These things are plagued with delays providing plenty of time for negative speculation. Inept coordination between marketing and reality are nothing new.
BIG Blu-Ray Audio drive from Universal Music in 2013
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true, this "launch" has been (and is being) spectacularly badly handled though.
Well I just ordered the Stevie Wonder (even though its 2.0), but its a good album which I don't have a CD copy of, and the reviews here say its good audio quality, plus the Serge Gainsbourg as its 5.1 and I've no idea what its like but I thought I'd take a punt (again good reviews on the forum).
It is interesting that the smaller labels, like Panegyric, Esoteric etc., handle marketing of their products miles better than the large incumbents.
It is interesting that the smaller labels, like Panegyric, Esoteric etc., handle marketing of their products miles better than the large incumbents.
Failed Muso
800 Club - QQ All-Star
If they had taken full advantage of the platform and delivered a bunch of discs with 5.1 options, I'd have been all over this. I appreciate that some titles don't have 5.1 mixes but surely it would've been far more prudent to launch with a bunch of titles that could fully deliver the potential of high capacity, high resolution audio on a single format. Engage a number of artists, do the big promotional push, get on TV, evangelise and sign up some modern, current, big selling artist. As much as I despise them, imagine what would happen if One Direction released their album in 5.1 (shudders). As scary as that might be, it would certainly raise the awareness! All those pre-pubescent girlies demanding that daddy hook up that Blu Ray home cinema kit he bought last Xmas. Sadly though, 5.1 mixes seem to fall under the "creative decision" process and I don't see vast amounts of artists keen to explore. Therefore the label won't force the issue.
"Songs In The Key of Life" is indeed one of the finest albums ever made by a human being and fully deserves the best possible release. But there are a myriad titles out there that could've really kicked off this program with some "wow", titles with pre-existing 5.1 mixes already in the can. My fear is that if this all goes tits up, it will be perceived by anyone else thinking about delivering hi-res 5.1 material as a failure and a warning sign for them not to proceed.
If anyone from the HFPA program is reading this, I urge you to engage with this community in a far more deep and personal way than what you have already. Hold a moratorium and learn from the mistakes. We are the consumers, we are the ones that could hold the key in convincing the masses that the future of physically carried hi-res/multichannel audio is in this direction. I don't accept that multichannel audio is dead in the water as there is a consistent, if limited, number of releases that utilise the format. As Duncan says, these smaller labels that release 5.1 material seem to do ok with it, because they keep doing it. It's clearly paying dividends.
Having finally made the jump to Blu Ray, I am sure that I will buy one or two of these discs, simply to own the best possible quality versions. But I'd be throwing my wallet at them repeatedly if they bothered to do the whole thing properly.
ABMickey
Well-known Member
HFPA barely breathes again and apologize (not for they put only stereo BD out) no they having some issues with the retailers (maybe they know from the shitstorm on FB) and won't sell their crap 
@:
Here the posting: We are very sorry for the lack of communication lately. We have been working very hard behind the scenes to resolve some issues we have had with our retail roll-out of HFPA products. It's not easy launching a new format and we are aware some customers have had issues ordering. Please be patient, we will send you a full list of retailers stocking HFPA products this week now that we finally have confirmation.
@:Here the posting: We are very sorry for the lack of communication lately. We have been working very hard behind the scenes to resolve some issues we have had with our retail roll-out of HFPA products. It's not easy launching a new format and we are aware some customers have had issues ordering. Please be patient, we will send you a full list of retailers stocking HFPA products this week now that we finally have confirmation.
FNAC have pre-orders for the next batch of HFPA blu-ray (39 more titles from what I can gather) with release dates around 12th/13th November.
This, posted earlier today on the SHF by member RiRilll, is the next batch according to FNAC:
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Nice how they listed a couple of them twice to make the list look longer (Amy Winehouse, Eddy Mitchell).
