[Gary Eickmeier]

Hey group -

I have just recently been getting into some of the more exotic forms of
recorded media. I wanted to purchase some examples of Telarc three spaced
omni recordings, and in the process stumbled upon a site that explained that
Jack Renner recorded in the DSD format which then had to be downmixed into
the CD standard in two channel. It went on to tout the SACD format, wherein
again we could sample the full resolution and number of channels and so on.

So I said great, I will just get some of these and lay them on my DVD player
and get me some 5.1 surround stuff as it was recorded. But Lo, little did I
realize that SACD takes a dedicated player, spec'd as SACD capable.

So OK, fine, I will just go shop for some music DVDs that have surround
sound and get my kicks that way, and see what the state of the art of music
recording might be. But Lo, now we discover another dedicated format called
Dolby True HD, and there is one from DTS as well. These are optional codecs
that were started with the Blu Ray format. Fortunately - it seems - since it
is an optional codec there may also be a standard DD AC3 5.1 surround track
on it.

Complicating all this, of course, is the definite possibility that something
you buy in one of the new formats will be just an upmix of some ancient two
channel recording, proving nothing that couldn't be done with your Yamaha
receiver.

I am a little baffled by how we can tell anything about what we are buying -
how it was really reocorded and mastered, whether it has a real solid center
channel or phantom, real .1 subwoofer feed or not, discrete surround
recording or upmix, on and on.

Am I just ignorant or are you guys not up on all this either?

Gary Eickmeier

PS - I have had some good success with my experimental three spaced omni
recordings of a middle school band and orchestra, and I would be glad to
send a CD to anyone who wants to give a listen, if you Email me your
address. Not great music, just interesting recordings.