Hi, everybody, i have these files in .wav format that i want to burn to DVD's through a DVD Authoring software called Ulead Burn.Now. It lets me burn as DVD - Audio or Audio Only DVD - Video. My question is, taking in consideration that my main goal is to achieve the best possible sound quality ( the music files are only "Classical music" - a type of music that you can particularly tell the differences when it comes to sound quality ), should i burn the files as DVD - Audio or Audio Only DVD - Video ? I intend, in the future, to buy a "real" audio system so i can hear the music "properly", as it should be heard, if you know what i mean. By the way, i don't know if i should buy a DVD- Video player or a DVD-Audio player (together with the rest of the audio system - speakers, amplifier etc...). What do you think ? Isn't it better to buy a DVD-Audio player, considering that it is mainly to hear music and not to see videos ? If so, i should burn the DVD's as DVD-Audio format, right ? This is important because i presume that the format DVD-Audio can't be read by a DVD-Video player, right ? And the Audio Only DVD - Video format can't be read by a DVD-Audio player, either, right ? Suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks,

J. Silva

Most DVD-Audio players can read DVD-Video, but few DVD-V players read DVD-A.

Both DVD-V and DVD-A support PCM audio so you need not worry about lossy compression. The only thing you may need to watch out for is a resampling if you use DVD-V. IIRC DVD-V does not allow 44.1 KHz PCM so if you have that and do not want to resample, you must use DVD-A.

It also depends on the format of the recordings. If they're 16-bit 44.1khz or less, you won't be able to do any better than you would with CD.

Yes, the main question here is, what bitdepth and sampling rate are your classical recordings ? Recorded with a DAT recorder ( 16 bit / 48 KHz ) ?

Normal DVD-Video can contain Stereo tracks of 24 Bit / 96 KHz sampling rate, and EVERY spec compatible DVD-Player has to be able to play those ( even if it's using downsampling inside because of bad D/A converters ), so i bet your recording won't be any better than this, right ?

In short, i don't see any reason to create a DVD-A from your 'master tapes' ....

Christian

You can get more good quality music to one disc.

Usable data size of a DVD-V and a DVD-A are the same. There is only one 'mode' in which DVD-A can contain 'more', and thats 6 channel 24 Bit 96 KHz surround sound, when MLP 'Meridian Lossless Packaging' could be used. DVD-V doesnt offer such a mode, maximum 6 channel uncompressed ( AC3 556 kbps would be another option, if a lossy mode was allowed ) is 16 Bit 44,1 KHz AFAIK .

The best Stereo mode on DVD-V is, as written above, 24 Bit 96 KHz, and DVD-A does offer a 24 Bit 192 KHz mode in addition to that. However, if you are going for that your max. running time will be shorter ( half ), not longer ....

Christian

burning DVD with music:

it depends on the source waves and the goals, as Christian said.

if the source waves are at or below 24 bit, 96 kHZ stereo, burn as DVd-V for compatibility with all the (cheap) dvd-v players out there.

If you have really 24 bit 96 khZ multichannle, or 192 khZ stereo, and u want to keep these qualities, u are forced to DVd-A.
But the 24/192 are overkill and waste of space for most people, if not for all.
24/96 stereo/multichannel is nice, but 24/48 stereo or multichannel would be perfect for most, probably for all people.

if u have 44.1 kHz sampling (eg. from CD), u are forced to upsample to 48 kHz, burn as DVD-V for compliancy with cheap players.



What DVd player to buy for your home ?

well, even cheap DVd-V players can be nice or even perfect for hq-audio, if used via digital out to an external DA-converter, like built in good amps.

Those transmit even HDCD information digitally to the amp/HDCD-decoder, or 5.1 DTS, CD, or DVD-V (even certain DVD-A) with 24 bit, 96 kHz stereo.

