In the past we have only been able to rip SACDs by recording the multichannel analog outs of an SACD player and into our analog sound cards. Many people have used horrible Creative Audigy cards, and quality has been disappointing at best. Other rips that we have seen have been nicer, using the best that analog sound cards can offer from the likes of M-audio, Lynx, etc. However, quality has still suffered due to the multitude of problems that arise with analog capturing in general. Unless the SACD player used for the transfer is a very expensive one, the analog transfer quality will leave a lot to be desired.
But we now can celebrate in a new "standard" for SACD ripping. We can now capture a pure 24-bit PCM digital signal which is converted directly from the pure DSD stream from the disc - and this is achieved by using a special "modifed" SACD player. These modified players been around ever since the SACD format has, but they have always been extremely expensive (like, try a $2000 Denon player which you have to order from Switzerland). But things have progressed and a few companies are offering a modified version of the famous Oppo DV-980H player, which is well known for its affordability yet uncompromised quality - especially with regards to digital SACD output!
I have purchased such a player to make this SACD album available to you in the highest quality currently possible. The Oppo offers pure DSD output over HDMI 1.2 but it also gives the option for PCM output. The Oppo internally converts the DSD to PCM at 24-bit/88.2kHz and the "mod" captures this PCM signal and outputs it through three stereo S/PDIF (coaxial) jacks. To capture this glorious digital signal, I am using three M-Audio Delta 1010LT sound cards simultaneously. They each have a single stereo coaxial input, so in order to record all six channels simultanesously, three cards must be used. I'm using Adobe Audition 1.5 in multitrack mode to simultaneously record the 6 channels in real time, then I map the channels with Audition's "multichannel encoder", and export the individual mono wav channels. After that I split the album into the tracks and encode it to MLP with surcode, and author it to DVD-A with Discwelder Chrome. No editing of the audio signal is made in Adobe Audition, this is a straight digital capture of the signal and as close as you can get to copying an SACD disc-to-disc at the present time.
SACD ripping has now been taken to a level never attained before, and I hope that you enjoy the music, the surround/stereo mix and the wonderful audio quality of this album! If you do not have the original SACD and are able to purchase it at a reasonable price, I encourage you to buy it and enjoy the original DSD sound on the disc itself. If not, this is the best alternative way for you to enjoy it.
Yours,
HiResOrNothing
@ Mojave Productions