Surroundablog

Rolling Stones DualDisc

Editor's Note: The Rolling Stones new album "A Bigger Bang" is due on September the 6th. A special edition DualDisc version of the album is expected in time for Christmas...

Stones Strip Down, Have A Laugh On New Album


By Melinda Newman, L.A.

When Mick Jagger had qualms about recording a new Rolling Stones album at his house in France, Keith Richards had a simple retort. "I said to Mick, 'Listen, once upon a time, we cut a record in the South of France in my house, and it's called "Exile on Main Street," and now it's your turn'," he tells Billboard in his first interview about the project.

The interview appears in the Aug. 6, 2005, issue of the magazine, on newsstands tomorrow (July 30).

No one would dare try to hold up the Stones' forthcoming album, "A Bigger Bang", to what is considered one of the greatest rock'n'roll records of all time. Still, executives at Virgin and parent company EMI, which will release the album on Sept. 6, believe the group has created its strongest album in years.

"It feels so real and so authentic," Virgin Records U.S. chairman/CEO Matt Serletic tells Billboard. "With this one, they've really revitalized themselves."

Calling Billboard from tour rehearsals in Toronto, Jagger says the spirited play between he and Richards and switching up instruments helped bring a renewed energy to the album's creation.

"I was playing drums and all that sort of stuff I usually never do and that was fun," he says. "Happily for the fans, my drums never made it on the record apart from one or two little hits that were saved. Keith and I were just having a laugh with a lot of it."

Jimi Hendrix Surroundified

(Noble PR) Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. in association with Universal Music DVD Video is pleased to announce the release of Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock [The Deluxe Edition] on September 12, 2005.

This special two-disc DVD presentation of Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock stands as the definitive record of one of Jimi's most celebrated performances.

This all-new deluxe set features all of the existing film footage from Jimi's unforgettable August 1969 Woodstock concert newly re-edited and presented uninterrupted and in its original performance sequence.

Live At Woodstock includes never-before-seen versions of Foxey Lady, Message To Love, Hey Joe, Spanish Castle Magic, and Lover Man, and an all-new 5.1 and 2.0 stereo soundtrack mixed by Eddie Kramer, Jimi's original studio engineer.

In addition to the full-length feature Live At Woodstock, this deluxe two DVD collection features a multitude of special bonus features including -

* The Road To Woodstock documentary
* Jimi Hendrix: Live At Woodstock - A Second Look
* Jimi Hendrix Press Conference
* Nashville Roots
* Recording Artefacts & Memorabilia 

What's Your Home Entertainment IQ?

Editor's note: Since their seems to be little in the way of forthcoming SurroundSound tuneage...here's a quirky little test from...

Exclusive from:

Fri Jul 15, 3:00 AM ET

Dan Tynan

Sure, you may be ready to take on Ken Jennings on Jeopardy or be everyone's lifeline on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But do you know a DLP from a CRT? Can you explain the difference between component and composite cables? And what exactly is Blu-ray, anyway?

The convergence of home electronics and digital technology has brought on a small tsunami of new terms and inscrutable acronyms. Are you up to speed? Take our quiz and find out. (And remember, no looking at your neighbor's screen for the answers.)

FM radio future dim...take off your sunglasses...

Editor's note...Here's a couple of DigitalMusicnews.com bits to chew over. Nissan is looking at Ipod convergence and Cell Providers may offer FM compatibility. In the first story; it won't be long before all automakers rig up in-dash dockage for your 'pod. In the latter,  people will be able to check the traffic condition for their usual walk to work...."avoid the laneway shortcut in Yorkville today as several executives have been spotted puking up last night's business meeting on their shoes"...

I for one can't see a bright future for FM. Why tune in FM on your phone when you can pull up unadulterated unfunny un-COMMERCIAL mp-3 on the same device? The mainstay argument for the viability of radio continues to be News, Weather, Sports scores and Traffic conditions; however, it all comes at a cost of annoying personalities, non-sensical editorials and COMMERCIALS.  Most people get it all after one viewing of a morning show loop, one glance at the paper headlines or a couple o' mouse clicks. Besides...how are you supposed to call the 1-900 numbers while listening to "Derringer in the morning" AND play Pac-man at the same time?

Nissan Offers In-Dash iPod Controls, Car Market Ramps Up

Nissan recently announced an initiative to integrate iPod controls into upcoming dashboards, a collaborative effort with Apple. A new navigation and entertainment console will allow touch-screen iPod controls and an easy jack to connect the device. The system will be compatible with 11 different Nissan models, and could soon be expanded to a larger number of vehicles.

The move is part of a wider initiative by Apple to integrate the iPod into the driving experience, with BMW a first mover. Other car manufacturers already on board or developing in-dash integration plans includes Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Mini Cooper.

For both car manufacturers and Apple, the initiatives are an easy win.

