DVD-Audio

The DVD - Audio is a DVD version, which is mainly used for playing music in surround sound 5.1. It was regarded as a successor to the audio CD ( compact disc).

  • 9.1 To play
  • 9.2 To create

Structure of the DVD-Audio

A DVD- Audio is a DVD -ROM, which contains a special subdirectory ( AUDIO_TS ) files with a specified structure ( AOB files ) and can be played on a DVD-Audio player. These files hold all of lossless compressed audio signals, still images.

Differences for DVD-Video

1 ) Due to the still images, there are the NTSC and PAL discs.

Duration

1) compression ratio depends on the piece of music; Here it was assumed that 2:1. 2 ) If the maximum data rate of 9.8 Mbit / s

There are also rare and DVD- 10 (single layer, double-sided with Hdad ), DVD -14 (single layer on side A, two layers on side B) and DVD -18 ( two-layer, two-sided).

Channel combinations

Because of the maximum data rate of a DVD of 9.8 Mbit / s resulting in complete utilization of the sampling rate through the individual channels following maximum channel numbers:

Optional functions

  • The already mentioned above Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP ) for lossless compression enables high seasons (eg for audio books), although data reduction à la DD or dts missing.
  • Is necessary for all modes, the uncompressed data rate is usually above 9.8 Mbps.
  • And the future prospects of the DVD - Audio: The HD - DVD uses Dolby TrueHD ( MLP a derivative) as a mandatory lossless audio format. As a result, a TrueHD decoder in each certified HD DVD players must be located. This is similar to AC-3 and LPCM on the DVD- Video, there must at all DVD-Video players, this "mandatory formats " command ( in Europe will be added even MPEG -2 audio). Consequently HD - DVD devices predestined DVD-A players, provided that the manufacturers allow this additional feature would be.
  • As an outer protective layer of the CPPM method (Content Protection for Pre -Recorded Media ) of the 4C ( a consortium of IBM, Intel, MEI and Toshiba ) was used. Player and disc replace 56- bit key to agree on playing. In addition, based on a black list, which is located on the media, check whether the "Player ID" has not been compromised. If this is the case, there is no playback. Originally CSS II was provided for this use; after the emergence of the computer program DeCSS however, rejected these plans and rather took a delayed product launch in 2000 in purchase to find a better method. In the meantime, should also CPPM "cracked" as applicable.
  • The interior protection is a digital watermark of the company Verance. For this purpose, inaudible additional information can be found in the audio stream to affect mainly analog copying.

The use of two or even just one copy option is not mandatory even in industrially-produced DVD-Audio.

Like on a CD ( and DVD - video) data can be stored for computer use on a DVD-Audio outside the directories AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. One possibility is that audio data reduced, DRM - protected in a so called Compressed Zone store.

CD -DA and DVD-A on a disc

In the so- called flip disc (Dual Disc) is a sandwich consisting of a conventional audio CD and a DVD- Audio; However, most are CD -DA / DVD-V shortcuts. These discs are, however, non-standard due to large thickness ( 1.2 mm 0.6 mm). This causes problems for equipment which clamp the CD on the laser side.

Also conceivable is a version that has a translucent red light layer in 0.6 mm depth for DVD-A player and a fully reflective in 1.2 mm depth for CD player. But you get problems with DVD- Video players, the need to search for the DVD layer and find nothing there. On this principle, the hybrid Super Audio CD is based as competition.

Advantages and disadvantages to audio CD

For stereo recordings are virtually no sonic differences between a conventional high quality produced CD and a DVD-Audio to hear, so that for these reasons the preference of DVD-Audio over CDs can not be justified.

Demonstrable technical advantages

  • Longer playing time than the CD -DA
  • Discrete lossless multi-channel technology possible
  • Although the original version of the Red Book standard allows quadraphonic, however, these discrete four-channel option exists only on paper, since neither media nor such devices have appeared. While Dolby Surround, Dolby PL I, II and IIx give a first taste on more channels, but are matrix- encoded. Really discrete multichannel capability was achieved on the CD until the mid- 1990s with DTS. Although DTS CDs are largely Red Book compliant but lossy, because not PCM is used. There is an additional DTS decoder is required, which is not present in standard CD players, but in most standard DVD players. At sufficiently high bitrate (eg 1536kbps ) the playing time of a DTS-CD is smaller than that of a normal CD -DA ( 1441 kbps).
  • DVD-Audio has a higher bandwidth (up to 85 kHz) and a better dynamic range ( theoretically up to 147 dB) than the audio CD. Whether this results in audible differences from the audio CD, is questioned in part because the recording capabilities of DVD-Audio are beyond the limits of human hearing, as well as conventional microphones and speakers.
  • ( as yet) no later developed, standard anti copy protection methods, such as in audio CD, the rough compatibility issues concerning cause the playback ability or quality of a medium.

Practical Benefits

  • Meaningful portability

Disadvantages

  • Requires special players that are much rarer than CD player
  • A DVD-A player's full -service often requires a TV
  • Complete listening experience of a DVD -A usually requires a new amplifier or receiver, due to the following situation:

1) transmission maximum is 96 kHz stereo PCM at 24 bits. 2) Even with an HDMI 1.3 connection MLP -encoded data is decoded in the player and sent as LPCM signal to the amplifier. A direct transfer of the original MLP data to a Dolby TrueHD -capable amplifier is not (yet) possible or not provided.

Dissemination

The DVD-A is currently (2006) a niche product, which ( together in all areas of music ) stands with only some 100 new books per year, in strong competition with the SACD, mainly in the classical realm has increased sales. The company represented the least genre on DVD-Audio are film soundtracks, even here the SACD has a firmer foothold. However, the DVD-A in the important U.S. market has a head start. The Japanese market is also being courted on a larger scale. In Europe, they have hardly plays a role. Which medium will prevail, seems to be open. Perhaps both are replaced by newer developments such as the Blu- ray Disc. Often, the DVD-A format is used for the DVD side of a DualDisc. Even spilled DVD-Audio titles are as DualDisc still available.

Software for PC

Meanwhile, the DVD-Audio is also used on the PC - in stark contrast to the main opponent, the SACD that there is not even readable.

To play

  • PowerDVD
  • WinDVD
  • Creative MediaSource DVD - Audio Player ( for Creative Audigy and X-Fi sound cards)
  • ShaPLAY ( Freeware)
  • Foobar2000 - for playback, archiving and more
  • VLC media player from version 1.1.x (GPL )

To create

  • Cirlinca DVD Audio Solo / Cirlinca HD Audio Solo
  • CubeDVD -A
  • DigiOnAudio
  • DiscWelder Minnetonka / Minnetonka SurCode MLP Encoder
  • Samplitude
  • WaveLab, MLP encoder is not included ( about 2,500 € extra)
  • Dvda -author (Open Source)
5.1 surround sound Compact Disc Digital Audio Pulse-code modulation MPEG-1 Audio Layer II Downmixing Content Scramble System Dolby Pro Logic Bandwidth (signal processing) Acura Head unit Session High Definition Compatible Digital Denon Optical storage CD-ROM CD-R CD-RW Video-CD GD-ROM Blu-spec CD Enhanced Versatile Disc DVD-RAM Professional Disc Blu-ray Disc recordable Holographic Versatile Disc M-DISC Universal Media Disc Ultra Density Optical
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