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In Reply to: Re: Is DVD-Audio more expensive for publishers? posted by Eric LeRouge on March 15, 2004 at 11:36:09:
I wonder are there any of the DVD-A producers that have posted here previously still watching the board?
Maybe Dr AIX or Mathias Myka could chip in. What Dr Mark with many titles for AIX (and others) and Mathias with one DVD-A release on his own M7 Records have to say on this matter would certainly interest me.I think a more critical issue is the cost of recording for one or other format. DSD recording equipment is pricy and extremely scarce whears there is an abundance of 96/24 and evermore 192/24 PCM recording hardware and software at amazing prices. For example Mackie are just about to launch a new 16 channel analogue mixing console featuring 16 of their newly designed (and they say "amazing")"Onyx" mic preamps. Also newly designed is the 4 way "Perkins" EQ found on each channel. The really interesting feature is the 96K FireWire option for streaming 18 independent channels of audio (16 inputs + L&R) to a computer as well as two channels of audio back from the recording software to the console for monitoring purposes. Two consoles can be readily linked together. It also ships with a full version of Mackies "Tracktion" Audio and MIDI Production Software
The MRSP is expected to be around $1600 + $700 (Very "ish" prices!!) for Firewire board. I kid you not!
They also have the "Onyx 800R" 8 channel Mic Pre with simultaneous analogue and 192/24 outs coming soon for less than $2000.
Mackie are not the only ones making affordable PCM options.The ramifications of such a situation are very simple. In the coming few years we will see a rapidly increasing amounts of "genuine" Hi-Rez PCM surround and stereo mixes simply because people will have the hardware and software to make such items. For the vast majority to switch to an alternate system such as DSD makes no sense whatsoever on practically any level. Hi Rez PCM is easy to record, edit and mix.
The gear is readily available and ranges from very affordable to High Cost Esoteric stuff of your dreams.
DSD is almost the opposite. You have very few DSD recording options, Software is limited and editing difficult with conversion to PCM used for any serious cleaning up or editing. The high cost and extremely limited availability of any DSD solution certainly doesn't help.
There is definitely nothingeven vaguely suitable for the huge "ProSumer" market.
The number of "DIY" recording projects being undertaken by artists in all areas of music is expanding rapidly. Record in a nice environment (or environments) using any one of a number of very well spec'ed multitrack Hardware/Software options. Edit and rough, even full mixes in the comfort of your own home (or any other venue one might fancy). Tidying up and mixing in Studio of choice if required or desired. They are all using PCM stuff like ProTools, Logic, Nuendo, etc.
It is now pretty much the norm to have the capacity to handle at least 96/24, if not 192/24 on your list of requirements if investing in all but the most basic setup. DSD has got an uphill battle to make serious inroads in the Pro, Semi-Pro and ProSumer markets.Pure DSD SACD is probably rare enough, without some massive digital upheaval this is going to worsen as the industry in general seems to be firmly rooted in Hi-Rez PCM as the way forward.
I wonder what the number of DVD-A titles derived from DSD sources stacks up against the number of SACD titles produced from PCM sources?I could go on but won't!
Any way it's all to do with the timing!
Follow Ups:
I don't really have a lot of time to respond properly to this thread, but can say that producing a full-featured, truely high-resolution, 5.1 channel surround sound DVD-Audio/Video titles is very expensive and time-consuming. I believe that's why many traditional labels have opted for SACD...because it's the same business and financial model that they've always had. Straight music on a disc.AIX Records is probably the only DVD-Audio only label on the planet. We aren't releasing our recordings in CD form for quality reasons and have no plans for SACDs because of the lack of multimedia and the lack of suitable tools for making high-resolution multitrack source recordings.
The cost of production is all about studio time, video editing, graphics, licensing, authoring, QC and replication. The average cost of doing these things on a title of moderate complexity would come out to near $50K to $150K. This includes the live shoot and recording all the way through the final finished product. Because AIX Media Group does this sort of work for other labels (mostly DVD-Videos), it obviously doesn't cost us that much our-of-pocket...but still it takes a lot of time and a fair amount of cash.
We don't pay additional publishing, we don't pay for CPPM or MLP, we don't pay for the logo...just the cost of recording, mixing and production.
An believe it or not, after having finished over 35 titles...we're in the black! DVD-Audio/Video has worked out very well for us and we have plans for an additional 20+ titles this year. The upcoming Bad Haggis title is my new personal favorite.
I lurk around here every so often...the comments are about the same. Thanks for the long winded post Denis.
I hear nothing but praise for your recordings, but they are simply not available for me to buy here in Sydney, Australia. Do you foresee a distribution possibilty in the future? I would love to pick up some and see (hear) what all the fuss is about :-)
Cheers,
Paul.
Paul,It is interesting that you ask about Australia this week. I had a relationship with Rockian Trading but they informed me this week that they needed to terminate the relationship...not enough sales for them to sustain our line.
I always happy to support interested customers from the United States. Just let me know or visit the web site.
Thanks for the interest.
I live in the UK, but Dr. Mark's international shipping service is very efficient! About 15 titles through my letter box so far without a hitch.
The nice thing about PCM-> DSD, from a record producer standpoint, is that obsolescence is engineered in. When SuperDSD comes out in a few years, those 24/96 recordings can be reissued in a higher resolution format.
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