Dr. AIX

Mark Waldrep, aka Dr. AIX, has been producing and engineering music for over 40 years. He learned electronics as a teenager from his HAM radio father while learning to play the guitar. Mark received the first doctorate in music composition from UCLA in 1986 for a "binaural" electronic music composition. Other advanced degrees include an MS in computer science, an MFA/MA in music, BM in music and a BA in art. As an engineer and producer, Mark has worked on projects for the Rolling Stones, 311, Tool, KISS, Blink 182, Blues Traveler, Britney Spears, the San Francisco Symphony, The Dover Quartet, Willie Nelson, Paul Williams, The Allman Brothers, Bad Company and many more. Dr. Waldrep has been an innovator when it comes to multimedia and music. He created the first enhanced CDs in the 90s, the first DVD-Videos released in the U.S., the first web-connected DVD, the first DVD-Audio title, the first music Blu-ray disc and the first 3D Music Album. Additionally, he launched the first High Definition Music Download site in 2007 called iTrax.com. A frequency speaker at audio events, author of numerous articles, Dr. Waldrep is currently writing a book on the production and reproduction of high-end music called, "High-End Audio: A Practical Guide to Production and Playback". The book should be completed in the fall of 2013.

11 thoughts on “Qobuz Is Now Available In the U.S.

  • Very weird. I visited Qobuz and I still don’t see US option and it does not let me buy any albums…

    Reply
    • Read some of the other comments…perhaps an email to those who have accounts outside of France were sent the note without them knowing we’re in the U.S. I’ll look into this.

      Reply
    • JTaylor

      It will be available Spring 2015.

      Reply
  • eligeorgia

    Mark,

    There has been discussion about this email on the computer audiophile.com forum. Many of us in the US have set up accounts, and many have also been granted access “full access” simply by requesting it.

    Since we already have accounts, it is speculated that the email was meant to be sent to perhaps additional “NON US” countries that have just been added.

    When on the Qobuz site today, the US is still not listed as a recognised country. So I think that we all received that email assuming we are in a country that has been added.

    All indicators are that the US will be added before the end of the year from what I’ve heard in the rumour mill.

    And perhaps I am wrong about the info I’m sharing, but that seems to be the thought at this point. Hoping you know something that we don’t know! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hard to know if I’m right or not. I received an email saying they were opening up “in my country”. I’ll reach out to them and ask.

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  • Barry Kirby

    No experience with Qobuz, but After downloading George Benson’s ” Breezin ” from HD Tracks in 24/96 format, I find the copy I made from 1977 vinyl, using an Ayre QA9 to be more detailed. I contacted HD Tracks, who basically blamed the remasterer, not themselves. They do have some nice product, but it’s a crap shoot. Just bought your sampler- I like it.

    Reply
    • The truth is it’s always going to be a crap shoot…the labels are only giving HDTracks and all of the others the stuff they have available. I’m glad you like the iTrax – Sprint sampler…it’s a whole different type of recording.

      Reply
  • douglas.e.harrison

    I got that e-mail, too. I tried to place an order yesterday, and even though I have an account with them and have successfully downloaded 5.1-channel albums from them (to the US) before, I got this error message:

    “Les produits suivants ne sont malheureusement pas disponibles à la vente dans votre pays.”
    [The following products are unfortunately not available for sale in your country.]

    I immediately sent an e-mail to Qobuz and I just now got this reply:

    “Qobuz open to international but not in your country.
    Only UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, NL, Belgie, Luxembourg & Irland.
    Qobuz is really sorry because you received our message.. Our International developpement grow up and your country will be open soon.”

    On an equally incompetent note: I reported to Qobuz a year ago that one of the albums they offer actually contains the audio samples and full tracks from a completely different album! I even contacted the American producer and the German recording engineer, but to no avail. Today the error still has not been corrected.

    Reply
    • Apparently, the email that you and I received was incorrect. It didn’t actually say the U.S. but it DID say my country…so go figure. I think Qobuz is expanding but is going a marginal job of ensuring fidelity. Once again, everything is “Master Quality” in their minds.

      Reply
  • Blaine J. Marsh

    I just flashed back to 1966. I was really excited because I had just bought “The Best of the Animals” on MGM. I was 13 years old. In stereo (“Sounds great in STEREO”) no less! “House of the Rising Sun”, “It’s My Life”, etc., sounding like never before! Imagine how cheated I felt when I found that it was sourced from mono masters. 48 years later they (probably their children) are still doing the same… stuff! It’s perfectly legal and morally bankrupt. Obviously, you know that the only way to change things is to make it financially advantageous. I’m sure that is why you have lobbied so hard for an accurate definition HD so that the only way to get the premium money is with a premium product. It’s a tough road that will not change over night. We need to spread the word and keep it in conversation.

    Reply

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