Wednesday 10 April 2013

Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day Blu Ray Audio

Surely this is the best way to hear LZ's live recording of their performance at the O2. Presented in 24bit/48kHz, this is as good as the original source recording. Eschewing all videos, this is purely the soundtrack in stereo or surround. I believe the blu ray video of the concert is presented at 16bit resolution for some reason. Probably something along the lines of the record company wanting us to buy multiple copies.

I do think that more music should be presented in this format. Whereas the usual is to present hi res stereo or surround as DVD Audio, my experience is not many people have the kit to play the audio portion. I believe more people now have blu ray players which can play video or audio discs, there is no differentiation. For now DVD Audio seems to be the way most want to present hi res material. Just look at the series of Steven Wilson remixes of King Crimson studio output. All on DVD Audio. Even his own material is released in the DVD Audio format. It's only if you want the expensive deluxe edition that there is a blu ray option as was Crimson's Larks' Tongues In Aspic box set. So maybe the tide is turning.

With SACD still on the radar, DVD Audio and blu ray, there is still multiple formats keeping the enthusiast of physical product happy. Lets not forget CD either, which does get a raw deal.

I do see the future as digital files. But not as a purely download phenomenon. I think the credit card size MasterFlash as produced by the Fidelio Musique company may be the way to go. It can store very high resolution files in different formats. Interesting times!

Here's my playlist of my favourite blu ray audio discs.

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing

Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning

Rush - 2112

Rush - Moving Pictures

King Crimson - Larks' Tongues In Aspic

Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion

Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day

 

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