Wise Words - Audio Fidelity Moves to Selective Multichannel SACD Releases

[quicksrt]

I know, and we've all gone over it. I have a session with my therapist in the morning with five follow up appointments to help me get over this. I'll start with acceptance - which I know I'm not there yet. I'm still in the denial stage. But denial is not that bad a place to be either I'll explain. I refused to believe that the Full Sail quad master tapes were simply just not there. And it turned out I was right, and it turned ok with holding out hope like I did.

I am not sure if I dreamt it or not but I think that a good Warner quad title was coming at some point (soon). In my coming Therapy sessions we can get to the bottom of these fantastic fantasy visions I keep on having, that just won't subside. It's strange ain't it. That I would refuse to give up hope.

 

[fredblue]

I know, and we've all gone over it. I have a session with my therapist in the morning with five follow up appointments to help me get over this. I'll start with acceptance - which I know I'm not there yet. I'm still in the denial stage. But denial is not that bad a place to be I explain. I refused to believe that the Full Sail quad takes were simply just not there. And it turned out I was ok with holding out hope.

I am not sure if I dreamt it or not but I think that a Warner quad title was coming at some point (soon). In my coming Therapy sessions we can get to the bottom of these fantastic fantasy visions I keep on having, that won't subside. It's strange ain't it.

Haha.. Ain't that peculiar!

When I go to see the Pope to have my CD-4 demogitator blessed, I'll ask his holiness to pray that AF will have a change of heart and put these albums out in Surround! :worthy

 

[GOS]

Haha.. Ain't that peculiar!

When I go to see the Pope to have my CD-4 demogitator blessed, I'll ask his holiness to pray that AF will have a change of heart and put these albums out in Surround! :worthy

Hell, even the Pope needs his Quad fix every once in a while.

 

[bmoura]

Vinyl also falls into that category, as well, but seems to win out EVERY TIME as far as selection is concerned.

Except for Digital Downloads which are coming out at a faster rate than LPs these days.

 

[fredblue]

Except for Digital Downloads which are coming out at a faster rate than LPs these days.

Maybe Audio Fidelity could do some Multichannel downloads since they're selling so well.?

Especially seeing as sales are so important to AF (as they rightfully should be!) the result of presumably poor sales of their physical media releases has consigned not one not two but now three Quad mixes to the scrapheap (BS&T Hits, Musicmagic, Tale Spinnin) and seen them all released as Stereo only SACDs, in the name of being more selective, which I take as a byword for cost-cutting.

If I was AF's accountant I'd advise them to try flogging a few surround downloads (properly promoted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all that social networking stuff I hate but is a necessary evil these days) and see how that goes.. AF could start with MultiCh downloads of BS&T G.Hits, Musicmagic and Tale Spinnin' Quads..?

(Maybe better in the AF suggestion thread, sorry.. but was just going with the flow of the conversation... )

 

[4-earredwonder]

Maybe Audio Fidelity could do some Multichannel downloads since they're selling so well.?

Especially seeing as sales are so important to AF (as they rightfully should be!) the result of presumably poor sales of their physical media releases has consigned not one not two but now three Quad mixes to the scrapheap (BS&T Hits, Musicmagic, Tale Spinnin) and seen them all released as Stereo only SACDs, in the name of being more selective, which I take as a byword for cost-cutting.

If I was AF's accountant I'd advise them to try flogging a few surround downloads (properly promoted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all that social networking stuff I hate but is a necessary evil these days) and see how that goes.. AF could start with MultiCh downloads of BS&T G.Hits, Musicmagic and Tale Spinnin' Quads..?

(Maybe better in the AF suggestion thread, sorry.. but was just going with the flow of the conversation... )

Ironically, of all the US reissue companies, ONLY Acoustic Sounds currently offers quality downloads. So I would assume that the majors are reluctant to spread their wares too thin by allowing every Tom, Dick & Harry reissue company from offering mch/stereo downloads from their vast catalogues. And from what I've read, HDTracks downloads are not always QUALITY and if one is dissatisfied....good luck in proffering a refund.

