Suggestions for Audio Fidelity Multichannel SACD Releases

[bmoura]

When o When we can have a release from Audio Fidelity with a popular artist in surround SACD?

My hopes are very low..... maybe we are really at the end of the road for surround SACD.

Regards,

Is Blue Oyster Cult considered a "popular artist" or perhaps not popular enough?

As for Surround SACDs, Audio Fidelity has said they will be releasing them from time to time much as we see from Analogue Productions.
So we are not "at the end of the road" but we are seeing a reduction in the pace of new Surround SACDs from Audio Fidelity.

 

[jsulzinger]

Is Blue Oyster Cult considered a "popular artist" or perhaps not popular enough?

As for Surround SACDs, Audio Fidelity has said they will be releasing them from time to time much as we see from Analogue Productions.
So we are not "at the end of the road" but we are seeing a reduction in the pace of new Surround SACDs from Audio Fidelity.

I would say that any artist that gets regular/daily play on AOR stations across the USA is "popular" ie: Dont Fear The Reaper and Burnin For You

 

[sperezmore]

Is Blue Oyster Cult considered a "popular artist" or perhaps not popular enough?

Sorry,

Blue Oyster Cult it's not a "popular artist" in my book, just a mediocre band from the 70's

Please, this is just my personal opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone that like this group.

Regards,

 

[fredblue]

Is Blue Oyster Cult considered a "popular artist" or perhaps not popular enough?

As for Surround SACDs, Audio Fidelity has said they will be releasing them from time to time much as we see from Analogue Productions.
So we are not "at the end of the road" but we are seeing a reduction in the pace of new Surround SACDs from Audio Fidelity.

Fair enough.. but hopefully there'll be no more inadvertent Quadblocking from AF, as they're being more selective now with Surround (a la Musicmagic and Tale Spinnin Quads which now have no chance imho of a Quad reissue anytime soon thanks to AF's new strategy, licensing albums with Quads and then not releasing the albums in Surround). Not attacking or having a go at anyone but being fair and even handed about it, while AF have delivered many great Surround titles over the months and credit where credits due, I do find those two bitter pills hard to swallow and make no apologies for my firm stance on the matter, two missteps in an otherwise largely excellent surround programme all involved at AF and beyond should be rightly proud of

 

[JonUrban]

Hey guys. Please. Lighten up. When I asked Marshall why BS&T GH would not be quad and he said they were going to be scaling back the surround titles I was completely and totally bummed. For at least a few days. I felt like I failed. I felt like QQ failed. But then I got to thinking - no, I didn't fail. QQ didn't fail. We did our part and what else could any of us possibly done.

So, I shook it off and moved on to other things. That's what we all should do, even Adam!!

Please, move on everyone. It sucks that MFSL won't do surround, it sucks when AS or AF release something that could be surround, and it sucks that there is absolutely nothing, and I do mean nothing, that we can do about it.

But it almost sucks just as bad to go on and on and on and on about it. Ya know? We're all disappointed here. All of us. Well, I don't speak for anyone but myself, but I would bet most of us are.

So please. Celebrate what we have and not what we don't have. I've said it before and I am saying it again. PLEASE

 

[4-earredwonder]

Hey guys. Please. Lighten up. When I asked Marshall why BS&T GH would not be quad and he said they were going to be scaling back the surround titles I was completely and totally bummed. For at least a few days. I felt like I failed. I felt like QQ failed. But then I got to thinking - no, I didn't fail. QQ didn't fail. We did our part and what else could any of us possibly done.

So, I shook it off and moved on to other things. That's what we all should do, even Adam!!

Please, move on everyone. It sucks that MFSL won't do surround, it sucks when AS or AF release something that could be surround, and it sucks that there is absolutely nothing, and I do mean nothing, that we can do about it.

But it almost sucks just as bad to go on and on and on and on about it. Ya know? We're all disappointed here. All of us. Well, I don't speak for anyone but myself, but I would bet most of us are.

