  (I just got back from a Gov't Mule concert and there were 5 or 6 guys recording the show).

I agree though with not supporting these new formats.  I am sure I'll buy one or two releases 'just to see', but I'll need a new player first (long way off).  I'd personally rather wait for a while and see what happens.

You'd need hardware capable of recording in better-than-redbook format first or the point would be lost.  And the inclusion of open codecs for playback (let alone recording) on portable devices isn't very common at present.  Granted, ultraportable computers and high-end USB audio adapters like the M-Audio Transport are real...