Maybe I am missing out on a bonanza of digital downloads but to say it's a wait and see proposition for me would be a 'safe' assumption. I am VERY happy with physical discs and for the value they bestow upon me and when the majors DO get their act together regarding downloads, both mch and stereo and the restrictions that I'm sure will accompany them......... of course I'll take the plunge.

And just as some recording artists are opposed to multichannel treatment of their back catalogues, there are just as many opposed to offering the same as digital downloads until proper [FAIR] compensation between the Majors and the artists is 'thoroughly' negotiated.

 

[fredblue]

Ironically, of all the US reissue companies, ONLY Acoustic Sounds currently offers quality downloads. So I would assume that the majors are reluctant to spread their wares too thin by allowing every Tom, Dick & Harry reissue company from offering mch/stereo downloads from their vast catalogues. And from what I've read, HDTracks downloads are not always QUALITY and if one is dissatisfied....good luck in proffering a refund.

Maybe I am missing out on a bonanza of digital downloads but to say it's a wait and see proposition for me would be a 'safe' assumption. I am VERY happy with physical discs and for the value they bestow upon me and when the majors DO get their act together regarding downloads, both mch and stereo and the restrictions that I'm sure will accompany them......... of course I'll take the plunge.

And just as some recording artists are opposed to multichannel treatment of their back catalogues, there are just as many opposed to offering the same as digital downloads until proper [FAIR] compensation between the Majors and the artists is 'thoroughly' negotiated.

Greed and industry machinations, you say.. quelle surprise.. and as usual we, the music loving consumers who keep the music biz afloat suffer in the long run.. is it any wonder piracy's always so rife, people get resourceful and turn to alternatives to get what they want if the labels aren't providing it.. pathetic its 2016 and we're still discussing this, I quite thought somebody would have got it together to do some MultiCh downloads Quaddies would be interested in by now.. but.. nope

 

[JonUrban]

Greed and industry machinations, you say.. quelle surprise.. and as usual we, the music loving consumers who keep the music biz afloat suffer in the long run.. is it any wonder piracy's always so rife, people get resourceful and turn to alternatives to get what they want if the labels aren't providing it.. pathetic its 2016 and we're still discussing this, I quite thought somebody would have got it together to do some MultiCh downloads Quaddies would be interested in by now.. but.. nope

It's totally absurd that an entity like HDTracks, which sells the HiRez stereo tracks from WEA/Rhino DVD-Audio discs will not offer the multichannel tracks at a price that reflects the extra storage space required. The fact that they haven't even tried to do so with a few select titles from Warner is, to me, a slap in the faces of all multichannel fans.

 

[4-earredwonder]

It's totally absurd that an entity like HDTracks, which sells the HiRez stereo tracks from WEA/Rhino DVD-Audio discs will not offer the multichannel tracks at a price that reflects the extra storage space required. The fact that they haven't even tried to do so with a few select titles from Warner is, to me, a slap in the faces of all multichannel fans.

As I posted the other day in another thread, Jon, in a world of 7.5+ billion people, most reissue companies can't sell 10K SACDs, whether stereo or QUAD. As Adam surmised: It's 2016 and they still can't get it right. The same convoluted negotiations it takes to release a single QUAD SACD must also plague the download enterprises.....clearances, contracts, etc.

So with ALL this red tape it's a wonder we have what we have in QUAD!

 

[quicksrt]

I

It's totally absurd that an entity like HDTracks, which sells the HiRez stereo tracks from WEA/Rhino DVD-Audio discs will not offer the multichannel tracks at a price that reflects the extra storage space required. The fact that they haven't even tried to do so with a few select titles from Warner is, to me, a slap in the faces of all multichannel fans.

Maybe writing HDtracks with suggestions of these quad titles might help. But I an under the impression that the labels do the mastering and hand them the files to market.

In writing it would help to show them the SACD releases with quad, so that they understand that the product has been out there - just in case the marketing genius does not even know what 70s quad is.

