How to open old jam files with toast 7.1 titanium pro

Keith Skowler is a long-time Sonic user who managed to un-stump himself recently. This may be of use some day. I use an ancient version of JAM so handn’t encountered this problem. From his post on the Roxio forum (cc’d to the Sonic Users Mailing List)

“Instead of draging the older image file into the audio area (which works with images files saved by toast 7.1), I used a pull down utillity called “Mount Disc Image”, and selected the old Jam file and … poof … an image of a CD magically appeared on my desktop.

I then dragged the virtual CD into the audio area instead of the orginal Jam file and ALL the tracks showed up. I was able to sucessfully burn that to real CD, and even use the “Save as Image File” option to translate the older JAM image file into a current Toast 7.1 .Sd2f audio image file.”

WGUC-FM Begins 5.1 Broadcasting With Neural Surround(TM)

WGUC-FM 90.9, Cincinnati, Ohio’s Classical Public Radio, has chosen to broadcast in surround sound on its HD1 Channel on HD Radio(TM) and on their main analog channel using Neural Audio’s 5.1 technology to become the first radio station in the country to go 5.1 on their main channel with commercially available 5.1 music. This began on Thursday, August 10, 2006 with the broadcast of Debussy’s La Mer, performed by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, available on Telarc International’s SACD #60617.

Emphasis mine. The hope is that radio broadcasters can generate demand for audio-only surround sound content. Congratulations WGUC.

Atrocious Recordings

I spotted a small article in the newspaper the other day. The headline had Bob Dylan saying that modern music was atrocious. Of course it’s what he actually said that was far more interesting. He said that the sound quality of modern recordings was atrocious.

“You listen to these modern records, they’re atrocious, they have sound all over them,” he added. “There’s no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like … static.”

Too much compression Bob. It’s not the CD’s fault.

5.1 Multi Channel Audio Contribution and Distribution…

5.1 Multi Channel Audio Contribution and Distribution – Matrix, Watermark or Discrete?

If radio is to maintain and improve its market share in a highly competitive and cluttered
media sector, then 5.1 Multi Channel Audio needs to be embraced. Fundamental to this process will be contribution from live events (concert halls and sports stadiums) and the preservation of this content. This document outlays various solutions for broadcasters that
are currently researching the use of 5.1 Multi Channel Audio.

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 – APT – Audio Processing TechnologiesAcrobat PDF (59kb)

Link to Story | Source Home

Über-Review: Nine Inch Nails (“The Downward Spiral,” “With Teeth”) & Björk (“Debut,” “Post” and “Medulla”) in 5.1

Listening to Björk’s Homogenic in surround-sound opened my eyes to how fantastic music could be in a 5.1 setting. It was so crisp and clear that despite having listened to the album dozens of times, I was able to hear things I never heard before and was much more aware of each track’s complex composition. If you’ve never listened to an album in 5.1, you’ve gotta try it out – listening it believing.

Link to Story

Here’s hoping we get more music fans like this extolling the virtues of 5.1.

CNN.com – ‘One small step for man,’ 700-box tape loss for NASA

The U.S. government has misplaced the original recording of the first moon landing, including astronaut Neil Armstrong’s famous “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” a NASA spokesman said on Monday.

CNN article

Archives matter.

Warner expects new DVD Album format to replace CD

Warner is to launch a new DVD format this autumn which it hopes will succeed the CD and bury DualDisc (the hybrid CD/DVD format which has failed to capture the public’s imagination).
Called DVD Album, the format will consist of two, dual-layered DVDs back-to-back in flipper style.

Very interesting. I’m sure it will be a light launch before Christmas given the time line. There’s another blog entry here followed by speculative comments. But the WSJ has the best information I’ve found so far. Update: a few other tidbits of info in this AP piece.

Why might this format work where DVD-A and SACD failed? It’s partly a matter of timing. Retailers are desperate for a format that would get people back into the stores; the format is more clearly defined and addresses the need for iPod compatible audio; and it would appear to go some way to providing copy protection. I’ve got to say this looks like DVD-A launch number three (DualDisc having been number two.) Here’s wishing them luck.

Link to Story | Source Home

soundBlade 1.0 ships

Sonic Studio has finally shipped soundBlade, their 2-channel editor for Mac OS X. You can download a demo version. I hope to own a copy soon.

In the meantime I’ve downloaded the demo and am making my way through the manual. I’m writing up a list of things which have changed since previous versions of Sonic. I may link to the list at some point if it develops to the point of being useful.

There is a pdf of the Press Release. US$1495