Failed Muso
800 Club - QQ All-Star
Well, the Queen title will be interesting, seeing as there are numerous 5.1 mixes floating around. Firstly, will they include one, and secondly will it be the best one?
The Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, Marvin Gaye and Nick Drake titles pique my interest, though. But I have to say that if there is no 5.1, I will be very reluctant to invest. So I'm not holding my breath.
Am I still right in assuming that there is no official UK distribution yet, even though they claimed it would be in place for September? I guess they didn't specify which September, did they?
The Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, Marvin Gaye and Nick Drake titles pique my interest, though. But I have to say that if there is no 5.1, I will be very reluctant to invest. So I'm not holding my breath.
Am I still right in assuming that there is no official UK distribution yet, even though they claimed it would be in place for September? I guess they didn't specify which September, did they?
No mention of the Supertramp - Crime Of The Century..
pity, as the HFPA Facebook peeps say it "sounds amazing"...!@:
pity, as the HFPA Facebook peeps say it "sounds amazing"...!
@:
HFPA barely breathes again and apologize (not for they put only stereo BD out) no they having some issues with the retailers (maybe they know from the shitstorm on FB) and won't sell their crap
Here the posting: We are very sorry for the lack of communication lately. We have been working very hard behind the scenes to resolve some issues we have had with our retail roll-out of HFPA products. It's not easy launching a new format and we are aware some customers have had issues ordering. Please be patient, we will send you a full list of retailers stocking HFPA products this week now that we finally have confirmation.
Seems to be a pretty bumpy launch so far. Over in Japan, there are over 175 SHM-SACDs currently in print. Maybe they should have let the Universal Japan team launch HFPA. Could have gone smoother !
ABMickey
Well-known Member
I have posted on their FB Site to make it clear what we are expecting and to be clear on the format war:
for a proper releasing strategy is also a good marketing necessary..when you have both party's in the pocket the stereo lovers and the surround one's (when it's already available) it's easier to sell that product to a retailer (reachable market). And also that you gave the audiophile customer some information about the mastering of the release ...a lot of them still suffering from the compression and loudness war and last but not least when you have access to all available and released deluxe editions (f.e. Nirvana - Utero) why you don't use the space on a BD and put it all on your release..this will might work to convince the retailers to take your product in their portfolio
for a proper releasing strategy is also a good marketing necessary..when you have both party's in the pocket the stereo lovers and the surround one's (when it's already available) it's easier to sell that product to a retailer (reachable market). And also that you gave the audiophile customer some information about the mastering of the release ...a lot of them still suffering from the compression and loudness war and last but not least when you have access to all available and released deluxe editions (f.e. Nirvana - Utero) why you don't use the space on a BD and put it all on your release..this will might work to convince the retailers to take your product in their portfolio
HFPA barely breathes again and apologize (not for they put only stereo BD out) no they having some issues with the retailers (maybe they know from the shitstorm on FB) and won't sell their crap
most likely this difficulties arose over the price and how much UMG willing to share with retailers.
if amazon don't have problems to sell the crap from infamous Alexander Jero, there shouldn't be
problem in regards of official releases from such huge label as UMG is.
in regards of their releases, can't tell about all, but Supertramp's Breakfast seems to be just flat
transfer from original first stereo master with no any sort of remastering at all. quite noticeable
tape noise, thus looks like they do not even used any sort of filtering. overal pretty good and
definately better than LP or CD versions.
Bob Squires Jr
1K Club - QQ Shooting Star
Well, if they'd have released them in the US, UK and Japan instead of France, maybe... just maybe it would have taken off better.
Hey!!!!! I have a great idea!!! Let's put out a new format!!
Let's release it only in mono and only in west Africa!!
Oh shit! It didn't sell... it was a TOTAL failure!
Hi Res sucks!!
-Big Record labels
Hey!!!!! I have a great idea!!! Let's put out a new format!!
Let's release it only in mono and only in west Africa!!
Oh shit! It didn't sell... it was a TOTAL failure!
Hi Res sucks!!
