The Back of Tuor's Head

Excepting the iPod (and I'll tell you why in a minute) there has been no evolution in consumer audio since the CD.

There certainly have been many attempts to release new formats, two formats of digital cassette tape, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, and many I'm sure to have forgotten. There is of course one reason why they have all failed: the hassle of the new format has outweighed the benefits.

The one core reason is copy-protection. All the mentioned formats have one thing CD does not, integrated copy protection. You can listen to a CD, you can copy it, and you can play burned CDs on any player.

The digital cassette formats all suffered form some sort of copy flag (just like in some HDTV services) that could prevent home users from making a copy of the cassette. People wanting an extra copy for the car or a mix tape were out of luck, and the cassettes were only stereo audio anyway, they did not sound much better. Since CD was better quality, had non-linear access, did not degrade, and, very importantly, was usable in a car the format won out. It also was easy to copy onto mix tapes, and soon by computer.

DVD-Audio (DVD-A) and Super Audio CD (SACD) suffer the same problems digital cassettes did, except for the linear access part. They are encumbered with significant copy-protection schemes that make them awkward for all but the most dedicated users.

Home component systems (usually the early-adopters) avoid these new media because the multi-channel format is only available as a six-cable analogue connection, or as a licensed digital connection, but not either one of the common unencrypted single-wire digital connections available on modern audio components. In other words, they are either complex and of (perceived) lower quality, or incompatible.

Because of the complexities of licensing the new formats, car and portable audio equipment makers have produced little equipment for the marketplace, and with few early-adopters, there is little demand to do so.

Which brings us to the iPod (or any digital music player). It is a common fallacy to look at the iPod (or MP3, WMA, etc.) as the new "format". What is really happening when you look at the use is that people are copying their CDs to their iPod for the convince and the ability to mix.

Since MP3-CD players are often overlooked (no one is marketing MP3 CDs) even though they are nearly ubiquitous, and players offer a much more flexible means of playback, they have become the new trend. You may be unaware, however, that most new car stereos, video game systems, and DVD players can all play MP3 CDs. Really, what everyone is doing with their iPods, is making "mix tapes" of their CDs.

Which brings me to the reason I started this: I want a multi-channel audio player.

We have had Quadraphonic sound since the 1970's, but the technology to play them has lagged behind. The two most popular formats to arrive after Quadraphonic sound, CD and Cassette, were stereo only. It wasn't until the advent of DVD with built-in 5.1 sound that people started amassing the equipment necessary to play it. (Ironically, car stereos have had four speakers for ages, but no medium since the 70's has taken advantage of it.)

We are, unfortunately, tied to the CD. No one is interested in complex and unusable new formats so no one releases on them. Therefore, no music is remastered or recorded to the new formats, and no Quadraphonic recordings are re-released on the new formats.

What, then, could break us out of the cycle? First off, we need an MP3 player capable of multi-channel output without encryption. Perhaps the new Video iPods will do that soon. When they can connect to the average 5.1 home system, we'll have a start. Likely, car audio will soon follow with multi-channel inputs.

Next, the file sharing community will come to play, with people uploading all their old Quadraphonic recordings and ripped DVD-As and SACDs. Also important will be the adoption of selling multi-channel MP3s, since non-licensed manufacturers are essentially locked out of the hard formats. This will most likely be done by small labels, Indies, and artists.

Eventually, people will demand some way to move this music around, and it will probably be the flash keychain. Already many car and home units have USB inputs. Late in the game, depending on many other factors, the labels will release under a usable format. Everyone will know when it arrives, because like the CD before it, the new format will be instantly popular, but I expect it will be created by someone else besides the Labels.

My guess for the new format would be something like an MP3 CD with just a new file type, perhaps on DVD instead of CD.

I can't wait for the day.

I'm enjoying the pre-election fiasco. You know, if the "war" were going better we'd be at code topaz again instead of ignoring the threat.