Alan Parsons Project - I Robot (1977, 2004)
Classic Records HDAD-2003, DVD-Audio 24/192, DVD-Video 24/96

Tracks:
1. I Robot
2. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
3. Some Other Time
4. Breakdown
5. Don't Let It Show
6. The Voice
7. Nucleus
8. Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)
9. Total Eclipse
10. Genesis Ch. 1. V.32

Description of disc:
With its title originating from an Isaac Asimov novel, I Robot's main concept is one that deals heavily in the field of science fiction. The album's idea is based around Parsons' concern with the onslaught of machinery and its inevitable takeover of man, both in a physical sense and a spiritual one. As one of the Alan Parsons Project's strongest efforts, its wise blend of keyboard-dominated instrumentals partnered with the warmth of the vocals during the lyrical songs emblazons the man-vs.-machine idea. The mechanical-sounding title track is the opening song, setting the tone for the album's futuristic motif. Man's regret for his mechanical creations sweeps through "I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You," with a passionate Lenny Zakatek singing lead. The human being's rebellious nature is the theme behind "Breakdown," sung by ex-Hollies member Allan Clarke, while the strength of the human will is the focal point of "Don't Let It Show," a heartening ballad performed by Dave Townsend. Ending with the instrumental "Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32," the promising tempo and air of this song invoke hope for all mankind. As a final product, I Robot leaves the listener with much to contemplate, which is its purpose, but also presents a collage of well-crafted songs that aren't easily forgotten. This album still remains one of this band's most accomplished pieces.  Mike DeGagne The transfer was the first ever from the original flat master tapes provided by Alan "The Boss" Parsons himself and adds significantly to the inner detail, texture and dimensionality of this groundbreaking album.

Description of technology:



The Classic Hybrid DVD Audio Disc (HDAD) is a two-sided DVD disc with 24/192 PCM data playable on DVD Audio players on one side, and 24/96 PCM data playable on DVD Video players on the other side. The Classic HDAD is a truly universal DVD disc playable on all DVD players. So if you have a DVD video player, you can play the DVD Video side of the HDAD-insert the disc with the Blue center ring facing up and enjoy 24/96 playback resolution. On a DVD Audio player, simply flip the disc over with the Red ring facing up and enjoy 24/192 playback resolution.

The process starts with the encoding of an analog signal from a live microphone feed or more commonly from an analog master tape. A highly sophisticated Analog to Digital converter (A to D) samples the analog signal 192,000 times per second (192 kHz) and assigns a numerical value to each sample point. The 192 KHz sampling rate is more than four times the 44,100 (44.1 kHz) sampling rate used on standard CDs. Through a process called downsampling, the 192 KHz data is used to derive a 96 KHz data set that is used on the DVD video player side of the HDAD. The numerical value assigned to each sample point at 192 kHz-about every 5.2 microseconds-is stored as a 24-bit digital word. The significance of a 24-bit digital word is that there are 16.8 million different potential values for each 24-bit word! By contrast, there are only 65,536 different potential values for a 16-bit digital word on a normal CD. The additional 8 bits on an HDAD allow for over 16 million additional voltage values to represent the original analog signal. Further, 24-bit resolution offers 144dB of dynamic range from the softest to the loudest musical note. At 144dB of dynamic range, we greatly exceed the dynamic range available on the world’s finest analog tape machines. For the first time in the history of digital audio, we can provide Master Tape Sound (MTS)TM. We hope that you will appreciate the effort that goes into making this remarkable HDAD when you listen to what this technological wonder has to offer.

Review
The classic Alan Parsons album of 1977 - considered one of his best - seemed ripe for reissue at this time, what with the new Will Smith robots movie and increased attention to the subject. Parsons even describes his theme in this album as "The story of the rise of the machine and the decline of man..." Classic has reissued this on both vinyl (see our Special Feature this month) and on their new HDAD disc, which is an enhancement of the 96K DADs they issued prior to DVD-Audio coming on the scene. Now one side has that format for those with DVD-V players which can output the 96K stereo signal, but if you have a DVD-A player you turn over the disc and access a 192K stereo track.

I auditioned the DVD-V side using my modded DMP-9000ES Sony player, and the DVD-A side using my Rotel 1050 disc player (reviewed in our Components section this issue). I found the DVD-A side to have one less veil, sharper clarity and detail, more higher frequency extension and depth vs. the 96K DVD-V. But not by a huge amount. The vinyl version, when auditioned simultaneously, was much closer to the DVD-A, but had a little more soundstage spread horizontally plus a bit more "air" around the sounds (even though many of them are electronic). Tracks: I Robot, I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You, Some Other Time, Breakdown, Don’t Let It Show, The Voice, Nucleus, Day After Day, Total Eclipse, Genesis Ch. 1 V.32.

- John Sunier

Что было и что получилось:
Исходный материал - двухСТОРОННИЙ (не путать с двухСЛОЙНЫЙ) диск. Одна сторона представляет собой DVD-Audio диск со звуком 24/192 и играется только на плеерах поддерживающих воспроизведение DVD-Audio дисков (ну и на компе естественно). Вторая сторона - стандартный DVD-Video со звуком 24/96 играется на всех ДВД плеерах. Почему сделано на двух сторонах? Не имею никакого понятия:-) DVD-Audio сторона представлена в виде образа софтины с названием Padus DiscJuggler, если интересно почему, то идём Topic Link: ДВД-Аудио диски для раздачи и всё внимательно читаем. DVD-Video сторона порипана DVD Decrypter и представляет собой стандартный Video_TS. В принципе всё это влезает на обычную ДВД5 болванку. Я пробовал сделать один диск, у меня получилось, на компе играются обе части, на стационаре (без поддержки двд-аудио) только видео сторона. Но я выкладываю as it is, чтобы каждый сам решил как ему записывать. Водяных знаков судя по всему нет, так как не было их на более поздних дисках этой конторы. Более того на диске вообще отсутствует какая-либо защита от копирования, помимо structure protection на ДВД-Видео стороне.

Софт, который может пригодиться

Cyberlink.PowerDVD.Deluxe.v7.0.1813.Multilingual.Incl.Keymaker-CORE
Padus.DiscJuggler.Professoinal.v4.60.1214.Pro2-ZWT
UltraISO.Premium.Edition.v8.2.0.1669.WinALL.Incl.Keygen.and.Patch-BRD

NEW! (Ослолинки, thanks to Olch)

video_ts вместе с картинками
Alan.Parsons.Project-1977.I.Robot.2004.HDDA.Video_TS.Stereo.24-96.scans.shared.by.server.alliance.rar

audio_ts, вытянуто через ДЭмонТул из имеджа
Alan.Parsons.Project-1977.I.Robot.2004.HDDA.Audio_TS.Stereo.24-192.shared.by.server.alliance.rar

пары на рапиде:
http://rapidshare.de/files/31414139/APPIROBpar.rar.html