-Big Record labels
And then we have Independent Artists like David Elias who records albums live, direct to Multichannel DSD and sells copies on his own web site as DSD Downloads..... !
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ias-Multichannel-DSD-Downloads-Now-Available-!
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...ias-Multichannel-DSD-Downloads-Now-Available-!
Caspersozza
Active Member
I found the recent (thankfully incorrect) rumour that the HFPA programme had been cancelled both alarming and worryingly possible, given the shit storm they've run into from all sides.
Have you tried googling High Fidelity Pure Audio and reading the international press that greeted the launch of the format earlier this year? It is 100% negative, and not from people making our very valid criticism about lack of 5.1. Somehow all the writers assigned to tech columns at various newspapers seem to see no point in high res in general. Many reviews are along the lines of "what sort of moron releases things on disc in this day and age anyway?".
If you combine the flack they got from us over missing surround mixes with the universally bad press reaction and their own marketing incompetence, you could well imagine - if pre-sales proved disappointing - Universal thinking sod this for a game of soldiers and pulling the plug on the whole thing.
I'm glad that hasn't happened (yet), and that this format may be given a chance to blossom into something useful, once the 5.1 demand has been properly digested. I'm also really looking forward to an HFPA version of Exile On Main Street, even if it is only stereo.
Have you tried googling High Fidelity Pure Audio and reading the international press that greeted the launch of the format earlier this year? It is 100% negative, and not from people making our very valid criticism about lack of 5.1. Somehow all the writers assigned to tech columns at various newspapers seem to see no point in high res in general. Many reviews are along the lines of "what sort of moron releases things on disc in this day and age anyway?".
If you combine the flack they got from us over missing surround mixes with the universally bad press reaction and their own marketing incompetence, you could well imagine - if pre-sales proved disappointing - Universal thinking sod this for a game of soldiers and pulling the plug on the whole thing.
I'm glad that hasn't happened (yet), and that this format may be given a chance to blossom into something useful, once the 5.1 demand has been properly digested. I'm also really looking forward to an HFPA version of Exile On Main Street, even if it is only stereo.
well said..! (though there'd be no need for conjecture if UMG got their act together!)
quite how Universal imagine they'll have 1,000 of these HFPA discs out by the end of 2014 (as I believe has been said in a press release, according to a link on the SHF.tv forums) ..I don't know!?
meantime, I think, despite all the press-bashing, tech journo apathy and Facebook assault (!) these discs seem to have sold well @FNAC (& elsewhere.. though the extremely limited quantities Amazon etc has had is just crazy.. they got in what I guess was a copy or three of the Getz/Gilberto, shipped one to me, then it was unavailable again! ridiculous!) well enough to justify going on with the "programme".
so.. next batch here we come! I'm in for Lionel's "should slow down", Supertramp's Crimes against music, Marvin's WTF's going on, Amy Winegums and probably Nick Drake (I can't bring myself to take the piss out of him).. oh and Queen and Tommy (cos a gazillionth version of each of those is just what I need!
)
Failed Muso
800 Club - QQ All-Star
Hear hear! :banana:
I think the best response the the journo's questions regarding the kind of moron who releases things on disc in this day and age is the one that says, "the kind of moron that fails to see that multi-channel audio is the key selling point for a format such as this, especially in the absence of a downloadable multi-channel audio standard"
I do hope the guys and gals at HFPA pay attention otherwise we'll be left with yet another dead format...
Hear hear! :banana:
I think the best response the the journo's questions regarding the kind of moron who releases things on disc in this day and age is the one that says, "the kind of moron that fails to see that multi-channel audio is the key selling point for a format such as this, especially in the absence of a downloadable multi-channel audio standard"
I do hope the guys and gals at HFPA pay attention otherwise we'll be left with yet another dead format...
the trouble (for surround-o-philes!) is that stereo hi-Rez is doing rather nicely in the shape of AF's SACDs etc., so I don't know if surround is that big a deal to Universal or anyone else.!?
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