The Advent of Digital Media — CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and More
Having been born in 1960, a baby-boomer, I've witnessed the advent of both analog and digital media in the marketplace. Younger people can't seem to appreciate the advances of technology. I'm talking about the people who were born after the 1970s. Digital media comes in all shapes and styles, but the basic media (the stuff the digital media is put on) is very inexpensive. Expense comes into play when you start adding computers and assorted computer peripherals to the equation.
Audio Formats
It's safe to assume that I remember standard AM radios as the first devices to listen to music and other audio programs. I don't know exactly when they were invented, but I was using cassette tapes and cassette tape players as late as the mid-1980s. Somewhere along the line, 8-track players and tapes came and went as a failed format. I can't forget to mention vinyl records. They've been around a long time (some still exist), but they're popular has waned a great deal since it was the only format available for playing music at home.
Those were all analog. Nothing digital came along until technology advanced in the 1980s. Before I started seeing audio CDs, I saw other devices and media for video. The compact disc is the most popular audio format today and as far as pricing goes, audio CDs are no more expensive today than cassette tapes were in the 80s and they're a whole lot better.
I hear people complain about scratches and other problems with CDs, but I'm thinking those people never dealt with stretched or broken tape from cassette tapes. Fishing tape from car cassette players was always a fun thing to do. I'm not familiar with the newer digital audio tape (DAT) format, but I would have to assume the same ordeal exists.
Video Formats
Video technology has probably progressed much faster and further than audio technology. In the early 80s, I had experiences with Laserdiscs (the same size as the vinyl records), compact electronic disks (a failed technology — they used needles for audio and lasers for video), and video tape players. Amazingly, the video tape players (VHS format) are still available yet disappearing rapidly in favor of: DVD players of all kinds.
Of course, video tape media still exists. I see it still being used in cheap digital cameras as well as other devices including video surveillance systems. I don't see movies on tape anymore although I'm sure they're still available in video rental stores.
I bought a DVD player during the first wave of sales. It was expensive, but the video itself was nice compared to what I'd seen on VHS over the years. Later on, the 9 GB DVDs became available while the 5 GB DVDs were still around. Other than for movies you can buy, I haven't seen that the 9 GB format has taken off. I have some favorite movies on DVD stashed away for rainy days (including "Evolution", for when I need to brush up on how to destroy alien species with Head&Shoulders shampoo).
The latest video format is blu-ray. I'm not sure of the sizes but 25 GB sounds like something I remember reading. I don't have a blu-ray player for either my computer or a stand-alone unit yet, but I plan to get one soon. I've seen what blu-ray has to offer and I like it. I can imagine having multiple blu ray movies and movie collections, like the entire collection of "Lord of the Rings" and the "Planet of the Apes" series of movies.
The Crossover of Video and Audio Formats
While intended for one use or the other, the formats can be used for both. Digital video media (like DivX, AVI, and MP4) finds its way onto CDs, while music collections find their way onto DVDs. One thing I've overlooked is the use of the media for video games. Various PlayStation consoles have used CD, DVD and blu-ray media, I just can't remember which is which. I believe the X-Box consoles have used DVD and HD-DVD (blu-ray won out, but some devices still call for the HD-DVD format).
Audio and video technology has advanced a great deal in the last 40 years. I just wish the younger people could appreciate it more, take care of their media and quit complaining all the time.
Great post Richard. I've recently started downloading episodes of TV series that I missed and didn't TiVo and am confused about all the video formats that are available. I see some of these episodes in formatts such as MsAvi, Divx/XvidAvi, Ns Mpeg5 Avi, MJPEG Avi, Lossless Avi, h264 Avi, Swf Video, FLV Video GIF, DVD Mpeg, SVCD Mpeg, VCD Mpeg, Mpeg, Mpeg 4 Mov, Mpeg2 TS and Jpeg Images. To a beginner these video options are overwhelming. What are the differences?
I can't tell you ALL the differences. MPEG refers to mpg1, which is the format for VCD. Then you have mpg2 which is the format for SVCD. Mpg4 is the DVD video format. DivX/XviD and AVI are computer compression formats and FLV stands for Flash Video. Whatever format your video player can play is the format you go for. DivX/XviD will show up as AVI most of the time and you just have to make sure you have the codec installed on your machine (or in your DVD player). Mp4 is DVD quality, but is a lot larger.
Thanks for the help. I knew you would be able to point me in the right direction. For now I guess I'll stick with DivX. This format seems to work okay on my DVD player and the sound seems to be in sync with the video. Well close enough so that it doesn't look like I'm watching a poorly dubbed, Japanese film. BTW: I had a bad ass 8 track player in my 1974 Mustang.
Cds do not have same sound as records. I see new market just for records. I saw program on tv that they still make records today for people who only like them. I like cds for car but like records at home sometimes.
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I think before we realize it DVD's and CD's will become obsolete. MP3 and other digital media is already taking over the music industry and you are starting to see some companies offer steaming movies and other media straight to your computer or television.
I am amazed at the picture quality of the new 1080p TVs. A friend of mine recently purchased a new 52 Samsung in 1080p and the picture quality is over the top. We watched The Bucket List on BluRay and it was so clear it didn't even feel like we were watching a movie. I think at some point we reach diminishing returns on clarity.
I saw article about the switch to digital tv. It seems the signal is not as strong and some people can not recieve it not matter what they do. I like the sound of a record or cd but like mp3s because you can have so many on one thing
I dont understand why everyone cant get digital television
Digital media is slowly repalcing the traditional media. Blue Ray media is able to hold a great deal more content than others and have much storage capacity and Blu-ray movie sales have passed the 11 million mark according to the latest figures.