DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio is an exciting new medium in the
world of music. A DVD-A disk is essentially
music on a DVD instead of a CD. This allows
for some awesome advantages. The DVD-A format
will support many different audio formats
instead of the single format provided by
CDs. In the world of digital audio there
are two main factors to the quality of sound,
bit rate and sample rate. You can think of
these terms like the resolution of a picture.
CDs are always at 16bit, 44.1 kHz. DVD-A
will support many formats up to 24bit, 192
kHz. You may be asking yourself “My
CDs sound fine. Why do I need better quality?” But
CD quality bit and sample rates are actually
fairly low in the pro-audio world, and the
Digital Analog Converters (DAC) in CD players
can substantially alter the sound of digital
music. The task of a DAC is much more transparent
when dealing with higher sample rates. But
higher quality just touches on the advantages
DVD-A can provide.
CDs are a stereo medium, meaning that
they have two channels: right, and left.
DVD-A supports surround sound format, meaning
you get six channels: right, left, center,
right rear, left rear, and sub-woofer.
Having these channels would amazingly improve
the diversity in the image of music, as
well as the clarity and quality. As an
example, Vocals could be sent mainly to
the center speaker, while guitars and drums
are spread throughout the right and left
speakers. At the same time the reverberation
of these instruments could be sent to the
rear speakers. The overall effect would
make it seem almost like the band was in
your living room. The sound would be fuller
and richer coming out of six speakers versus
two. Here are all the main formats that
DVD-A supports:
 Stereo:
| Sample Rate |
Bit Depth |
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
96 kHz
192 kHz |
24bit / 16bit
24bit / 16bit
24bit / 16bit
24bit / 16bit |
6-Channel:
| Sample Rate |
Bit Depth |
48 kHz
96 kHz |
24bit
16bit |
Another advantage of DVD-Audio is that
it still supports CD quality. So not only
will DVD-A players be able to play CDs
as well, but you will be able to have DVD-Audio
disks at CD quality that are ten times
longer than a CD. In other words, you could
have the entire 20 album Led Zeppelin collection
on 2 disks.
Most DVD video players support
DVD-Audio disks. There's also an
array of portable and automotive DVD-A
players. DVD-Audio disks and players are
readily available at every major music
and home electronics retailer.
Paradise Recording is excited about the
possibilities provided by DVD-A and supports
DVD-A production through Nuendo and Wavelab.
We produce multiple versions of a project,
so that you can have a CD, and a DVD-A
at 96 kHz 24bit. And coming soon: surround
sound DVD-A.
Links for more info on DVD-A:
digital
audio guide
dvd
planet
enjoy
the music
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