Source: DVD Report, Vol. 5, No. 3, Phillips Business Information, Copyright Phillips Publishing, Inc.
DVD-Audio/SACD Format War Inevitable, Despite Intentions
The more executives supporting DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD) tried to downplay the idea of a format war at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, earlier this month, the more it sounds like a format war is exactly where next-generation audio is headed. At a panel discussion, Sony Electronics' Mike Fidler attempted to walk a fine line between the two formats, more so than any of the other executives present. Sony has committed to SACD as both a hardware and software provider, but as a DVD Forum member, it may also support the DVD-Audio format (Sony Music, for example, is a member of the DVD Entertainment Group, which is supporting DVD-Audio). ""Not A Format War, But A Choice"" ""Clearly, as we now enter and continue forward in the digital world, there will be more [audio format] options for consumers,"" said Fidler. ""We need to be concise and clear with our message so as not to create a format war, but a choice."" In essence, however, a format war is exactly that - a choice consumers must make between two formats offering a similar capability, in this case higher-quality audio. Other panelists supported one format or the other. The SACD spec provides for hybrid discs that include SACD content on one layer and CD-Audio on another, allowing users to play SACD discs in current CD players, noted Philips' Paul Reynolds. SACD is already out in Japan, he added, with more than 100 titles available. DVD-Audio has the support of 46 member companies of the DVD- Audio Working Group, stated Toshiba's Craig Eggers and Meridian Audio's Bob Stuart. In time, DVD-Audio capability will be included in DVD-Video players, creating a ""universal"" machine for consumers. DVD- Audio will also feed off of DVD-Video's success to date. ""Everything that made DVD-Video a success, we need to do with DVD-Audio,"" Eggers said. Both audio formats have issues to address, including the availability of authoring tools, compatibility, content and pricing. And whether you want to call it a format war or a choice, the bottom line for both DVD-Audio and SACD will be getting support from the major record labels. ""Content is where a format lives or dies,"" said Meridian Audio's Stuart. And while Toshiba's Eggers wouldn't go so far as to say that the new delays in DVD-Audio's launch (now targeted for Q2 2000) are a good thing, he did admit that ""it certainly gives us more time to create more content.""