Will the New Dual Disc Make You Buy More Music?

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dualdisc.com/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.dualdisc.com/index.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/dual_disc_L.jpg" /><br /><br />I've been reading a lot of information about the new Dual Disc format and how the RIAA hopes it will make more people buy music on discs rather than download it on the Internet. Frankly I can't see any benefit that these discs bring to the table other than some 5.1 surround sound on the DVD side. Of course you'll need a DVD player to listen to it, but is this enough?<br /><br />I think there are three issues that the RIAA is going to have to overcome here. First, is this content really value added? Do people really want to see behind the scenes footage from last years concerts? Will people watch again and again? Second, the price has to come WAY down. If the RIAA is going to take a page out of the MPAA and their DVD products, they need to lower prices. DVD's are much cheaper than most VHS releases were 10 years ago AND you get much more content that people actually do watch. Paying $18 for "The Incredibles" and the same for a Jennifer Lopez album, "Rebirth" makes no sense to me considering how much more you get with the movie. Third, will people actually notice? I've seen no ads for this format in stores or even on the Internet.<br /><br />Again the RIAA fails to understand the market (how many 13 year old girls care that the new Simple Plan Dual Disc has 5.1 surround sound) and continues to waste everyones time with these wacky proposals.

[Jon Childs]

Given the fact that the new Springsteen DualDisk wont play in my car CD player I cant say I am too psyched about the new format.

[James Fee]

Given the fact that the new Springsteen DualDisk wont play in my car CD player I cant say I am too psyched about the new format.But the "normal" side will, right? But then again, what is the point?

[bdegroodt]

Given the fact that the new Springsteen DualDisk wont play in my car CD player I cant say I am too psyched about the new format.But the "normal" side will, right? But then again, what is the point?
Some won't. Which is a whole problem in and of itself. The docs even say (fine print) that some players won't be able to play the disc. They then go on to try to classify these players as non-standard. Slot loading is specifically called out as a possible problem.

I bought the new NIN this week and hadn't even heard about this new format till then. I thought the disc was really heavy (relatively) and wondered how that worked on players. I have to assume the failure ratings on the parts in the players take weight into consideration. Plus wouldn't the speed of the disc possibly be impacted by its heft?

In any case, I think it's a cool idea--but I've stopped buying music by download a long time ago. I fell back in love with the "hands on" experience of a CD (cover art, liner notes, etc). I'm surely in the minority, but that's why I vote "yes" on this one.

[Jon Childs]

Given the fact that the new Springsteen DualDisk wont play in my car CD player I cant say I am too psyched about the new format.But the "normal" side will, right? But then again, what is the point?
Some won't. Which is a whole problem in and of itself. The docs even say (fine print) that some players won't be able to play the disc. They then go on to try to classify these players as non-standard. Slot loading is specifically called out as a possible problem.

I bought the new NIN this week and hadn't even heard about this new format till then. I thought the disc was really heavy (relatively) and wondered how that worked on players. I have to assume the failure ratings on the parts in the players take weight into consideration. Plus wouldn't the speed of the disc possibly be impacted by its heft?

In any case, I think it's a cool idea--but I've stopped buying music by download a long time ago. I fell back in love with the "hands on" experience of a CD (cover art, liner notes, etc). I'm surely in the minority, but that's why I vote "yes" on this one.


Damn fine print got me again. :D The disk did seem rather thick and the car CD player is the standard slot loading type. I guess I will just have to rip it and play it through my mp3 player. It was kind of a bummer though. I am probably just saying this because I was cranky that the disk would play, but it does seem weird to have a CD that is completely devoid of any artwork or printing.

[BulkHedd]

I don't think DualDisk is an acceptable answer. The fact that it won't play on many slot-loading CD players, plus the fact that it's easily scratched make it unappealing to me. What I do like is when they include a separate DVD with the CD, like the last Metallica CD or the new Star Wars soundtrack.

[Jason Dunn]

What I do like is when they include a separate DVD with the CD, like the last Metallica CD or the new Star Wars soundtrack.

Yeah, I really like that as well - a couple of my recent CD purchases have had DVDs included, which has been quite cool. And they didn't seem to cost any more than other CDs...

[Tim Williamson]

I picked up a dual-disc CD a few weeks ago, it was the same price as the standard CD, so I thought why not? Maybe this was a pricing error, but if normally they're the same price as a standard CD then that's great.

[James Fee]

Yeah, I really like that as well - a couple of my recent CD purchases have had DVDs included, which has been quite cool. And they didn't seem to cost any more than other CDs...I have two issues with that.

1. How many times do you think you'll ever watch it?
2. Do you think teenagers care?

[James Fee]

I picked up a dual-disc CD a few weeks ago, it was the same price as the standard CD, so I thought why not? Maybe this was a pricing error, but if normally they're the same price as a standard CD then that's great.Yea they are the same price, but compared to DVDs, music CDs are way overpriced anyway for what you get. Sales are down because of the lack of value buying music.

[Jason Dunn]

1. How many times do you think you'll ever watch it?
2. Do you think teenagers care?

1) Once or twice, likely no more. But since it didn't cost me anything extra over other CDs, why would that even matter?

2) Yes, I think they would - remember, the teenagers are the ones watching the music videos!

[James Fee]

2) Yes, I think they would - remember, the teenagers are the ones watching the music videos!I don't think that matters at all. Most of them would give up the DVD portion for WMA/AAC files on the disc. Of course the RIAA would never do that, but I think that would cause people to buy the CDs over downloading the songs.

Look the bottom line is that this is a poor idea. The marketplace for has moved toward downloading for most of teenagers that I know. They would rather download a song and listen to it on their iPod minis than have a thick disc that has some videos that they can only watch while they are in front of a TV. You can't watch videos when you are playing Halo on your XBox or PC, but you can sure listen to them.

The problem with this whole idea is it is rooted in the 1990s. If they were serious about changing peoples minds about how they buy music, they would do one of two things.

1. Drop the price of a CD. I can't understand how a CD could cost as much as a DVD movie. All music CDs should be less than $10.

2. Add features to the discs that people can use. DVD features are a start, but can't be used everywhere. As I said above, include AAC/WMA files on the disks and eliminate iTunes/Napster/MSN Music from the marketplace. That would take back control from Steve Jobs, but the can't see that and continue to want to move the clock back to 1998.