Post by KHeymann August 20, 2012 (1 of 38)
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I read the item posted by pacwin on August 6 with great interest and would like to comment on the item itself and some of the postings of others.
1.Naxos has not stalled with its blu-ray audio program – we plan to release at least one title per month but skipped the slow months of July and August. At the moment, only very popular repertoire sells on blu-ray audio. It may be of interest that the Euroarts disc was authored by the same studio that also authors all the Naxos blu-ray titles.
2.By and large, we have a pretty good idea of what we’re doing – yes, the Metropolis Symphony is a candidate for release on blu-ray audio but, unfortunately, it is unlikely to sell because only standard repertoire does reasonably well in the new format – our Szymanowski disc didn’t recoup the investment in the authoring.
3.We do indeed try out all new formats – we have been far more adventurous than any other label. Unfortunately, no other independent classical label supported the DVD-Audio format which, in my opinion, was a better format for surround sound than SACD and also allowed longer playing times. SACD only survived as long as it did because of the hybrid format – if labels had sold recordings separately on CD and SACD with SACD selling at a slightly higher price, SACD sales would have never taken off. We tried it and sold our recordings separately on CD, SACD and DVD Audio and very few people were willing to pay the premium for the latter two formats.
4.I don’t want to get into discussing the relative merits of performances – it’s difficult to get any two people to agree.
5.I don’t agree with audioholik that new age HD audio formats have a lifespan only slightly longer than the average fruitfly – SACD, for all its faults, has been with us for a long time.
6.I’m surprised by the comment of willemvoorneveld that all our recordings “suffer from swimming pool acoustics”. That’s virtually impossible given the fact that we record in more than 30 locations around the world and with many different producers and engineers. It’s also not accurate to state that the stereo mix is only presented at 16/48 Khz – with only one exception the stereo component is always represented at 24/96kHz, although the original sample rate may have been at 88.2kHz. The blu-ray spec excludes 88.2kHz, so we have to present at 24/96. I’m surprised he finds the stereo quality dreadful. Most reviewers have disagreed with that statement.
7.We distribute the Norwegian label 2L world-wide – I like their recordings but I think packaging blu-ray discs with a hybrid SACD defeats the purpose and makes their recordings unnecessarily expensive.
8.It looks like willemvoorneveld doesn’t seem to like any of our recordings – the Janacek Glagolitic Mass has received outstanding reviews but, again, there’s no point in arguing the relative merits of performances. Perhaps willemvoorneveld listens to our recordings in his swimming pool at home.
I look forward to your suggestions how to improve the above. Feel free to add to my message.
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Klaus, I have been an avid supporter of Naxos' DVD~As, SACDs and now I have almost every one of your BD Audio discs.
Am somewhat in agreement that with the proper playback equipment (I have a Meridian 800 which is state of the art in DVD~A playback) that DVD~A got the shaft as most people did not have the proper playback equipment to enjoy it's many benefits.....including longer playing times in mch 96/24.
Naxos has an enviable reputation in having a vast repertoire from which to choose and hopefully, a sadly neglected area is film music.....
I don't know if you have any association with SILVA Records but they recently recorded the full 77 minute score for Lawrence of Arabia and, IMO, would be a fantastic multichannel BD Audio release.
That said, I, too am a little disappointed with the BD audio sound from Naxos. The Corigiliano and Antonia Wit Mahler 8th are absolutely spectacular but I cannot say the same for some of the others. I am using an OPPO BDP~93 HDMI out into a Meridian 621/861 v.6 combination and having recently acquired the Premonition Records Patricia Barber BD Audio disc "Modern Cool," I was positively astounded at the three dimensional quality and imaging of the recording so I really don't think it's my electronics (Krell monoblocks, Transparent cabling and Genesis speakers with a 2000 watt bass module).