Consumers love their iPods, and they also love their cars. That makes an in-dash integration a natural next step, especially in commute-intensive countries like the US. Meanwhile, the automotive entertainment experience is undergoing a massive transformation that goes far beyond the iPod. DVD players, satellite radio systems, rolling hard drives, and in-dash MP3 players are revolutionizing the automotive listening experience, with many cars systems rivaling the quality of home stereo setups. And according to research recently released by Strategy Analytics, the market for in-dash entertainment is set to reach $56 billion by 2011, up from $27 billion in 2004. That will make traffic jams an entirely new experience, with hellish commutes suddenly a lot more entertaining.

'Ca Ira' In Stores Tuesday, September 27

NEW YORK, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 14, the people of France, and history enthusiasts the world over, will celebrate the 216th anniversary of Bastille Day, the day the citizenry of France stormed the state prison in Paris that increasingly symbolized their hatred of the monarchy and their willingness to fight and die for "Liberty! Equality! Fraternity!" Bastille Day marks the birth pangs of the French Revolution and, like America's Independence Day, is a celebration of the overthrowing of an old oppressive order and a toast to the emergence of freedom and democracy.

This year's Bastille Day provides a fitting prelude to the impending release of "Ca Ira," Roger Waters' long-awaited "operatic history of the French Revolution," on Tuesday, September 27.

The lavish first edition of "Ca Ira," an opera in three acts for full orchestra, soloists and choirs, will include a double SACD DigiPack and a deluxe 60 page four-color booklet including Roger Waters' lyrics based on Etienne Roda-Gil's original French libretto, the original illustrations created by Nadine Roda-Gil, biographies of Waters and the opera's cast, background and production notes on the opera.

As a bonus for Roger Waters fans, "Ca Ira" includes a special DVD documentary chronicling the "making of" the opera. The "Ca Ira" DVD traces the history of the project, from conception to completion, and includes revelatory interviews with Waters and the musicians and cast of "Ca Ira" as well as exclusive in-the-studio footage of the recording of the opera.

"Ca Ira" is being released in the hybrid SACD (Super Audio CD) format in Dolby Digital 5.1 SurroundSound. The hybrid SACD disks are compatible with standard CD players.

DualDisc + Extra Content = DVDplus

Like the increasingly accepted DualDisc, DVDplus offers an audio CD on one side of a disc and DVD content on the other. However, DVDplus provides full-length DVD content, whereas DualDisc typically offers about 30 minutes.

Both formats are adapted from technology invented by Dieter Dierks, CEO of Germany-based DVDplus International.

"Once people see what DVDplus can do, more people will gravitate toward it," predicts Phil Carson, head of DVDplus U.S.

Carson says he is working on a slate of DVDplus titles with some of the major labels. Releases are expected by year's end.

But so far it is the DualDisc that has received support from all of the majors. More than 2 million units have been sold in the format since its debut last year. More than 200 DualDisc releases -- including major projects such as Dave Matthews Band's "Stand Up" (RCA) -- will have reached the market by the fourth quarter of 2005.

Sonopress Increases DualDisc Production Capacity to 175,000 Discs per Day

Wednesday July 6, 9:00 am ET

Twelve DualDisc production lines at work in Weaverville, NC facility

ASHEVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 6, 2005--Sonopress LLC, a world leader in media services and turnkey production operations, today announced that it has increased DualDisc production lines in its Weaverville, NC facility in response to the popularity of the new DualDisc product. Sonopress now has 12 operating lines, which increases its DualDisc capacity to 175,000 discs per day.

"We believe DualDisc has made its mark in the audio market," said Per Save, senior vice president sales and marketing, Sonopress. "Record labels have acknowledged our efficiency in bringing their content to market and, as a result, we've increased our DualDisc capacity. Sonopress remains committed to manufacturing the most popular disc media products available, in rapid fashion, to ensure our customers' titles are on shelves at all times."

The increased DualDisc capacity places Sonopress at the forefront of DualDisc replication and enables the company to enhance its time-to-market capabilities around this increasingly popular product. Sonopress continue to provide its customers with the highest levels of production quality, security and service necessary to efficiently and effectively reach consumers.

Montreux in 5.1 audio

NEW YORK, NY and LONDON--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 1, 2005 -- As the 39th Annual Montreux Jazz Festival gets underway in scenic Montreux, Switzerland on Friday, July 1, preparations are being made to record the remarkable performances that routinely take place at this legendary music lover's event. This year's Festival will include Audioslave, Elvis Costello, Brian Wilson, Alice Cooper, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Through an exclusive partnership with Montreux Sounds, Eagle Rock Entertainment is making highlights of the Festival's performances available for the first time for worldwide television broadcast as part of its "Live at Montreux" series.

Eagle Rock also has an exclusive agreement with Montreux Sounds for access to its Festival archives, including shows dating back to the 1960s. With permission from the artists and their record companies, many of these performances are being released on DVD and CD. Eagle Rock's "Live at Montreux" DVD/CD series debuted in November 2004 and has captured major artists at critical junctures of their careers (Bonnie Raitt), crowd favorites delivering classic sets (Earth Wind & Fire, Chic, The Rites of Strings), and seminal artists that are no longer with us performing their greatest works (Johnny Cash, Marvin Gaye). Many performances are recorded in High Definition, and are available in stereo, 5.1 surround and DTS audio.