 

[4-earredwonder]

I
Maybe writing HDtracks with suggestions of these quad titles might help. But I an under the impression that the labels do the mastering and hand them the files to market.

In writing it would help to show them the SACD releases with quad, so that they understand that the product has been out there - just in case the marketing genius does not even know what 70s quad is.

Unless, of course, Rhino/Warner plan to do their own mch downloads in the future and thus cut out the middle man (HD Tracks). A more likely scenario, IMO.

 

[quicksrt]

Unless, of course, Rhino/Warner plan to do their own mch downloads in the future and thus cut out the middle man (HD Tracks). A more likely scenario, IMO.

The labels are doing both, trying to exploit the catalog themselves, and also exploit it by licensing masters out. It's a two way thing since physical media is on the way out as a standard item, with super deluxe and big boxes - they are here for a while. But labels do not have all the back catalog automatically selling to live off like they used to. Sitting on things does not bring in any money in either.

One reason we have been lucky in recent years with getting vintage quad master reissued and new 5.1 mixes as well is because of the poor shape the companies find themselves in today. The majors had to really look and scour the vaults for things to package and sell. Live tapes, b-sides, outtakes, and surround mixes. The record industry was forced to look at all that stuff and reconsider. It has to have helped the cause.

 

[bmoura]

The labels are doing both, trying to exploit the catalog themselves, and also exploit it by licensing masters out. It's a two way thing since physical media is on the way out as a standard item, with super deluxe and big boxes - they are here for a while. But labels do not have all the back catalog automatically selling to live off like they used to. Sitting on things does not bring in any money in either.

One reason we have been lucky in recent years with getting vintage quad master reissued and new 5.1 mixes as well is because of the poor shape the companies find themselves in today. The majors had to really look and scour the vaults for things to package and sell. Live tapes, b-sides, outtakes, and surround mixes. The record industry was forced to look at all that stuff and reconsider. It has to have helped the cause.

What you are seeing today is what used to be small, niche markets (SACDs, LPs, Box Sets) are now very interesting to the record companies since they represent areas where listeners are still paying full price for music vs. a couple of bucks for a song online or not paying for music at all.

 

[bmoura]

Unless, of course, Rhino/Warner plan to do their own mch downloads in the future and thus cut out the middle man (HD Tracks). A more likely scenario, IMO.

Warner Music is doing that now with Stereo Downloads. Selling them via HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds, among others. That is the story with all 3 of the major label groups (distributing music downloads for sale by others).

As for their own music downloads site, we see that with smaller independent record labels while the major labels are happy to distribute their catalog to the download sites carrying multiple labels. Will it change down the road so the record labels have their own download sites and also sell via other sites (like Pentatone does with their Pentatone and Primephonic sites - owned by Pentatone as well as sales via Native DSD - not owned by Pentatone)? Could be. Time will tell.

 

[fredblue]

What you are seeing today is what used to be small, niche markets (SACDs, LPs, Box Sets) are now very interesting to the record companies since they represent areas where listeners are still paying full price for music vs. a couple of bucks for a song online or not paying for music at all.

All very exciting a proposition but the reality is still that even the best labels like AF can't make Surround work, especially but not exclusively, for smaller name artists and titles.. so do you have any suggestions going forward with regards to Quad/5.1 reissues if the majors are so up for licensing them out but even specialists like AF are having a tough time making the numbers stack up..?

Slightly crazy chicken and egg type situation, if you ask a layman like me...

 

[fredblue]

Warner Music is doing that now with Stereo Downloads. Selling them via HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds, among others. That is the story with all 3 of the major label groups (distributing music downloads for sale by others).

As for their own music downloads site, we see that with smaller independent record labels while the major labels are happy to distribute their catalog to the download sites carrying multiple labels. Will it change down the road so the record labels have their own download sites and also sell via other sites (like Pentatone does with their Pentatone and Primephonic sites - owned by Pentatone as well as sales via Native DSD - not owned by Pentatone)? Could be. Time will tell.

So.. why are Universal, Sony & Warners not so equally forthcoming with their Surround download material for HD Tracks et al as they are with their Stereo stuff..?