So please. Celebrate what we have and not what we don't have. I've said it before and I am saying it again. PLEASE

I wholeheartedly agree, Jon. Just received BOC's Secret Treaties 4.0 in the mail today along with the stereo SACD of Leon Russell and the Shelter People and am looking forward to spinning both.

Of all the reissue companies, I think we can single out Marshall Blonstein and his wonderful team at AF for creating the greatest blitz of surround releases since the early 00 blitz.

I'm sure we WILL see more in the future and they will continue to amaze.

QQ hasn't failed in any way. From a financial point of view, the number crunchers at AF just weren't making the profit they thought they would. As always, MONEY talks ******** walks.

On the positive side, I have a lot of pre~orders for upcoming DVD~As, BD~As and SACDs all in Surround so all isn't lost.

And from all the recent musical artists who continue to visit QQ on a daily basis, I would say QQ Forum has succeeded in making smaller labels aware of our presence and in time that may spread to the Big Boys (aka The Majors).

 

[fredblue]

Well.. gosh.. of course I accept your will, Jon and I apologise for any offense caused.

I thought I was being even handed and moderate, giving praise for the surround AF have delivered but also criticising what I thought was (imho only) an error of judgement with those two particular titles only.. and now it seems by expressing displeasure more than a couple of times about it I've become akin to one of the stuck records I have no option but to play since no label will deliver what I would like to see reissued in Quad.

Oh well.. moving on as advised, you won't hear another peep out of me on the RTF/WR subject at QQ.

Meantime, should we continue to make suggestions for surround titles for AF in this thread, or is it just pointless now..?

I'm happy to trundle off elsewhere if that's the case, no harm no foul, it'd just be nice to know the score

 

[ArmyOfQuad]

What would it take to work out some sort of a limited run special offer to QQ members of quad mixes available to AF to remaster, that somehow they've decided aren't profitable enough to do a widespread run of? How many copies would need to be pre-ordered, and what would the price point be, and could it be more affordable if these limited runs were quad only?


I mean, what it really comes down to here is that we want options to purchase copies to long out of print quad titles from the master tapes that are rotting away in the vaults. I don't think we're being so unreasonable, it seems the industry are the unreasonable ones, finding every excuse in the book time and time again to not sell us the product we simply want to buy. (just to be clear, this isn't a slam against AF, but against the industry as a whole.)

 

[4-earredwonder]

What would it take to work out some sort of a limited run special offer to QQ members of quad mixes available to AF to remaster, that somehow they've decided aren't profitable enough to do a widespread run of? How many copies would need to be pre-ordered, and what would the price point be, and could it be more affordable if these limited runs were quad only?


I mean, what it really comes down to here is that we want options to purchase copies to long out of print quad titles from the master tapes that are rotting away in the vaults. I don't think we're being so unreasonable, it seems the industry are the unreasonable ones, finding every excuse in the book time and time again to not sell us the product we simply want to buy. (just to be clear, this isn't a slam against AF, but against the industry as a whole.)

Probably not profitable at all, AofQ. I would think if their QUAD/5.1 releases were as profitable as we'd like to think, that program would have continued unabated.

I believe most of these reissue companies have a minimum 10K guarantee when they press those SACDs and when a lot of them don't reach even that goal (which really isn't much) they end up in the bargain bin.

The unfortunate reality is that most of the world listens in stereo and ALL those reissue companies unfortunately cater to that 'majority!'

And I do agree that letting these surround masters ROT in their respective vaults is criminal but hardly remains a priority for the Majors.

 

[fredblue]

What would it take to work out some sort of a limited run special offer to QQ members of quad mixes available to AF to remaster, that somehow they've decided aren't profitable enough to do a widespread run of? How many copies would need to be pre-ordered, and what would the price point be, and could it be more affordable if these limited runs were quad only?


