Re: [ARSCLIST] Quad and SACD (was Re: [ARSCLIST] FBI Warning)

[Steven Smolian <smolians@xxxxxxxxx>]

This looks like a great demo with which to confront the "bits is bits" 
crowd."

Steve Smolian

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Fine" <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 6:05 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Quad and SACD (was Re: [ARSCLIST] FBI Warning)


> Hi Guys:
>
> Yes, Steve has it right. The DSD layer on the SACD generally has room for 
> an album-length 5.1 mix plus an album-length very high resolution 
> 2-channel mix. The CD layer has the same limits and standards as a Red 
> Book CD, I think.
>
> Just to be clear, the Mercury Living Presence SACD's were done in Germany. 
> The CD layer is a clone of the 1630 CD masters. I am not sure why but the 
> CD layer sounds different for some of the SACD's in some players. I have 
> assumed that it's because the hybrid discs need more or less error 
> correction than the normal CD's in some players but I may be wrong on 
> that. Anyway, the difference is clearly audible but the data reads off 
> either version the same, so who knows why.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve Abrams" <steve.abrams@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 1:29 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Quad and SACD (was Re: [ARSCLIST] FBI Warning)
>
>
> > I don't think you've got this quite right.  There is room on any SACD for 
> > a 5.1 channel surround mix plus an SACD stereo mix in addition to the 
> > stereo CD layer.  On most hybrids the stereo CD channel is mastered from 
> > DSD and is equivalent to the SACD stereo.  However, on the Mercury SACD 
> > series the CD layer is taken from the mix by Wilma Cozart Fine used for 
> > the earlier Living Presence CD reissues in the '90s.  I think?
> >
> > Steve Abrams
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Michael Shoshani" <mshoshani@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 4:41 AM
> > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Quad and SACD (was Re: [ARSCLIST] FBI Warning)
> >
> >
> > > Tom Fine wrote:
> > >
> > > > But then, finally, the hybrid capacity comes on line and what uses most 
> > > > of the manufacturing in the world for the first few months (at least 
> > > > according to numerous accounts I've heard)? 2-CHANNEL remasters of the 
> > > > Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan 1960's catalogs! Back to the future, SACD 
> > > > as a "superior stereo" format again, yet most people bought the discs 
> > > > to play on regular old CD players. By the time that dust had settled 
> > > > and variety of hybrid discs with 5.1 SACD and 2-ch CD layers were on 
> > > > the market, consumer interest in the format was gone and the number of 
> > > > universal DVD/SACD players was limited, plus there were no-name Chinese 
> > > > DVD players at Wal-Mart for $35 in time for Christmas.
> > >
> > > You know what would be very interesting is to produce a hybrid SACD with 
> > > a "normal" stereo mix plus the separate multitracks.  As I type this it 
> > > just dawned on me that your mother did exactly that with the Mercury 
> > > Living Presence SACD issues...
> > >
> > > Admittedly, the Mercury Living Presence SACDs were only THREE tracks :D, 
> > > but there have to be some pop music fans-cum-gearheads who would love to 
> > > be able to try their hand at remixing some venerable 4-, 8- 16- or even 
> > > 48-track masters in their home studios.
> > >
> > > Michael Shoshani