Hi John!
A message about something other than Car Stereo!
JA> Computer CD recorders (burners) have fallen below $1000 (US)in
JA> price and the media has come down to where copying audio CDs is
JA> becoming popular.
I've seen prices as low as $599 already.
JA> I have read with great interest the advertising of some of the
JA> "Audiophile CD Producers" like Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs about
JA> their recording and duplicating process, especially where it
JA> comes to "bits". It is a bit confusing after one reaches a
JA> certain point, especially if you are trying to follow the
JA> sound card bit battle. But I assume more (bits) is better.
 Up to a point..16 bits is what consumer audio was designed for, which
for the majority is sufficient allowing 96dB of dynamic range. To some,
this seems "grainy" and not sufficient resolution, one of the reasons
why 20 bits is used in HDCD (High Definition CD) mastering that many
studios are now making their CDs that are sent to the pressing plants.
Studio digital stuff goes from 16-32 bits internally (especially doing
number crunching for signal processing).
 But that is only a part of the whole thing.. Additionally, the sampling
frequency can be a key factor to the quality level. CDs use 44.1kHz
samples per second. Studios use at least 48kHz, and some go as high as
96kHz. Usuable frequency response is subject to the Nyquist Theorem,
which gives that at .47 of the sample rate. But on to the point of your
message:
JA> Is it possible for the inexpensive CD burners to make "clones"
JA> of the better (audiophile) CDs without loosing something in
JA> the process?
Yes, they can! But that's what scares the hell out of the labels and why
copy protection that is effective is such an issue with them. When a
clone is as good as the original, it's easy to bootleg in quantity
without paying artist royalities and such. A major issue yet to be
resolved to the satisfaction all parties.
JA> Are they able to collect/read and write all that was originally
JA> recorded without causing something to sound out of place?
Why would the mix or positioning of instruments change around on a copy
or clone?
JA> We tried cloning the "Ultimate" test CD that has some of the
JA> cleanest musical/instrumental recording I have every heard
JA> (& not heard) and to my ears the copy was exact. It sounded
JA> every bit as great as the original.
You just answered your own question.
JA> With burners and media becoming less expensive, will studios
JA> begin recording directly to CD?
They already have, with many studios offering a package of 10 CDs for
under $200. Expect the prices to drop even lower to where almost
everyone can afford their own burner very soon.
 Bonnie *:>
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