I mean, what it really comes down to here is that we want options to purchase copies to long out of print quad titles from the master tapes that are rotting away in the vaults. I don't think we're being so unreasonable, it seems the industry are the unreasonable ones, finding every excuse in the book time and time again to not sell us the product we simply want to buy. (just to be clear, this isn't a slam against AF, but against the industry as a whole.)

Thank you for that brilliantly put post.

You said what I've been trying to say so much better than I ever could.

How do we do this?

This is all I want... a slew of lovely old Quads from the master tapes.. we get it with Stereo all the time, is it such a big ask with the Quads?

I don't care if Quad or Surround is never mass market, it's never been upto now so why should that change anytime soon as the music biz is in a continued state of flux..

A model that delivers on a very limited basis to the exact customer base that wants the Quads in Hi-res surround from the masters..
a label willing to do it on an "on demand" basis maybe.. like a custom DVD-R press maybe?

iirc Sony used to do just that with some of its old out of print titles, just press them up on CD-R in no frills packaging.. or heaven forbid somebody could do official legit Quad downloads of transfers from the 4-channel master tapes..

why such downloads would be so hard to do, I don't know..

 

[JonUrban]

Well.. gosh.. of course I accept your will, Jon and I apologise for any offense caused.

I thought I was being even handed and moderate, giving praise for the surround AF have delivered but also criticising what I thought was (imho only) an error of judgement with those two particular titles only.. and now it seems by expressing displeasure more than a couple of times about it I've become akin to one of the stuck records I have no option but to play since no label will deliver what I would like to see reissued in Quad.

Oh well.. moving on as advised, you won't hear another peep out of me on the RTF/WR subject at QQ.

Meantime, should we continue to make suggestions for surround titles for AF in this thread, or is it just pointless now..?

I'm happy to trundle off elsewhere if that's the case, no harm no foul, it'd just be nice to know the score

Adam - don't trundle off. I am just as upset as you about these 3 releases, but I'm done with it. Besides, I wasn't directing my post at you specifically, I just am trying to say that we all did what we could do and we can't be expected to do more. I mean, we're the customers and if they don't want to give us what we want we can't buy it which means we can't be customers.

The bottom line is that we should not be put in a position to beg for stuff, or be guilted into funding stuff. We are supporters to a point. That's my point.

 

[fredblue]

Probably not profitable at all, AofQ. I would think if their QUAD/5.1 releases were as profitable as we'd like to think, that program would have continued unabated.

I believe most of these reissue companies have a minimum 10K guarantee when they press those SACDs and when a lot of them don't reach even that goal (which really isn't much) they end up in the bargain bin.

The unfortunate reality is that most of the world listens in stereo and ALL those reissue companies unfortunately cater to that 'majority!'

And I do agree that letting these surround masters ROT in their respective vaults is criminal but hardly remains a priority for the Majors.

Forget the business model that everyone has used hitherto..

..it clearly doesn't work, or rather is unsustainable..

we need to think of another approach, imho..

(hence that other QQ thread that was started on that very subject.. but that has descended into ******** about SQ LPs and which Quads were made with some position encoder or not.. which is getting the discussion nowhere... on the verge of throwing in the towel tonight gotta say, feels like treading water.. so much defeatist attitude, jeez..)

 

[4-earredwonder]

Thank you for that brilliantly put post.

You said what I've been trying to say so much better than I ever could.

How do we do this?

This is all I want... a slew of lovely old Quads from the master tapes.. we get it with Stereo all the time, is it such a big ask with the Quads?

I don't care if Quad or Surround is never mass market, it's never been upto now so why should that change anytime soon as the music biz is in a continued state of flux..

A model that delivers on a very limited basis to the exact customer base that wants the Quads in Hi-res surround from the masters..
a label willing to do it on an "on demand" basis maybe.. like a custom DVD-R press maybe?

iirc Sony used to do just that with some of its old out of print titles, just press them up on CD-R in no frills packaging.. or heaven forbid somebody could do official legit Quad downloads of transfers from the 4-channel master tapes..

why such downloads would be so hard to do, I don't know..

