ATRAC can never surpass CD quality since it stores less information than
CD-DA. For the same reasons, equal quality is also theoretically
impossible, and practically impossible without increasing the bit stream
allowed (24-bits/sample I believe).
Actually the amount of data stored on an MD could be increased by 8x
without a blue laser, simply a slightly different red one. MD-Data2 uses
the different laser and a smaller track pitch to achieve a 5x increase in
disk capacity. Maxell has already prototyped a MD-Data that can store in
excess of 1.5gigs of data. But in both of these cases they will (most
likely) never be applied to MD audio because of fear that it would hurt the
original MD format customer base. I think it would be a great idea, but I
understand how it could potentially hurt MD's use in the US especially. The
other problem faced by increasing just the size of the disc, is that you
will have to record at 1x speed from most sources, except for the Sony
CD-MD machine which would allow faster speeds (I doubt more than10x would
ever be released for complexities sake). Companies like EDL offer a way for
faster access and recording, but like alot of proprietary solutions, they
priced their product to make a large profit off of a small user base,
instead of the converse. So since at ~$8,000USD it is out of the reach of
most people, it has not become a popular piece of software, and MD has
suffered. If it had been cheaper then MDH-10/11 (MD-Data drives) would have
been higher leading to increased production and possibly better drives in
the future.
My $0.02,
RJ Kirkland
>Regarding MiniDisc compression, I see that now there is an ATRAC-R. How
>well does it rate as compared to earlier versions? Since MD's compression
>algorithm is constantly being upgraded, could MD one day be equal to or
>surpass CD sound?
>
>Also, I believe I read in the January/February issue of SOUND & VISION
>that using a certain color laser (blue?) could practically quadruple the
>amount of data stored on an MD. Could this mean one of the following: (1)
>that MD could store the same amount of data as CD without compression,
>resulting in uncompressed, true CD-quality sound in the same amount of
>time? or (2) that using ATRAC compression, up to 4x the amount of music
>could be on one MD? If so, either could be a boon to the MD format!
>
>Jonathan C. R. Davis ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
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