Digitizing music to bits and bytes took the pops and hisses out of audio
recording and made possible such next-generation concepts as music via
satellite and audio on the Internet. As the world of electronics
evolves and expands, audio continues to play a fundamental role in
defining technology's next steps. Here are some predictions about the
future of digital audio from the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers
Association.
Digital Audio Transmission
Audio on the airwaves is ready to go digital. Terrestrial, satellite,
and cyberspace audio transmissions are on their way to digital, and the
regulatory requirements for conversion to digital radio are formulating.
When Digital Television (DTV) begins broadcasting, the consumer's
best-quality option for receiving TV signals will come from an
over-the-air signal, which will deliver not only a high-definition video
signal but digital audio as well.
Digital Radio
Construction on the road to digital radio began in April 1997, when the
FCC auctioned broadcast spectrum licenses for satellite-delivered
digital audio radio service (S-DARS) to two providers. The services
promise to deliver CD-quality AM and FM radio reception nationwide to
mobile receivers.
One service, CD Radio, plans to launch two satellites in 1999 that will
deliver 50 digital radio channels throughout the U.S. Competing S-DARS
provider American Mobile Radio plans to roll out 50 stations by 2000.
Terrestrial digital radio is likely to go forward, but it is unknown
when the FCC will authorize service, or what form the service will take.
Internet Audio
The Internet is breaking down the boundaries of radio transmission just
as it's changing the rules of long-distance telephone communication and
mail delivery. More than 600 radio stations are simulcasting
programming on the Internet using streaming audio technology, which
allows PC users to pick up out-of-market broadcasts on the computer. A
bebop fan in Utah can pick up a classical jazz station out of New York,
and a pop fan can pull in rock radio from Bavaria. With Internet audio,
users also can preview music they might want to buy, and/or download
music to record it. The quality of Internet audio transmission won't
rival analog radio for a while, but what's lost in quality is
compensated by accessibility.
Digital Recording
Recordable CDs, long lingering outside the realm of affordability, are
finally reaching a price level that fits the mainstream consumer.
Manufacturing cost efficiencies have been made possible by recordable CD
drives for computers. CD recorders offer two recording options:
rewritable and write-once. Write-once discs can be recorded once only
and cannot be edited. They are compatible with all CD players.
Rewritable discs can be re-recorded, although the discs can be played
back only on CD-rewritable players and a limited number of players that
have MultiRead capability