My guess, Adam, is that mch downloads WILL be the future but don't know (or never heard of) SACD~R which is what it would take to custom print these QUAD titles on demand. DVD~R might be SONY's only option but since when does Sony do DVD~A...except for a few EL&P titles.

 

[fredblue]

Adam - don't trundle off. I am just as upset as you about these 3 releases, but I'm done with it. Besides, I wasn't directing my post at you specifically, I just am trying to say that we all did what we could do and we can't be expected to do more. I mean, we're the customers and if they don't want to give us what we want we can't buy it which means we can't be customers.

The bottom line is that we should not be put in a position to beg for stuff, or be guilted into funding stuff. We are supporters to a point. That's my point.

I didn't mean off QQ altogether Jon! I just meant to another corner of the Forum!!

(besides I'd have no life if I wasn't with you lot on here, I devote all my free time and even time I should be working to surround and Quad as many of you here do..!)

you are 10000000 gazillion percent right in everything you say on this subject. I'm with you, no fussing, no messing, no arguments. you are a fair man, a wise man, a plain speaking man and I admire you for it and so appreciate it.

I just hate some of whats gone down with all the disappointments.. my sorrow at yet another 'missed opportunity' deepens..

.. oh how I would dearly love somehow for all us 5.1 and Quad lovers at QQ to be able to take matters into our own hands, someway somehow.. I know we can do it!

Lets please try and all adopt a "can do" approach to this! I know we can make it so.. I know it, we just have to keep the faith, the level of expertise, knowledge, enthusiasm, experience and ability here wrt Quad and Surround is astonishing.. combine all that, direct it in the right way and the sky's the limit imho.. just imho.. which I realise with record labels and industry professionals counts for nothing but still..

 

[fredblue]

My guess, Adam, is that mch downloads WILL be the future but don't know (or never heard of) SACD~R which is what it would take to custom print these QUAD titles on demand. DVD~R might be SONY's only option but since when does Sony do DVD~A...except for a few EL&P titles.

Ralph, please forget the future, there is a here and now.

Time is not on our side. "One day tomorrow" (thank you Edgar Winter) it will be too late.

Lets face facts.. None of us are young men anymore..
(ok with the exception of Ryan but for ***** sake please do not go down that road or I will make like Herbie and go bananas! :banana:
seriously, I have so much time for Ryan, he is an amazing QQ member, an example to us all here and the future of all this surround stuff imho.. we must all embrace the younger generation coming up such as him! The old Quad guys and the new 5.1 guys here are all stunners, lets all homogenise! Ageism - is just a number - and it always adds up to a big fat zero if you use that abacus with prejudice!!

Ok I'm off to walk my dog (not a euphemism, the poor pooch is crying to go for a pee bless him! WOOF WOOOF!)

See ya... and keeeeeeeep smiling..!!

 

[4-earredwonder]

Ralph, please forget the future, there is a here and now.

Time is not on our side. "One day tomorrow" (thank you Edgar Winter) it will be too late.

Lets face facts.. None of us are young men anymore..
(ok with the exception of Ryan but for ***** sake please do not go down that road or I will make like Herbie and go bananas! :banana:
seriously, I have so much time for Ryan, he is an amazing QQ member, an example to us all here and the future of all this surround stuff imho.. we must all embrace the younger generation coming up such as him! The old Quad guys and the new 5.1 guys here are all stunners, lets all homogenise! Ageism - is just a number - and it always adds up to a big fat zero if you use that abacus with prejudice!!

Ok I'm off to walk my dog (not a euphemism, the poor pooch is crying to go for a pee bless him! WOOF WOOOF!)

See ya... and keeeeeeeep smiling..!!

I'm afraid releasing all those quad titles is WAY beyond our reach. I have been petitioning for them, like yourself, for MORE years than I care to remember. I've e~mailed ALL the reissue companies and requested QUAD titles more times than I care to remember. Even e~mailed Jim Croce's widow recently and failed to receive a reply. She's apparently quadblocked ALL his titles and has NO interest in acquiescing.

