Midem 38: The United States and European DVD-Audio Councils have joined forces to make a splash at the 2004 Midem Festival in Cannes, France. Panasonic, Dolby Laboratories, BMG, EMI, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Silverline Records, Meridian Audio, Creative Labs, 5.1 Entertainment Group, DTS and AIX will all be demonstrating the best of the DVD-Audio format from hardware to software at the Palais des Festivals, Stand No. R31.02. Visitors will be able to join DVD-Audio demonstrations and experience DVD-Audio in every environment from the home theater, through computer applications and in the car.
DVD-Audio hardware penetration has reached 14-million-plus players sold by manufacturers all over the world, while title availability has increased dramatically, and now approaches 700 titles. To date, there are over 160 DVD-Audio player models available from 35 plus manufacturers. Over 14 million players are already in the market, far outstripping the sales of competing audio formats, with player sales up 500% on the previous year. An estimated two million computer-based players have shipped, from companies such as Creative Labs and InterVideo. Additionally, DVD-Audio discs play on all DVD-Video players and 200 million plus PS2 and Xbox consoles.
Compact Disc (CD) was introduced over 20 years ago as the first digital format for audio reproduction. Now DVD-Audio – a next-generation high resolution audio technology – has arrived, which will ultimately supersede the CD. Benefiting from the enormous data storage capacity of the DVD disc, seven times greater than that of a CD, as well as new advancements in lossless coding, and adding robust copy protection, optional watermarking and other intellectual property safeguards, DVD-Audio offers consumers as well as artists and record labels Advanced Resolution® audio reproduction and multi-channel functionality that far surpasses the Compact Disc. DVD-Audio captures all of the intricacies, subtleties and ambience of the music. For the first time ever, record buyers and music enthusiasts have access to a packaged medium that offers a bit-for-bit replica of the original studio or concert performance. In fact, DVD-Audio delivers significantly higher sound quality than any other commercially available format.
Further extending the value equation of packaged audio content, DVD-Audio offers a true multimedia playback experience, including video and interactive computer links with the music performance. DVD-Audio discs often include video-related features such as behind-the-scenes footage, hit music videos, biographies, interviews with the artists, and liner notes. Video features are easily navigated via on screen menus, in the same manner as DVD-Video. Weblinks included on the DVD-Audio discs allow updates and access to interactive features. Meanwhile, in the car or in a non-video playing environment, they play just like a CD – but at vastly higher quality and in superb surround-sound.
About the DVD-Audio Council:
Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, BMG, J Records, Silverline Records, Arista Records, The Atlantic Group, Elektra Entertainment Group, Capitol, Warner Music Latina, Virgin, Angel/Blue Note, EMI Latina, Rhino, 5.1 Entertainment Group, RCA, Reprise, Geffen Records, Interscope, A&M, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Mercury, MCA Nashville, Motown Records, Universal Classics, Universal Records, Universal Music Enterprises, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Warner Bros. Records., Myutopia Recordings, AIX Records, DTS Entertainment, EMI Recorded Music, Meridian Audio, Dolby Laboratories, Creative Labs and Panasonic (MEI) are all members of the DVD Audio Council. The DVD-Audio Council serves as a complete resource for all press, technical and marketing information related to the DVD-Audio format in the United States and Europe. The council’s mission is to educate hardware and software retailers to the benefits and features of DVD-Audio while simultaneously promoting consumer awareness of this evolutionary format.