Outer Rim Territories

 Largely, the experts on this terrific podcast agree: music in surround can work… but it must be conceived in surround. Too often music is composed in stereo (two speakers) then jiggered into 4 or 6 speakers. The net result is vacuous and unintentional. The future of music in surround is download. Unfortunately few consumer interfaces can encourage this, not offering a multichannel output except lossy DTS or Dolby Digital. On the other hand, physical media players (Bluray) can accomodate high-resolution multichannel via both analog and digital outputs. 

The real issue is basically ignored in the podcast. Music is not intentionally listened to but serves a function of background noise or ambiance. I’m not disputing the usefulness of some music as creating positive sonic atmosphere. But much of the serious music composition is intended for listening and contemplation. 

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We had a hankering for wine yesterday and we plum out of the Wal-mart specials. So we broke out one of the wines we smuggled back from France over the Christmas break a year and half ago.  It is mighty tasty and as good as I remember.  Armed with the genius that is Google, I found the website for the little winery.  After stumbling through, I discover the Anjou Moulin d’Ardenay is 29E a bottle. Ouch. No wonder it tastes so good. Now we both have smiles on our face. Thank you Mr. Flauss!

This fantastic post has been cited throughout the blogosphere. Many of my readers may have missed it. I urge you to read the whole article but here’s a flavor:

Concordia Seminary Institute of Lay Vocation: Remembering Collective Shame Read More