Protecting Digital Files: Part IV

In looking at the various protection schemes that the music industry and the RIAA have tried over the history of physical optical discs, it’s pretty clear that they’ve been unable to stop illegal copying. No big surprise there. They way I look at it, I have to believe that there are enough audiophiles around that appreciate what I’ve tried to do with AIX Records and iTrax that they will spend money to keep me in business. I can’t spend my time worrying about the minority of quality conscious music fans that want something for nothing. It’s irritating to find my stuff on some obscure Russian blog page but what can you do.

However, it is disconcerting that those who purchase quality high-resolution tracks and have the hardware to play them back cannot do so using their preferred high-end equipment at the quality level that was intended. The problems that I’ve described over the past few days continue.

Let’s take a quick look at the Blu-ray specification as it relates to high-resolution audio in stereo and surround. BD discs support a variety of audio formats. Dolby Digital and PCM ruled the DVD-Video marketplace (DTS was relegated to “optional” status) but both HD variants of Dolby and DTS are possible for Blu-rays. They are Dolby TrueHD (which is an updated version of the format used on DVD-Audio discs…MLP or Meridian Lossless Packing) and DTS HD Master Audio. Both formats are lossless and both are capable of 192 kHz/24-bits in 8 channels…wow! It’s up to the producers of any particular disc to choose between these encoding schemes.

And there’s always high-resolution PCM, a no compromise, no compression audio format that is without question the best and most accurate method of digital recording high-resolution audio. DSD might work for you as a 20-20 kHz “flavor” but plain old PCM trumps it when accuracy and ultrasonic reproduction are important (and they should be). The Blu-ray format can handle 8-channel multichannel PCM at 48/96 kHz/24-bits or 6-channels up to 192 kHz. That’s a very big improvement from the specifications of the DVD or SACD formats.

But the copy protection people are once again involved in trying to stop illegal copying of the BD format. This time they’ve come up with the AACS or Advanced Access Content System. It’s a variant of some older schemes with encryption and keys. But there are a couple of new twists with AACS.

First, it’s mandatory. I’m not allowed to replicate BD discs that are not AACS protected. I had to pay the AACS licensing organization for permission to make BD discs in the first place (which was an initial $3K and another $500 per year) and I have to pay $.04 per replicated disc to the licensing body.

Secondly, the AACS is flexible…meaning when people hack through the current key mechanism, the folks at the AACS mother ship can remotely install an entirely new set of keys to disrupt the hackers. The new scheme is clever but ultimately it won’t matter because Blu-ray discs as a music delivery format are dead on arrival.

These are the so-called “High Fidelity Pure Audio” Blu-ray discs that were launched in the EU and have now made it to the U.S. and the Pacific Rim. I saw a news item about the launch in Korea for a “new hi-fi format”. Here’s the link: Korean Announcement for High Fidelity Pure Audio BD

Here are a couple of lines from the announcement:

“This format lets out a richer and fuller sound— and can only be played on Blu-Ray players. Looking at the technical specs pure audio uses at least a 96-kilohertz sample rate at 24-bit resolution—in translation, that means a much higher quality than a CD’s 44 kilohertz sample rate at 16-bits”

What this press piece and all of the others touting the benefits of HiFi Pure Audio BD discs is that they’re shoveling the same old masters at us once again and making us pay almost $30 for the opportunity. Stay away from this scam.

Blu-ray concerts and those BD discs with high-resolution audio AND video…like those from AIX Records…and even the few Pure Audio BD discs from 2L are valid uses of the format. But the magic for me is the 5.1 surround sound with HD video. The private performance in your media room is a major step forward. That’s why AIX Records is unique in the use of the Blu-ray format. We produce and release ultimate quality Blu-ray discs WITH multiple discrete mixes AND HD-Video of the session…who needs High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray? Not me.

The AACS scheme for BD discs prevents high-resolution digital audio streams to emerge from the optical or coaxial S/P DIF outputs of the players. But we already knew that. The only way to experience the best quality audio (if it’s there in the first place) is to use the internal DACs on your machine (Oppo players have terrific DACs and are very cost effective…I’m just saying) or output the signal using the HDMI connection.

Once again, those of use interested in the best external DACs will be disappointed…for a couple of reasons. We’ll be listening to downconverted audio (48 kHz/24-bits). Or if you’re fortunate to get your hands on a DAC that has HDMI inputs…you’re going to be listening in 2-channel stereo…very old school.

If you’ve got the money, the folks at Bryston have the answer. They produce a fabulous multichannel, HDMI input, processor/preamplifier with state-of-the-art DACs called the SP-3. It’s about $8000 but as far as I’m concerned there is no better multichannel converter available at any price. In Chicago next April, I will be hooking my Oppo BD player via HDMI to the Bryston SP-3 before my high-resolution AIX recordings get to the $1,000,000 worth of amplifiers and speakers (Vitus and German Physiks).

I don’t know how I could reproduce a live music session any better!