I just relish the ones that I do have and look forward to the ones being released on ALL formats before Christmas of this year.

No use getting your hopes up too high only to be disappointed, Adam.

Reality sucks and don't you know it?

WOOF and my cat replies MEOW!:kitty:

 

[HomerJAU]

WOOF and my cat replies MEOW!:kitty:

Off topic but just to add some much needed levity:

How do you make a cat go Woof? Pour petrol (gas) on it and light a match: WOOF!

(apologies)

 

[fredblue]

Off topic but just to add some much needed levity:

How do you make a cat go Woof? Pour petrol (gas) on it and light a match: WOOF!

(apologies)

HAHA..!! Levity injection = a complete success, thank you Dr. Garry :upthumb :chill

 

[fredblue]

I'm afraid releasing all those quad titles is WAY beyond our reach. I have been petitioning for them, like yourself, for MORE years than I care to remember. I've e~mailed ALL the reissue companies and requested QUAD titles more times than I care to remember. Even e~mailed Jim Croce's widow recently and failed to receive a reply. She's apparently quadblocked ALL his titles and has NO interest in acquiescing.

I just relish the ones that I do have and look forward to the ones being released on ALL formats before Christmas of this year.

No use getting your hopes up too high only to be disappointed, Adam.

Reality sucks and don't you know it?

WOOF and my cat replies MEOW!:kitty:

Why should they be beyond our reach, Ralphie..?

A lone petition, an email fired off here and there, as I have done and you have done, is nine times out of ten, just not going to hack it..
(case in point I'm still waiting on a reply from either of the two fellows handling Universal's High Fidelity Pure Audio at the start, all those years ago that I emailed with a few basic enquiries, neither of whom had the common courtesy to even come back with so much as an "out of office" reply! "wocka wocka".. Ah screw 'em. HFPA's flopped anyway, the silly buggers screwed that one up as well, how screwy..)... no, we need a concerted effort, with the right people's skills deployed in the right way could be the solution.. and we'll all be in clover..!

Clearly from your recent enquiries there's no point pursing Jim Croce at this stage... but there's scores more Quads we could be looking at.. as i have been saying for a while now, let's look at what we know is off the table, set those artists and albums to one side and look into the feasibility of what's left for potential reissue..

 

[4-earredwonder]

Why should they be beyond our reach, Ralphie..?

A lone petition, an email fired off here and there, as I have done and you have done, is nine times out of ten, just not going to hack it..
(case in point I'm still waiting on a reply from either of the two fellows handling Universal's High Fidelity Pure Audio at the start, all those years ago that I emailed with a few basic enquiries, neither of whom had the common courtesy to even come back with so much as an "out of office" reply! "wocka wocka".. Ah screw 'em. HFPA's flopped anyway, the silly buggers screwed that one up as well, how screwy..)... no, we need a concerted effort, with the right people's skills deployed in the right way could be the solution.. and we'll all be in clover..!

Clearly from your recent enquiries there's no point pursing Jim Croce at this stage... but there's scores more Quads we could be looking at.. as i have been saying for a while now, let's look at what we know is off the table, set those artists and albums to one side and look into the feasibility of what's left for potential reissue..

The only efficient way of getting these quad tapes resurrected from their vaults is for the individual artists to get involved.

I think Audio Fidelity's Marshall Blonstein who did have a sincere interest in the project performed a valiant service but as the mounting expense of paying for the individual multilayers of a hybrid SACD have risen rather astronomically and the returns have been slight and AF made more of a profit (quite obviously) with their 24K Gold RBCDs and Stereo SACD reissues, doubtful, at this juncture, that any other reissue labels will take up the slack by releasing QUAD remasters based on AF's recent model.

It's all about the money Adam. Something we all have to face. And forget about group fundraising for new projects. It all sounds great on paper until it's time to 'pony up' the dough. Ever hear of 'silent' partners?