I've never seen a HDCD. How can this possibly work? I thought CD players were hardcoded to expect 16 bits per sample. <<<
HDCD is NOT a format, it is a mastering process, 100% compatible with ordinary CD players. It brings back the "warmth" that many people feel lack with digital recording and/or mastering. Go to http://www.hdcd.com for more info and which CDs are HDCD-encoded. All of Joni Mitchell's early CDs are HDCD-encoded, for example. from the website: High Definition Compatible Digital® (HDCD®) is a patented encode/decode process for delivering the full richness and detail of the original microphone feed on Compact Discs. Peace.
On Sat, 13 Jul 2002 muziknut2@juno.com wrote:
I've never seen a HDCD. How can this possibly work? I thought CD players were hardcoded to expect 16 bits per sample. <<<
HDCD is NOT a format, it is a mastering process, 100% compatible with ordinary CD players. It brings back the "warmth" that many people feel lack with digital recording and/or mastering. Go to http://www.hdcd.com for more info and which CDs are HDCD-encoded. All of Joni Mitchell's early CDs are HDCD-encoded, for example.
It's a format. Looks like more audiophile flim-flammery to me. They give away their bias using phrases like, "not a flat, digital imitation." They don't actually say how it works, but you do need a special player or digital amp to get the benefits. It's backwards compatible, which is not the same as 100% compatible. I'm guessing they're storing the extra audio bits in the redundant areas normally occupied by error correction data. That violates the CD audio standard, as the clowns behind CD copy protection discovered the hard way. -- /* Soleil */
Soleil Lapierre wrote:
It's a format. Looks like more audiophile flim-flammery to me. They give away their bias using phrases like, "not a flat, digital imitation."
------------------ I agree. It sounds like a way to make people buy the same music that they have already.
From the site:
HDCD-encoded CDs sound better because they are encoded with 20 bits of real musical information, as compared with 16 bits for all other CDs. HDCD overcomes the limitation of the 16-bit CD format by using a sophisticated system to encode the additional 4 bits onto the CD while remaining completely compatible with the existing CD format. HDCD provides more dynamic range, a more focused 3-D soundstage, and extremely natural vocal and musical timbre. With HDCD, you get the body, depth, and emotion of the original performance not a flat, digital imitation. amir
Excuse me, has this HDCD anything to do with Sony's super audio compact disc (SACD)? Thanks in advance. DER AUTOMAT
participants (4)
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Der Automat -
muziknut2＠juno.com -
Soleil Lapierre -
webmaster＠slystone.com