Dusty Chalk

's'awesome.

That is, indeed, fascinating reading. Especially the linked-to thread about the HDCD box (link, and the post two down following that one).

I'm thinking of asking him for a line-item receipt, see if he balks. I mean, I understand if he wants delivery confirmation, that's fine. And I asked for insurance. I'm just curious if he's trying to pad his paypal fees in there. And clarify if he wants dollars or euros. He specifically asked for dollars, which is also fine.

That's a good idea, but I can probably come up with comparo files myself (the executable I can download again, it's the source code that's harder to come by). What numbers were you going to run? I remember that bothering me...I think it was something like: if you ran a non-HDCD-encoded audio file through hdcd.exe, it still generated the larger file. In my head, that didn't make intuitive sense -- a 24-bit file with the bottom bits not dithered is not the same as the 16-bit file. Is it? Makes me wonder if you have the same problem with HDCD-encoded audio -- I.E. if it should only be a 20-bit file, what are you doing with the bottom 4 bits? But then again, he said he reversed it from Windows Media Player, so it's probably just what Microsoft is doing.

Tried the Punto Final 2009 malbec last night -- meh. Might try drinking it a little colder next time.

So German guy wants a second payment, says it's more than he thought. He initially charged me 15 euros, but now is saying 35 euros, and wants me to paypal him US$28 -- is that kosher? Something about a receipt.

Well, one of the things that I heard "them" say is that the code isn't just sequences of bits, it's a specially designed sequence of bits that is deliberately part of the dither, so theoretically any audible effects the sequences would otherwise have should be overshadowed by the dithering process, of which the encoding is an integral part. I don't remember if it's a one-bit dither or not. Re: software -- yeah, I have the source code somewhere (the guy who wrote it was nice enough to share it with me so that I could attempt to compile it on linux, but that was several hard drives ago, so I'd have to find it at this point), but reversing it on Windows should (if they implemented it correctly) just be a matter of accessing the API's. I've heard something before (in fact, used to even own an unmodified something -- 2000? 1500? 1600? I forget which one), but have prefered the modified ones I've heard at meets? I can pull out the MSB Tech Link DAC III (w/HDCD & upsampling upgrades) for a comparo, if you'd like.

(facepalms, rubs temples)

I wish, Ken.

But the thing is, non-HDCD-decoding players (I.E. most of them) don't know that, so they just play it. EDIT: There's a lot of misinformation about HDCD -- for example, that post on the hydrogen audio forum about it being a limiter -- that's only part of it. It's supposed to be inaudible on a redbook playback machine, but it's undone -- I.E. expanded back out -- on a HDCD playback machine. EDIT: About the suggestion to decode it in software -- I'd like to, but I don't feel comfortable that the software captures every variation of HDCD decoding that it's supposed to -- there are a lot. It's not simply a "yes/no" choice, it's a function of settings.

Photoshoppers need to get busy photoshopping laser-etched monkeys onto CD's.

If so, you wouldn't be alone. What's nightmarish about it? I mean, other than it's not a motorcycle.

Oh Land (or it might be Ohland) -- really catchy synthpop with a groovy almost triphoppy beat. Pure pop for me.

HDCD is an encoding process that is mostly compatible with standard redbook format. There is still 16 bits of information, but undecoded, it's supposed to be close enough to the original signal as to be inaudibly different, but properly decoded provide an additional amount of information. This additional amount is supposed to lead to slightly better dynamic range, the amount arguably anywhere from 1 to 8 bits (I have heard 24, but even most believers don't believe it is that much). Are you familiar with coordinate systems? Just pretend it's a different coordinate system -- the 16 bits, instead of linearly taking up the normal ...whatever it is, 2V range, takes up slightly more, and non-linearly (it's when the total values are near their maximum that they are expanded, and when they are near their minimum that they are attenuated). Okay, here's the thing about the 15 bits -- the signal as to whether or not an audio stream is HDCD-encoded is actually in the least significant bit in the audio stream, which is played by most non-HDCD-decoding players! So their claims are somewhat self-contradictory -- they claim that you cannot hear the least significant bit (the practice is described as "non-destructive" and "compatible" with redbook), and yet the subtle changes are claimed to be an improvement. I should also note that whether or not he is correct is irrelevant as to whether or not I want my HDCD-encoded disks properly decoded -- those are two separate issues. The only thing that it might affect is whether or not I want the disk HDCD-encoded or not, if both choices are available from the same master. Which they usually aren't (I know of exactly one such disk). Yes, as stated, he only is just figuring it out. I agree with the theory that he's just setting up to re-release the remasters without HDCD encoding. Either that, or they screwed up on the in-house monitoring, and forgot to decode it.

Ask your mother. No, seriously, I'll explain later when I have a little bit more time to compose my thoughts -- I needed to read about umpteen nate-phillion pages about it before I got it, and it's been a few years, so...

I don't think it works that way unless you managed to take him with you.

I still want to borrow the box so I can decode all my HDCD discs. I still think properly decoded HDCD is superior to undecoded HDCD.

Holy shit, I've been preaching (albeit tentatively) about Can-Am for-freakin'-ever, but I always have to qualify my statement with, "...I don't actually own any". I have seen them in person, so know they're good, but ...durable, yes? My biggest question is, do you have them in the same room as your subwoofer, and do they rattle or buzz? And Dan: I do. I do still buy the occasional CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray, and I'm keeping the ones I have. Me: a case of that Ojai Vineyard Santa Barbara Syrah. I mentioned it to my boss, and he rounded out the case for us, so 12+ discount. Have I mentioned recently how awesome my boss is?

Thanks, Ken, for reading that for me. @ self.

I'm sorry, I forgot the [snarky][/snarky] tags, again. I should probably just put it in my sig...

Hey, Greg, where are you getting that free shipping? I'm getting charged. Is it because you're on the mailing list? The shipping questions FAQ says that they charge what FedEx charges them.

You would have liked the tuna I had at Appalachian Brewing Co. the other day.

I'd be happy to receive it at my work for you (VA). In fact, I can even take care of it, since I owe you money any way. Just tell me what you want.

And in one post, you completely undo your own advice.

Hogue Gewurtztraminer last night -- superb straight out of the basement (sweet, citrusy/fruity, fresh & clean -tasting); chilled, not so much.