I think BD Audio definitely has a future and perhaps you should look into utilizing Dolby True HD 96/24 which has implemented Meridian's wonderful apodizing filter in the mastering chain. It's relatively new but has received very positive press and if you are really fond of DVD~A, then Dolby True HD is just that (Meridian's MLP with the addition of a newly implemented apodizing filter).
Am really gratified to hear that the Metropolis Symphony is going to be released as a BD~Audio disc. I will definitely add that to my list.
Best wishes in your BD Audio endeavors and it was a pleasure to hear your response to the many queries we at SACD.net have regarding hi~rez music.
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Post by seth August 20, 2012 (3 of 38)
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KHeymann said:
2.By and large, we have a pretty good idea of what we’re doing – yes, the Metropolis Symphony is a candidate for release on blu-ray audio but, unfortunately, it is unlikely to sell because only standard repertoire does reasonably well in the new format – our Szymanowski disc didn’t recoup the investment in the authoring.
Hi Klaus,
Thanks for taking the time join the discussion here.
I imagine repertoire choice is one of the hardest things about the record business, and I certainly appreciate that you need to turn a profit.
Just to give you some feedback, with the BD-audio discs I'm your target market in the sense that I like surround sound recordings. But so far I've passed on almost all of your BD-audio discs because the repertoire choice is so core -- I don't need another recording the Symphonie Fantastique or the Prokofiev 5.
Would you consider pairing core repertoire with late 20th and 21st music? The Prokofiev 5, for example, is only about 45 minutes long. How about paring it with a 30 minute piece by Michael Daugherty? That would make the release much more appealing for me.
Thanks
-Seth
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Klaus, I must say I admire your bravery. This forum has not always been very kind to record label executives. I can even recall making a jest a few years ago that many people were upset to see Naxos give up on SACD - because they had been so looking forward to panning future releases.
I am very sorry to hear that sales of the Szymanowski and (presumably) other blu-rays of unusual repertoire have been disappointing. But I am very pleased to have Szymanowski, Corigliano, and Lancino in my collection in hi-res multichannel. I understand that finances will likely force you to concentrate on core repertoire in the future, but I hope you won't give up entirely on adventurous releases.
I do believe that healthy competition is always a good thing. I guess I'm saying that I'd like to see Naxos continue to release repertoire on blu-ray which is not yet represented by other labels on SACD. With the understanding that you need to keep the project profitable, of course.
Finally, it wouldn't be the internet without someone, somewhere making wild speculations and leveling unfair criticisms!
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Post by Allen August 20, 2012 (5 of 38)
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I would not say much nice, even in person, for Naxos exec.
I think these executives are all guilty of making SACD fail, simply by supporting SACD and DVD-A both at the same time. This is not how one starts up a new format, this is how one wants to kill both formats. Just imagine the hot battled BD and HD-DVD and how slow and mediocre then both markets were for both of them, and once HD-DVD is killed, BD and associated market took off right away. This a very telling story.
Yes they are guilty to make the format war last for too long, and they are further guilty to introduce another unproven format and dump the existing user base entirely.
Good luck with your adventure, but I am not on your boat anymore.
Please do not expect me to navigate on TV just to play a BD-Audio disc. This is not user friendly. DVD-A failed for this usability reason, and so will BD-A. Ever since Apple invented Macintosh, user interaction is the key for market success, not the media's capacity or any other mind bugging goodies. If you did not get what I just said, then good luck with your decision making for your business, I do not think you should be in a sound position to take side or stand in the trendy consumer electronic market.
BTW, among the complete Naxos SACD catalog that I own, only 2-3 titles standout. Rest of the catalog? 5.1 sounds like 3.0, the sound stage is just way too remote and centered. I wonder if you can cut the rear channels completely. That might save you money as well. ;)
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Allen, you don't have to turn on your TV to play Pure Audio Blu~Ray discs........read the directions which come with your particular player. Color Coded buttons are there for a reason on your remote.
