Apple in talks to improve sound quality of music downloads
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Stu
Feb 22, 2011, 8:51:35 AM2/22/11
to SurroundSound
Finally the execs woke up. They also address what I have said for
years about people preferring convenience over quality. However, in my
opinion, with 3D TV gaining more acceptance. Faster computers with
more and more storage. Fios download speeds and most important;
celebrities like Dr Dre touting higher quality, perhaps surround sound
can make a comeback? Perhaps the trend now for technical superiority
and one upping the competition will lead to more native support and
some great surround mixes becoming available for download and great
new ones produced as well.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/02/22/24.bit.music/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn
years about people preferring convenience over quality. However, in my
opinion, with 3D TV gaining more acceptance. Faster computers with
more and more storage. Fios download speeds and most important;
celebrities like Dr Dre touting higher quality, perhaps surround sound
can make a comeback? Perhaps the trend now for technical superiority
and one upping the competition will lead to more native support and
some great surround mixes becoming available for download and great
new ones produced as well.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/02/22/24.bit.music/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn
Joe A
Feb 23, 2011, 8:39:10 AM2/23/11
to SurroundSound
This is a very sore subject for me, as both an Apple Mac user and a
home theater fan.
The first step would be getting to lossless CD quality audio on
iTunes. Worry about high-res after that.
Now for my psychopathic rant on Apple. The iPod/iPhone/iPad has
turned Apple into what I derisively call an "iToy" company and the Mac
is left to wither on the vine and slowly rot. Where once Apple
pioneered adoption of new technology such as firewire, now it eschews
new technology. No support for Blu-Ray, HDMI *, multichannel audio,
USB3, eSATA, 30-bit deep color, and the list goes on and on. The Mac
Pro (high end tower) has video cards generations behind the latest on
the PC. The Mac Mini and Mac Pro often languish for years between
updates. Not a single Mac has ever shipped with analog multichannel
audio support, and none support any form of it aside from the last Mac
Mini.
* = the latest Mac Mini, and only it, supports HDMI and claims to
support multichannel audio over HDMI.
A lot of Pro users (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, etc.) are getting very
nervous about Apple's change in priorities.
The Mac *used to be* the best platform for consuming and creating
content, but that's no longer true, sadly. So I don't look for Apple
to be a pioneer in this area.
I'm glad to see some record execs pushing for it, but then again their
job is to generate demand for music and this may be yet another format
shift (one I'd be in favor of). Maybe the iTunes store will
eventually move into HDTracks territory. But even HDTracks doesn't
put up multichannel material.
The steps on the journey I see are:
(1) Sell lossless files on iTunes (and competitors)
(2) Sell high-res files
(3) Sell surround files.
We're quite a way away from that day, and Apple is not going to be
leading the charge IMO.
home theater fan.
The first step would be getting to lossless CD quality audio on
iTunes. Worry about high-res after that.
Now for my psychopathic rant on Apple. The iPod/iPhone/iPad has
turned Apple into what I derisively call an "iToy" company and the Mac
is left to wither on the vine and slowly rot. Where once Apple
pioneered adoption of new technology such as firewire, now it eschews
new technology. No support for Blu-Ray, HDMI *, multichannel audio,
USB3, eSATA, 30-bit deep color, and the list goes on and on. The Mac
Pro (high end tower) has video cards generations behind the latest on
the PC. The Mac Mini and Mac Pro often languish for years between
updates. Not a single Mac has ever shipped with analog multichannel
audio support, and none support any form of it aside from the last Mac
Mini.
* = the latest Mac Mini, and only it, supports HDMI and claims to
support multichannel audio over HDMI.
A lot of Pro users (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, etc.) are getting very
nervous about Apple's change in priorities.
The Mac *used to be* the best platform for consuming and creating
content, but that's no longer true, sadly. So I don't look for Apple
to be a pioneer in this area.
I'm glad to see some record execs pushing for it, but then again their
job is to generate demand for music and this may be yet another format
shift (one I'd be in favor of). Maybe the iTunes store will
eventually move into HDTracks territory. But even HDTracks doesn't
put up multichannel material.
The steps on the journey I see are:
(1) Sell lossless files on iTunes (and competitors)
(2) Sell high-res files
(3) Sell surround files.
We're quite a way away from that day, and Apple is not going to be
leading the charge IMO.
River161
Feb 26, 2011, 9:13:57 AM2/26/11
to SurroundSound
Joe,
I agree with your priorities here. Being that I spend a lot of times
on surround forums, what you tend to hear is people wanting surround
available in all formats above everything else. To me, though, the
continued drop in ways to obtain the lossless stereo music that was
previously assumed to be the standard is much more worrisome. The
increased availability of FLAC or WAV files would be my number one
priority for a service like ITunes. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
That's just me, though.
River161
I agree with your priorities here. Being that I spend a lot of times
on surround forums, what you tend to hear is people wanting surround
available in all formats above everything else. To me, though, the
continued drop in ways to obtain the lossless stereo music that was
previously assumed to be the standard is much more worrisome. The
increased availability of FLAC or WAV files would be my number one
priority for a service like ITunes. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
That's just me, though.
River161
Huckamazoo
Feb 26, 2011, 2:30:59 PM2/26/11
to SurroundSound
As of February 25th
iTunes to Offer 24-bit Audio Files for a Price - Apple iTunes has
announced that will begin offering its music in 24bit format as well
as 16bit to attract customers preferring studio sound quality and
uncompressed tunes. Most high end format pop recordings are made at
24bit, but then downgraded to 16bit for CD market distribution. Then
they are further degraded and compressed for online streaming
services. Several Mac models allows recording at 24bit, but not
iPhones or iPads. Radiohead last week released its new album on a
lossless 24bit file for a higher fee.
iTunes to Offer 24-bit Audio Files for a Price - Apple iTunes has
announced that will begin offering its music in 24bit format as well
as 16bit to attract customers preferring studio sound quality and
uncompressed tunes. Most high end format pop recordings are made at
24bit, but then downgraded to 16bit for CD market distribution. Then
they are further degraded and compressed for online streaming
services. Several Mac models allows recording at 24bit, but not
iPhones or iPads. Radiohead last week released its new album on a
lossless 24bit file for a higher fee.
Noreltny-gmail
Feb 26, 2011, 5:43:59 PM2/26/11
to surrou...@googlegroups.com
Where do you find the new Radiohead album in 24-bit?
I only see the choice between 320 kbps MP3 and WAV here:
http://www.thekingoflimbs.com/DIUSD.htm
As of February 25th
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Huckamazoo
Feb 27, 2011, 1:27:08 AM2/27/11
to SurroundSound
The article was found at http://www.audaud.com
I checked iTunes too in all the 24bit offerings, but no Radiohead.
Ether it hasn't happened yet or the article is in error.
I checked iTunes too in all the 24bit offerings, but no Radiohead.
Ether it hasn't happened yet or the article is in error.
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