The Future of Recorded Music?
June 14, 2009
@ 1:33pm
The CD format has been around since 1980, LPs for even longer and SACD and DVD-A never gained enough traction. So what's next?
HRx recordings from Reference Recordings is just that... the next chapter in recorded audio formats. HRx is the culmination of Reference Recordings engineers' never ending quest to overcome the limitation of consumer formats: LP, CD, SACD, DVD-A, etc. All of these consumer formats downgraded the true sound of master tapes and some even sound down right aweful. With the rise of computer-based audio playback systems, it is now possible to use new, higher resolution formats that will sound every bit as good as the original masters. HRx files contain exact bit-for-bit copies of Reference Recordings’ master recordings.
How does it work?
Reference Recordings supplies files on a DVD-R that are then loaded to a computer or server that has been set up with player software and a special sound card to provide precisely timed signals to operate an external high quality digital to analog converter (or DAC). Their first releases are two channel, 24 bit high-resolution copies that are sampled at 176.4 kHz, the same PCM formats that have been used by the professional industry for many years. It is important to note that your computer or music server must be able to read DVD-R discs and must read WAV files. Your media player and sound card must be able to output 176.4 kHz, 24 bit audio files. You must have a large amount of hard drive storage space available. One HRx title can take up to 4.7 GB of space. Finally, you must have software to manage the music playback.
How does it sound?
Brilliant! Amazing! Astounding! Awesome! Gangbusters! I could go on, but I'll leave it at that.
Sounds complicated. How do I get started?
Actually, it can be pretty easy to put together a computer based audio playback system that can play HRx material or other high resolution material. All you need is a digital audio card (ex: Lynx AES16),an external DAC (ex: Berkeley Audio Designs Alpha DAC) that can handle 24 bit / 176.4kHz rates, a media player that can playback these files (Media Monkey, Fubar, etc.) and a large hard drive to store your files (1TB hard drives are now down to $100). If this still seems a bit overwhelming or confusing, give us a call at either Music Lovers location and we'll do our best to sort you out.
How much are HRx titles and where can I buy them?
Reference Recordings is selling HRx titles for $45 each.
Hey Music Lovers, tell me more about HRx!
Since we're not sound recording engineers, we'll just link you to the source.
