Multichannel Music News

Two Mike Oldfield albums reissued with 5.1 sound

Mon, 03 May 2010 13:38:46 +0400

After the success of TUBULAR BELLS and THE MIKE OLDFIELD COLLECTION in 2009, Mercury are delighted to announce that Mike Oldfield's reissue programme continues with two stunning 2010 mixes of two of his best-loved works, HERGEST RIDGE and OMMADAWN to be released on June 7th 2010.

Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn have been mixed, approved and authorised by Mike Oldfield himself. Both albums are released in a Single Disc Edition, A Deluxe Edition (a 2 Disc plus DVD set), in digital form and as A Back to Black vinyl version. Also available, from 14th June, will be a Limited Signed Framed print edition, which is only available through Mike Oldfield's Official Store.

Mikeoldfieldofficial.com is currently in the midst of an overhaul and should be ready very soon, but to pre-order any of these products, please visit the Official Store.

Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here DVD-Audio

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 13:17:00 +0400

Anathema return with �We're Here Because We're Here�, the band's first collection of new material since its highly rated 2003 concept album, �A Natural Disaster�.

A multi-coloured, multi-layered and intensely emotional work, �We're Here Because We're Here� has been mixed by Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree/No-Man), who has described it as, �definitely among the best albums I've ever had the pleasure to work on,� and further develops the band's uniquely melancholy brand of epic song-writing.

This limited special edition version of the album comes packed in a rigid digi-book with a 16 page booklet and features the album on CD plus a DVD-A with a 5.1 surround mix of the album.

NAD M15HD A/V Preamplifier

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:35:37 +0400

NAD Electronics, the highly regarded manufacturer of high-performance audio/video components, introduces the Masters Series M15HD Surround Sound Preamplifier, a powerful, versatile component designed to serve as the "brains" of any surround sound system, at CEDIA EXPO '09. The M15HD offers NAD's exclusive Modular Design Construction (MDC) in addition to innovative circuit designs, proprietary operating software, broadcast-quality image processing, and exceptional sonic performance and value.

The modules for the M15HD come packed with advanced features that include dual 32-bit Aureus 7.1 high-speed DSPs by Texas Instruments; Dynamic EQ, Dynamic Volume, and MultEQ Pro room correction technologies by Audyssey; decoding for advanced audio formats, including Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio; and Sigma Designs' VXP broadcast-quality image processor.

International festival of 5.1 Surround Sound artwork

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:20:23 +0400

Redhouse is a nonprofit cultural center, located in the trendy Armory Square district of Syracuse, NY. RedHouse will host an international biennial festival of 5.1 Surround Sound artwork, from September 17 through September 27. This program will travel to partnering organizations from Delhi, India to Providence, RI to Montreal, Canada through 2010.

((audience)) is an unprecedented project that explores the cinema as a 21st century concert hall. Conceived in 2006, ((audience)) is dedicated to the advancement of aural arts by providing wide distribution and new contexts for works by emerging and established sound artists and composers.

((audience)) at RedHouse will consist of six nights of programming, each exploring a different perspective on the cinema as concert hall.

Fiona Joy Hawkins releases new album - BLUE DREAM - on SACD

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:34:47 +0400

The headlines may read like a dream tale now, but the road to musical success has been long for Australia's reigning New Age composer and pianist, Fiona Joy Hawkins, who is about to become that country's first indie artist to release an album on SACD.

The album was produced in surround sound, and is available in traditional CD format as well as SACD. According to Hawkins, the team didn't try to re-create an accurate live sound stage effect, but rather a Soundscape Experience that creates more of a dream effect. The album was engineered and mixed by Corin Nelson and mastered by the legendary Bob Ludwig of Gateway Mastering.

New Receivers: Integra DTR-30.1 and DTR-20.1

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:53:44 +0400

Integra has introduced two mid-priced audio-video receivers designed to provide state-of-the-art home theater performance plus sophisticated integration with home automation systems. The new Integra DTR-30.1 and DTR-20.1 are, respectively, 7.2- and 5.2-channel, two-zone AV receivers designed for modern high-definition audio and video systems. In addition, the DTR-30.1 is the first Integra A/V receiver that incorporates the new Dolby ProLogic IIz which lets installers offer their clients engaging sonic ambience in three dimensions, not just two.

New Sony receivers: the STR-DH500, the STR-DH700 and the STR-DH800

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:55:23 +0300

Three new receivers are to replace the existing STR-DG line-up: the STR-DH500, the STR-DH700 and the STR-DH800.

The STR-DH500 is a 5.1 channel receiver with 3 HDMI inputs and 1 output (switcher). It features Digital Cinema Auto Calibration and Digital Media Port, which allows you to release your music from your portable music players and PC via an optional adapter.

For those looking for more features, the STR-DH700 offers 7.1 channel with 3 HDMI inputs and 1 output (repeater). In addition to STR-DH500�s specification, the STR-DH700 supports x.v.Colour, Deep Colour and bi-amplification. With bi-amplification, separate power stages drive the low frequency and mid/high frequency outputs. It also supports S-AIR � the wireless rear speaker solution from Sony that brings true flexibility and convenience to home cinema configuration.

At the top of the DH range is the STR-DH800, completing the specification with 4 HDMI inputs and 1 output (repeater) and High Definition audio codecs Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio.

The STR-DH500 and the STR-DH700 will be launched in May, while the STR-DH800 will go on sale in July.

Yamaha 2009 A/V HD receivers lineup

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:18:23 +0300

Yamaha Electronics Corporation introduced a new line of versatile, high-performance AV receivers featuring the RX-V665 (MSRP: $549.95), successor to the RX-V663, the industry�s best-selling model in 2008, and the other four in the line - RX-V765, MSRP: $649.95; RX-V565, MSRP: $479.95; RX-V465, MSRP: $379.95; and RX-V365, MSRP $249.95.

Namlook � Le Mar DTS-CD

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:39:22 +0300

�Namlook � Le Mar�
(Pete Namlook & Gabriel Le Mar)

This first collaboration of Pete Namlook and Gabriel Le Mar is a perfect combination of two worlds in Chill-Out and Ambient. While both artists have composed and released electronic music for over a decade, each followed a different path. While Namlook was often more on the beatless path of deep instrumental music, Le Mar had a strong connection to dub music and percussive content. Both developed their personal style and now combined their ideas to a perfect match in music. Percussive, melodic, organic monochrome, even a minimalistic electro-techno track is part of this album. The variety of unique organic music with its intense quality, makes you listen to it over and over again.

CD tracks: Acidflow 6.39 / Springtimer 11.03 / Deepa 9.07
In Time 7.38 / Jetzt 6.37 / Flow 13.36

Ludacris "Theater Of The Mind" reissued with surround sound

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:16:20 +0300

Ludacris has teamed up with Monster Cable to re-release his new album, Theater Of The Mind, this time in high-definition stereo surround sound. Mixed by Monster's head honcho Noel Lee, the album reportedly will make listeners feel as if they are in the studio with Luda.
Luda's standard-D version of "Theater Of The Mind" is close to reaching gold-status. To date the 7th album from cris' has sold over 470,000 copies in only six weeks. The High-D version of Luda's new album should hit stores next month.