Category Archives: CD

New article up – Killer CDs

Posted on September 24, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

A superficial reading of the specifications of a CD-ROM drive can generate a fearsome number. The now standard 52x read speed suggests a disc running at 24,000 rpm, with a linear velocity at its edge of over 150m/s (that is, … Continue reading →

Posted in CD, How Things Work | Leave a comment

CD Copy Protection Woes

Posted on September 3, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

Ian writes: I’ve just read your article on copy-protected CDs and I must say it was a very interesting read. I received the Robbie Williams album today but am having problems ripping the tracks to mp3. I have always used … Continue reading →

Posted in CD, Computer, Copyright | Leave a comment

CD emphasis calls for caution in ripping

Posted on August 26, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

There is a little-known feature of CDs called emphasis. This is primarily a noise and distortion reduction mechanism, provided for when CDs were first designed over twenty years ago. In short, the idea is that the engineer boosts the treble before … Continue reading →

Posted in CD, Copyright | Leave a comment

A socially useful application of home entertainment technology

Posted on August 25, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

While I have no doubt at all that my current line of work is far more socially useful than my previous employment as a government servant, I am still sometimes niggled by, what shall I say … perhaps a lack … Continue reading →

Posted in CD, General Tech | Leave a comment

Comparing the comparable: High Resolution audio vs the CD

Posted on August 8, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

I’ve just uploaded to my Home Entertainment pages my 1999 comparison of a Chesky recording. Comparing a recording with itself? Why? Well, one is on DVD in high resolution 96kHz, 24 bit PCM, while the other is merely a CD, 44.1kHz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, CD, DVD | Leave a comment

Janice Joplin’s Bass noise

Posted on August 3, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

The audio producers of CDs and other music really do need the best possible monitoring equipment. Unfortunately, far too many (particulary those preparing stereo material) seem to rely on relatively small direct field monitors that, unfortunately, are somewhat bass deficient. … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, CD | Leave a comment

Crippled SACD multichannel

Posted on July 27, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

Multichannel Super Audio CD (SACD) simply does not work properly in most home systems. And we are in the hands of Sony and Philips, it seems, until it does. SACD is duking it out with DVD Audio as the high … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, CD, DVD | Leave a comment

Does downloading music cost CD sales?

Posted on July 12, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

Tim Blair links to a story from The Scotsman which claims ‘research’ shows that people ‘who illegally download their favourite tracks from the internet still buy albums in the shops’. Hmmm. This seems to be a case of asking people questions, rather … Continue reading →

Posted in CD, Copyright, Music | Leave a comment

Telarc’s cannons

Posted on July 7, 2003 by Stephen Dawson

Way back in 1978 the American audiophile record label Telarc made a recording that can be truly regarded as legendary. Using then-new digital recording technology (although in the absence of a digital consumer format, the original release was on LP), Telarc … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio, CD, Vinyl | 3 Comments