BTW, just played the Naxos BD~A of Janacek's Glagolitic Mass tonight in its entirety using a $40 CD mat atop the disc and the results were spectacular. Fantastic disc and the sound was brilliant.
Also ordered the Szymanowski BD~A (Symphonies 3 & 4) tonight to complete my collection of ALL the Naxos BD~A discs.
And let's be real, Allen...........the record executives did not kill any formats.........try blaming Apple with its low grade MP3 on the move thingamajig!
Joe the Plumber doesn't want quality......he wants convenience at el cheapo prices........ @ 99 cents a pop!
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KHeymann said:
Perhaps willemvoorneveld listens to our recordings in his swimming pool at home.
Funny. Nice to see a sense of humour in such things ...
I haven't tried many of the Naxos SACDs, mostly because the artists are not always the best known. But I was very pleased with:
Arvo Pärt: Berliner Messe - Edison
... which I think sounds noticeably better and more natural (SACD stereo) than the redbook version: I have both.
Out of interest, would you know what the recording resolution was here? For example, 24 bit 44.1kHz or 24 bit 96 kHz or something else?
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rammiepie said:
Allen, you don't have to turn on your TV to play Pure Audio Blu~Ray discs........read the directions which come with your particular player. Color Coded buttons are there for a reason on your remote.
And let's be real, Allen...........the record executives did not kill any formats.........try blaming Apple with its low grade MP3 on the move thingamajig!
Joe the Plumber doesn't want quality......he wants convenience at el cheapo prices........ @ 99 cents a pop!
Yes - that's exactly how I see it. Apart from the average person not being overly bothered about actively listening to recorded music, convenience appears to be rated above quality. Apart from that - as one of my colleagues has often told me - if it's digital, they're all the same anyway!
I'm not (yet) familiar with BD-A discs, but a common misconception with DVD-As appears that many people seem to believe that a display (and turned on) is required to play or listen to them. I very rarely turn on my display to play a DVD-A, and if I do, it is one of those rare occasions when I want to listen to the stereo option, and then it might be simpler to turn on the display - but then it goes straight off. I might have a few DVD-As where it is somewhat simpler to briefly turn on my display, but then again it goes straight off. Considering I needed to have a monitor connected to my multi-channel AV Receiver (and player) in order to initially configure/programme it, that hardly causes me inconvenience.
On the subject of Naxos though (of which I have quite a few discs), one of my real favourites is Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". A fantastic recording capturing so much feel for the venue.
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Post by jazz1 August 21, 2012 (9 of 38)
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KHeymann said:
3.We do indeed try out all new formats – we have been far more adventurous than any other label. Unfortunately, no other independent classical label supported the DVD-Audio format which, in my opinion, was a better format for surround sound than SACD and also allowed longer playing times. SACD only survived as long as it did because of the hybrid format – if labels had sold recordings separately on CD and SACD with SACD selling at a slightly higher price, SACD sales would have never taken off. We tried it and sold our recordings separately on CD, SACD and DVD Audio and very few people were willing to pay the premium for the latter two formats.
You obviously made a mistake not staying with SACD a little longer. surely you could come back to it.
"Being more adventurous" maybe, myself I cannot see Blue Ray audio going far
as most high end players do not support Blue Ray.
Most audiophiles do not want too many formats especially now with downloads becoming available.
Personaly I would never have a tv in my music room, yes I have a big screen in another with a lesser quality audio system but at the end of the day I tend to be a music only guy and rarely watch a music dvd more than once or twice.
Somehow music video do not have the same lasting quality.
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Post by Claude August 21, 2012 (10 of 38)
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It's good to know that Naxos will release more Blu-ray Audio discs.
Unfortunately this is not an option for smaller classical labels who support hi-rez multichannel formats but whose sales are too limited to go dual-inventory (CD and Blu-ray release).
So irrespective of the technical merits of both formats, hybrid SACD remains essential for the classical market.
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