Hi, I just received an email from Tidal.
Since it’s written in italian I prefer to use google translate feature to attach the scrrenshot
Since it’s written in italian I prefer to use google translate feature to attach the scrrenshot
No more MQA and 360RA on Tidal
- Thread starter Lucanu
- Start date
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@Oldschoolsoundengineer mentioned this in the Atmos streaming thread yesterday, but it probably deserves its own thread. I hope this isn't the final nail in the coffin for MPEG-H 3D as an immersive music format, though I fear it is. Fraunhofer, Sony, and the open-standard community just never seemed interested in developing a viable strategy for getting MPEG-H out there into the consumer sphere and competing with Dolby.
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Indeed, it was only a matter of time. Dolby Atmos rules the roost
Like I've always said "DOA"- Sony just has to go their own way!
However, the release of many of the old Quads via 360 RA was encouraging, they should just start a program (streamline from the 7" SACD's) like Rhino, and release those old Quads in a BD format.
it'll never happen unless Sony were to have a Foraging Rhino type of guy onboard to drive the project on. i doubt we'd have Quadio without him.Like I've always said "DOA"- Sony just has to go their own way!
However, the release of many of the old Quads via 360 RA was encouraging, they should just start a program (streamline from the 7" SACD's) like Rhino, and release those old Quads in a BD format.
as it is, Sony Japan and Dutton Vocalion are doing a fine job and i can't realistically see Sony's domestic division themselves topping Sony Japan & Vocalion's work.
also, i'm mindful of the superiority of DV's releases such as Ship Ahoy and The Isley's 3+3 compared to Sony USA's earlier efforts
of the same titles.
in other words.. i'd say.. fahgeddabouddit!
minimumtumbleweed
300 Club - QQ All-Star
I got this email the other day as well. I'm more curious about whether all the albums previously locked in 360 hell will finally get their Atmos versions on Tidal. Something tells me probably not - at least not right away.
True. Still I'm sorry to see 360RA go even though I've never used it. I do hate to
see any surround format disappear for lack of interest, could this spell trouble for others?
OTOH I have been happy to see Auro3D reappearing on some recent releases from Immersive Audio Album and others. It's a great object based format the can be carried in a standard FLAC file and played back problem free from any media player that can handle Quad or 5.1.. The brand new Jennifer Thomas - Oceans is an excellent sounding example.
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Another huge point in the Tidal news release, as Sal has quoted for a long time, R.I.P. MQA.
Tidal has dumped there MQA playback and there Hi-Res Stereo is now FLAC.
Tidal has dumped there MQA playback and there Hi-Res Stereo is now FLAC.
I don't think they need to TOP anyone's work.it'll never happen unless Sony were to have a Foraging Rhino type of guy onboard to drive the project on. i doubt we'd have Quadio without him.
as it is, Sony Japan and Dutton Vocalion are doing a fine job and i can't realistically see Sony's domestic division themselves topping Sony Japan & Vocalion's work.
also, i'm mindful of the superiority of DV's releases such as Ship Ahoy and The Isley's 3+3 compared to Sony USA's earlier efforts
of the same titles.
in other words.. i'd say.. fahgeddabouddit!
But, in all honesty, while the SonyJP 7" series is nice, it is also expensive and the packaging unnecessary. If Sony wanted to release those titles domestically in more traditional and affordable packaging, there would probably be a market for it.
Continuing to farm out the less-popular titles to DV probably makes sense for them.
Tidal reacted very quickly, just a week after the MQA "go into administration" announcement in April 2023.
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/tidal-adopting-hi-res-flac-hifi-plus-subscribers
After a year of preparing his library and waiting to see if anything would happen with Lenbrook's acquisition of MQA, it looks the decision was clear.
I think the whole thing is related to their subscription plans. I was subscribed to HIFI plus to get the best quality, both stereo or atmos/360. They suddenly reduced my subscription fee to 10.99 from 19.99, changing it to a simple Tidal individual.
That explains why…
That explains why…
I’m torn from a streaming standpoint, 360RA had a higher bitrate than streamed Atmos with a 7.1 bed. But Atmos is the superior format simply because of their -18 LUFS requirement. A mix can be lackluster/lazy, but it can never be dynamically compressed - something that has destroyed traditional 2 channel music for the last 30 years. 360RA was the Wild West. Many 360RA albums are unlistenable because of dynamic compression.
JediJoker
Audio Engineer/Enthusiast
It can, as long as it meets the loudness standard, which would just mean leaving lots of headroom above the crushed peaks. Loudness ≠ dynamic range.
Compressed and not loud at the same time would be the silliest thing ever, but it can potentially happen, of course.
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