But if you have the money to spend, and you have interest eg. in really good multichannel music, then you should buy a DVD-A player , which plays DVD-V by default. (DVD-A and DVD-V format specifications are very close, see the 24/96 stereo example, there is an early Technics DVD-A, which contains 24/96 stereo (and otehr tracks with up to 24/192, so yes, it is a true DVd-A), which can be played by DVd-V players.)
Because nowadays you get a lot artists with good (or better wording: effectful, art-rock) multichannel DVd-A albums, like Queen, Doors etc.
I haven#t found a classic album yet in interesting multichannel, I have eg. Mozart symphony /Karajan recording as 4.0 DTS from 1970s, playable by every cd( or dvd)-player via dig. out, derived from Quadrophonie of the 70s, but they mixed only some weak surround to the rear channels.

it is good to know, that there are alternative concepts of multichannel music,
like Ambiosonics,
or the 6 channel setup by Chesky, with speakers at front, but soem speakers above the others.

Thanks guys for answering. You do know what you're talking about. Well, my files are indeed, as you suspected, in 16 bits 44,1 Khz (CD quality). So, i guess, there's no point to burn as DVD-Audio, right ? I should instead burn as DVD-Video for compatibility matters, right ? The software Ulead Burn.Now allows me to burn as DVD-Video directly. So, i think i don't need to upsample to 48 kHz.
Taking this in consideration, do you think i'll be able to play the DVD's in 5.1 or 7.1 mode ? I mean, is this possible with files originally in 16 bits 44,1 Khz ? I'm in the "possibilities realm". Even considering all the present technology. I'm asking this because User wrote "it is good to know, that there are alternative concepts of multichannel music,like Ambiosonics,or the 6 channel setup by Chesky, with speakers at front, but soem speakers above the others".
I really liked to be able to hear my music with all this new technology. Just tell me what do i need to buy, ok ? My budget is about $ 1.500. Please, do include a DVD player (possibly a DVD-Audio player), a amplifier (?), speakers and cables. If you think there's anything else i should buy, just don't hesitate to tell me.

Thank you all,

J.Silva

either you upsample to 48 kHz, or another software, like ulead.
but uneven upsampling is a quality question, if it is done fast, it is low quality, you need a good upsampler, like ssrc, or Cooledit, which can do it in good quality.
unfortunately, DVD-V/A do not support 44.1 kHz.

DVD-V offers you everything for your 16/44.1, no DVd-A necessary,
I would upsample to 16/48, I don't think that upsampled 24/48 have an advanatge compared to upsampled 16/48 coming from 16/44.1.

You have stereo 16/44.1 , only DSP like Hraman kardons Logic7 or Dolbys DPL2 will create pseudo-multichannel out of stereo.
But a 4.0 speaker setup (or 5.1, or more) is nice for DVD-V/A, which you buy in shops, movies or special music-DVD-V (mostly in 5.1 ac3/dts &/or a hq stereo track), or DVD-A.

The Chesky or Ambiosonic setups are interesting for audiophiles, who are not satisfied and want to explore more music feeling than the "poor averaged 5.1 Dolby music mixes from mass-industry" <-- little bit exaggerating.

Harman kardon multichannel amps/receivers are quite good, but others surely do well, too.
if u don't want DVD-A, and u should be satisfied with music-DVD-V, then u save money, as nearly every cheap DVd-V player for ca. 40-60 € will do, connected digitally to ur amp. The analogue outs of cheap dvd-players, forget them quickly
If u go DVd-A, then the panasonic DVD-A players might be good & priceworthy, the S 75 iirc. Be careful, there are castrated DVD-A players, which output only stereo !

Put most money to ur speakers, make listening tests, even in your listening room, be lucky, if u have a good dealer.
Or try internet shops for speakers, select good model after careful test readings, and better some listening in local shops, and then order by internet, at least in germany you can return after 14 days with money back, if they don't suit.

Actually DVD-A fully supports 44,100 Hz. It is DVD-V that does not.