enhanced cds

[dobro]

Anybody here making enhanced cds?

It doesn't seem to be *too* much of a hassle. I read an article in March's Electronic Musician, and it just seems like a bit of software and some simple code.

Yeah, sure. Did I ever tell you about how I heard three years ago that it was possible to use your computer to record? "Really?" I said. "That sounds simple."

[Digital Reason]

Yes I make interactice CD's and enhanced audio disc's.
Its not too much trouble to use the programs to compile the interactive CD, (I tend to use Flash, Director and I am just getting into After effects) But the bitch of the process is the graphic design, the photo taking and scanning, the sound clip editing, the video transfer and format change etc. I guess you could say that using Director to make an interactive CD is like the mixing process.
The process is only time consuming not difficult, I also tend to make a complete flow chart of what I want to happen in every way so from the time that the chart is complete its only a matter of gathering all of the media and making it work together. It also helps that my best friend is a kick ass graphic designer because I really do suck at that type of thing *LOL*.

Jeff
Saunavation Audio Productions

[WildFire]

It's nothing special... just a Mixed mode CD with Audio and Data in one CD. - Do it all the time... its part of my day job description

I'm sure people can do the audio part around here, as for the Data part? If you can build a program with tools like C++, Visual Basic, Director, Flash, Authorware, etc... and design an interface with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier, final Cut, After effects... then your set.

Anyone can build a program, but it takes a different kinda person to build a GOOD one.

At the same time, you could just dump some video's or a website into the data portion, and have users figure it out themselfs... that works too.

[shackrock]

yeah i did it for one of my releases....easy as hell (with easy cd creater....i got 4.0 i think)...

but it takes a longer to burn for sure....seems like its reading the cd twice - but i dont know what its doing..ha. thats what the "progress" window shows. (reading, burning audio, reading, burning data).

[dobro]

Okay, thanks - all that's encouraging.

Next question: is it worth the tradeoff?

Here's what I see as the tradeoff. To do this well, it takes loads of time. And for what? If the data portion of the disk is to get seen, then people will have to bung it into their computer. And how good do computer speakers sound on average? And the music's the most important part, right? So while they're looking at pikkies of you on stage at your last throbbing concert, your tinny little music's coming out of their $50 a pair computer speakers.

No?

If I'm right, then it's 'bring on DVD-audio' time. Two channels of 24/96 sound, and the whole world of data/video possibilities to explore. People will play DVDs on their DVD player, with their DVD sound system. Much better audio all around.

[drstawl]

That's the challenge, isn't it?

Scott Tansley did that veggie rock video with major hours invested and produced a product that came across at fairly low bandwidth as far as video goes.

I've heard plenty of mp3s at 64Kbps that ROCKED.

And plenty of total garbage in both media at much higher resolution.

Not a perfect linear relationship, but in general the folks producing the hi-res stuff get paid better than the jungle crowd.

When they get paid at all, that is.

The Up and Coming Crowd do it just for the blast of DOING it.

[dobro]

"The Up and Coming Crowd do it just for the blast of DOING it."

Something I understand, but forget in practice. Okay, that one's going into my notebook.

[WildFire]

In the end, its all just a bonus for the end user. Someone goes out and buys that Train CD s/he's always wanted.. plays it in the car, at home.. yada yada... eventually s/he realizes that there's more if you try it in their computer.. and bonus!.. There's a video, and a 'the making of'. Maybe a bio or something.

So, now the person is happy. S/He feels like the money spent was well worth it and everyone is happy.

thats all

[dobro]

Last night I listened to, and saw the two animated videos on, a new album by Gorillaz. The music's really good, but the animated videos are spectacular - I think they're good enough to win prizes at film festivals.

Does this add value to the disk? Damn right! I think I'll buy the disk for two reasons, but I doubt that I would have bought it without the videos. Does this encourage me to get into enhanced CDs myself? Well, yes and no. I've seen how enhancing a CD adds to its value, but I've seen something else. Although my music's respectable when compared to pro stuff, there's NO WAY I could come anywhere near that Gorillaz video with anything I did.

It's true what drstawl said earlier - you do it because you enjoy doing it - that the main reason for sensible people. But the product, the outcome, comes into the picture for me as well.