HDCD: How common is it?

[insomniac]

I picked up a source that happens to read HDCD's. As I understand it, HDCD's are another layer on regular CD's. How common is it in new CD's released today? And how can one tell if it has HDCD? Is there a label? Is it typically only found in certain genres of music?

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomniac I picked up a source that happens to read HDCD's. As I understand it, HDCD's are another layer on regular CD's. How common is it in new CD's released today? And how can one tell if it has HDCD? Is there a label? Is it typically only found in certain genres of music?

HDCD is actually a code inbedded in the LSB (least signifigant bit) if I remember correctly, that when activated, adds back some of the lost resolution from the conversion of the higher bit rate recordings to 16 bit. There are quite a few out there but they are not always labeled as HDCD's. I have several recordings that light up HDCD where there is no mention on the sleeve this is the case. So the point is you cant always tell when you have an HDCD recording. Originally, I saw HDCD connected mostly to jazz and more obscure recordings. However, the HDCD process briefly gained some backing and was increasingly used in all music genres. But the advent of the newer 24/96 and sacd high resolution formats seemed to make the HCDC process obsolete.

 

[Megaptera]

I don't know if I'd call it obsolete. It's lower on the audiophile ladder than SACD and other 'real' hi-res formats, but it's still in use. Probably half of the new-release CDs I've picked up in the past six months have been HDCD, and even though I maintain the (shameless plug alert) HDCD list here I don't usually notice if an album is HDCD before I buy it. (That's probably still disproportional, though.)

There's a handful of artists/producers/labels out there who seem pretty commited to it. Neil Young and Mark Knopfler have a lot of HDCDs, for example, and from the list it's pretty heavily rock/pop oriented. Odds are you've got some HDCDs already, and be sure to post any findings on the thread I linked to above

 

[Mr.PD]

What he said.
I would also like to add that HDCD isn't as common as it should be. I have several HDCD discs, I wish I had more.
I wish more CDs were labeled as HDCD, it could make a difference on some borderline decisions.

 

[jeffreyj900]

Insomniac!! Check out www.hdcd.com as well. You can search for artists and view by musical style which might help. I notice a big difference between hdcd and redbook. Might this new cd player have tubes?

Jeff

 

[insomniac]

Thanks for the info, guys. Yeah, the player is the Eastern Electric Minimax!

 

[s m @]

HDCD is a good format.... definitely check out that HDCD list linked above. Microsoft now owns the rights to the format, so that could end up helping.