Could it be that HD Tracks have been offered Surround material by Universal, Sony & Warner but HD Tracks are not interested in Surround, or that they don't feel there is a market for Surround music for HD Tracks customers?

I wonder if HD Tracks have considered a trial run of Surround downloads from some of the bigger titles from the majors?

HD Tracks could do a dozen titles initially, say, 4 Surround albums from each..
5.1's of;
Hotel California, Rumours, Nightfly & Foreigner from WEA..
Toto IV, The Stranger, Toys In The Attic & Tapestry from Sony..
and Carpenters Singles, Gaucho, Ziggy Stardust & Tubular Bells from Universal..?

Just a thought..

 

[jwb474]

I have a few uncorrelated random thoughts and questions on what has happened to the great release schedule I just loved. Many titles when 1st released back in the day I could not afford due to my time, funds and other interests. I skipped over some titles. I have enjoyed discovering some titles that I have never heard. I just don't understand how the market for multi-channel so collapsed. I understand that if marketing statistics show that quad is not doing well enough then you have to curtail quad releases, that is what you have to do to run a business. I wonder that if the titles released so far, which by the way are very important titles, was marketed as remastered stereo hi-res and CD layer as top billing and have a quad layer marketed as a Bonus layer, if the sales would have been better-marketing to a broader "stereo" audience. I know that the thread title of this thread is "Selective", but it seams that a total shutdown has occurred. No rumors, no per-release tease, nothing, NaDa, Zip. The good news is that it is better on my wallet. Even though this is a limited market, there have been enough releases that I had to make choices on what to buy. I hope that soon that AF shares with us their long term intentions. It will make buying titles in the future easier to plan. That's it, thoughts over.

 

[quicksrt]

I can see how the entire market has shrunk not just quad / surround. For one thing even if we were interested in everything the labels have on tap, we have it already. I don't buy all the MFSL or AF, AP, etc. Tillerman, Crime, Breakfast, Boston, 52nd, Bridge, Abraxis, and all those other albums they keep reissuing -- well I got them all more than once already. There is a lot of great music coming out on nice reissues, but I have them all. So the quad mixes was somehting I did not have, not in this quality.

But where are all those QQ members I used to see here? Those conversion guys, and the collectors who were circling the court? Some have passed on I know, but aren't we missing a rather large group from the old days of this site? Have they gotten old and taken up knitting or bridge? I know there is only so much top talk about, but I always thought that once you are a fan or quad, you always are a quad fan?

It seems that the music industry has dozens of problems facing it. Those folks with monster collections (see SH forums for music rooms) are the main problem, they have everything already. Death is another problem, and folks getting too old to care is another. Shrinking audience indeed.

While I am interested in what AF has cooking so far as quad in the next six months. I don't need to know right now. 30 days after BOC hits the street I'd be more inclined to sniff out waz up.

 

[fredblue]

Death comes to us all.. Quad comes only to the enlightened..

 

[fredblue]

I have a few uncorrelated random thoughts and questions on what has happened to the great release schedule I just loved. Many titles when 1st released back in the day I could not afford due to my time, funds and other interests. I skipped over some titles. I have enjoyed discovering some titles that I have never heard. I just don't understand how the market for multi-channel so collapsed. I understand that if marketing statistics show that quad is not doing well enough then you have to curtail quad releases, that is what you have to do to run a business. I wonder that if the titles released so far, which by the way are very important titles, was marketed as remastered stereo hi-res and CD layer as top billing and have a quad layer marketed as a Bonus layer, if the sales would have been better-marketing to a broader "stereo" audience. I know that the thread title of this thread is "Selective", but it seams that a total shutdown has occurred. No rumors, no per-release tease, nothing, NaDa, Zip. The good news is that it is better on my wallet. Even though this is a limited market, there have been enough releases that I had to make choices on what to buy. I hope that soon that AF shares with us their long term intentions. It will make buying titles in the future easier to plan. That's it, thoughts over.

I like your random thoughts