DualDisc Format To Launch In October

A consortium of record labels, including EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment,and Universal Music Group, announced on August 24, 2004 plans to finally introduce DualDisc.

“DualDisc is a two-sided disc made up of a CD on one side and a DVD on the other. In addition to a full album on the CD side, the DVD side provides the full album in enhanced sound (such as Surround Sound and/or DVD-Audio or LPCM stereo), and also includes a wide range of special features, such as music videos, interviews, photo galleries, web links, concert footage and lyrics.

Industry bigwigs like Edgar Bronfman Jr. (WEA), Andrew Lack (Sony BMG) and Doug Morris (Universal) seem to be fond of the new format, especially when their interest in it is compared to their support (or lack thereof) for DVD-Audio and or SACD over the past few years. With CD backwards compatibility, the DualDisc may have executives’ attention because of its potential to be sold in the same bins as traditional CDs. But better than the CD, DualDisc has the ability to add significant value to the discs the record industry sells, including high resolution (24 bit 192 kHz) stereo and 5.1 surround sound, as well as video content.”

This is another audio format that we think will have a difficult time taking off. DVD-Audio abd SACD formats still are struggling in the market place due to the lack of record label support as well as hardware incompatibilities. Only time will tell which audio format will win this war.

Read the full story at Audio Revolution