[markl]

OK, there's no official date, and the re-mastering hasn't even been done yet, but this is still cool news:

"Exclusive - Dark Side of the Moon on DVD-Audio Confirmed by Alan Parsons

Written by Jerry Del Colliano

Reliable sources close to AudioRevolution.com report that in a conference at the Surround 2002 Expo in Beverly Hills today, engineer Alan Parsons spoke on the topic of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon being mixed for DVD-Audio (see AudioRevolution.com lead story from last week’s email).

Parsons confirmed that the version of Dark Side on DVD-Audio that has been heard around Los Angeles was a working version of the quad mix on a DVD-Audio disc. He confirmed that the band was in fact working on a dedicated 5.1 version which he was sure was going to be a DVD-Audio title. EMI, Floyd’s label, backs DVD-Audio in the U.S. Strangely, Parsons who engineered the legendary Dark Side album 30 years ago, is not part of the new mixing sessions based on a decision made by the band – says Parsons. After thirty years of hearing his work, Parson says he has lots of ideas of things he wanted to do differently if he were to get a chance. He isn’t.

Release dates, an official announcement and other details were not released but a 30th anniversary release seems to make sense at this point. If you could order the DVD-Audio title early, which you can’t at this point, it might become the biggest selling title in the new audio format’s history on its first shipment. "

Mark

 

[Zin_Ramu]

Yeah this is a potenially big win for DVD-A. I read this a while back on www.thedigitalbits.com along with rumors of Beatles releases on DVD-A:

Quote:

We've got some GOOD news for you Pink Floyd fans. Roger Waters' manager, Mark Fenwick, had confirmed that Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii - The Director's Cut is being prepped for DVD release in March 2003. Not only that, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is going to be released on DVD-Audio on 3/3/03 in honor of its 30th anniversary! We're still waiting for an update on Pulse, so we'll let you know if we hear anything.

Zin

 

[fierce_freak]

Wow...prolly my fav album ever. Can't wait

 

[TimSchirmer]

okay... DVD-A is the official dominant format now.



I knew those damned consumers would fall for multichannel. The last thing they want is better quality speakers! Screw that! Give them MORE speakers!

 

[markl]

Tim,
DVD-A, like SACD gives you better two-channel playback and has a separate two-channel stereo hi-rez mix. So stereophiles still benefit from DVD-A. DVD-A doesn't "make" you have to go out and buy more speakers.

Also, have you heard multi-channel music? It can sound absolutely amazing, much more enjoyable than two-channel.

Mark

 

[MacDEF]

Sorry, but one release does not make a platform

Despite the legendary status of DSOTM, having the entire Stones catalog on SACD is a bigger "win" for that platform than DSOTM is for DVD-A, IMO.

 

[royboy2k]

D'oh! I definitely would've bought this on SACD, but no... oh well, hopefully they'll release a nice version on SACD someday. Mobile Fidelity maybe?

 

[TimSchirmer]

Quote:

Originally posted by markl Tim, DVD-A, like SACD gives you better two-channel playback and has a separate two-channel stereo hi-rez mix. So stereophiles still benefit from DVD-A. DVD-A doesn't "make" you have to go out and buy more speakers. Also, have you heard multi-channel music? It can sound absolutely amazing, much more enjoyable than two-channel. Mark

I don't really care for multi channel music. It works well with movies though, but with music it always throws the soundstage way off.

 

[MacDEF]

Quote:

Originally posted by TimSchirmer I don't really care for multi channel music. It works well with movies though, but with music it always throws the soundstage way off.

That's more a result of poor mastering than of the format. Too many multi-channel releases use exaggerated effects just to "prove" how cool multi-channel sounds. But some of the well-mastered multi-channel recordings are truly amazing -- they don't assault you with lots of effects; rather, they add subtle cues that would be present in a live performance.

 

[markl]

I find multi-channel opens up the soundstage and improves imaging in a big way. Six channels of music also contains three times the information and resolution of two channel versions. It's much easier to make out each individual track, instrument, singer, etc. than two-channel. If the multi-channel is mixed correctly, the effect is amazing, infinitely better than stereo, IMO.

Mark

 

[PinkFloyd]

It certainly will be interesting to hear just how much this will totally ***** the sound quality up. Why do they always have to bastardize things to satisfy the needs of the surround sound brigade?

Guthries "Q sound" is acceptable on the Pulse album but that was a live concert and Floyd use a quad like setup live. To mess about with a classic like DSOTM is totally wrong IMO. I still class the original vinyl LP as the best sounding of all the formats I have heard it on.

Pinkie

 

[markl]

You do realize that Floyd released both Dark Side and Wish you Were Here in the 4-channel "quadrophonic" sound in the 70s? So they must in principle approve of multi-channel.

Mark

 

[Beagle]

I'm not excited in the least. I'm sure they will remix it, tinker with it, compress and no-noise it and generally screw it up so that it sounds "new and improved".

Who needs gimmicks like that?

 

[Ebonyks]

Normally, i am all for re-mastering, however, i have a feeling they'll screw it up. The LP just has a almost dreamy quality to it, the CD just isn't the same thing. I fear the DVD-a will do the same. Let's hope it's a duel-layered CD

 

[NathanJM]

Actually, it looks like we have conflicting information. Althouhg expected to be on DVD-A, like EMI's other releases, Parsons doesn't appear to have said that DSOM would be DVD-A. In fact, he is directly quoted as stating "I have no idea" when asked which format it would be released on.

See:

http://www.highfidelityreview.com/ne...umber=18725896

I'm not saying you're wrong, just that the format it will be released on isnt known for certain yet.

Personally, I'd like to see it released on SACD, but I gotta admit that based on EMI's past releases itl likely be DVD-A.