Is surround sound the last great progression for Prog?

[r2daft2]

My local music retailer now boasts quite a selection of vinyl LPs which demonstrates quite clearly the vinyl comeback.
However, I've yet to see any shop that devotes a rack to surround sound recordings. Even the Blu-ray/DVD racks stick to video releases rather than 5.1 audio-only recordings.
My local shop does carry a few 5.1 discs but these are displayed mixed in the standard CD racks - most commonly in CD/DVD dual packs.
I've got quite a lot of surround sound recordings on DVD, DVDA, SACD and Blu-ray discs and at least 95% of these are prog or prog-related.
So it got me thinking:
Outside the prog world, how much interest is there in providing surround sound versions of studio material in the mainstream or other genres? - Pop, Rock, Blues, Metal, Folk, C&W or whatever!
Is the dominance of prog related surround sound discs just down to the enthusiasm of prog-related artists (such as SW, Genesis etc.) for this format or does surround really lend itself to prog compositions?
What do you think?

[Scrotum Scissor]

I'd like to believe that any progression for "Prog" will continue to occur within the sphere of the music itself, and not be limited to audio technique - although the latter has certainly gotten more relevant these past 30 years, and not primarily due to 'Steven'.

[moecurlythanu]

No. It will be Musical Telepathy, as the clarion call for Jon's Mass Species Ascension.

[Phlakaton]

Surround is such a novelty to me since I have to be in that space and using specific equipment - so I never thought it was particularly relevant - to me at least.

[Zeuhlmate]

Quadraphonic: The forgotten surround sound of the 70s

http://www.currybet.net/cbet_blog/20...gotten-sur.php

Stewen Wilson was only 3 or 4 when he invented this !

[tormato]

I think surround is an ideal format for prog (even more so for classical). I listen to 1-2 surround mixes a week and really enjoy immersing myself in the music.

SW gets most of the press, but I think largely because he jumped into the format in the early 2000s and has been enthusiastic about it and not viewed it as a novelty. I won't argue the remix work here, but the PT and solo work he's done is incredible in 5.1.

In the late 90's, when the format first came on the scene, I think a lot of record companies viewed as a novelty and remixed a lot of things without artist input or permission (Eric Johnson famously and publicly railed on a DVD-A of Ah Via Musicom mixed without his knowledge or permission) and I feel this hurt the format. I think it will ultimately fall to the artist to "evangelize" for the format, which I'm not sure will happen or not. I hope as the cost of equipment drops, the format will get more common and artists will make music with surround in mind.

[Facelift]

My local music retailer now boasts quite a selection of vinyl LPs which demonstrates quite clearly the vinyl comeback.
However, I've yet to see any shop that devotes a rack to surround sound recordings. Even the Blu-ray/DVD racks stick to video releases rather than 5.1 audio-only recordings.
My local shop does carry a few 5.1 discs but these are displayed mixed in the standard CD racks - most commonly in CD/DVD dual packs.
I've got quite a lot of surround sound recordings on DVD, DVDA, SACD and Blu-ray discs and at least 95% of these are prog or prog-related.
So it got me thinking:
Outside the prog world, how much interest is there in providing surround sound versions of studio material in the mainstream or other genres? - Pop, Rock, Blues, Metal, Folk, C&W or whatever!
Is the dominance of prog related surround sound discs just down to the enthusiasm of prog-related artists (such as SW, Genesis etc.) for this format or does surround really lend itself to prog compositions?
What do you think?

It makes perfect sense that a completely different format (vinyl) would have its own section apart from CDs/DVDs. Also, vinyl is sold in much greater numbers than 5.1 albums.

As far as 5.1 and prog - 5.1 is just a way to get people to buy the same albums over and over. This can't be done unless it's targeted toward an audience that still buys physical media. Classic rock is one of those audiences. The proggier classic rock bands probably have fans that care more about multi-channel audio than others, so this would explain the preponderance of 5.1 titles by Yes, King Crimson, Tull, etc.

[strawberrybrick]

For me, Prog will always be one best enjoyed by pulling out a record, dusting it off, dropping the needle and returning to the couch for 20 minutes or so before getting up and flipping the album.

[rcarlberg]

Surround Sound hasn't caught on, and probably never will, because it requires too much equipment, and the result is too gimmicky.

Prog, the domain of true geekdom, is the most likely to embrace 5.1 but it'll never go mainstream.

[JKL2000]

What is a "local music retailer?"

[JJ88]

There was a time, what, about 15 years back where there were more releases from different genres. I remember seeing 5,1 DVD releases of albums like Rumours, Billion Dollar Babies, Hotel California, Foreigner 4 etc. But that didn't really catch on. Now the releases are almost all prog-related. The non-prog ones seem to also involve Steven Wilson- XTC, Simple Minds.

I still have reservations with it so have not delved that far into it. At its worst it can remind me of the old wide stereo mixes....too naked sounding, not really natural IMHO.

[Scrotum Scissor]

What I'd really, really wish for the f'n future of f'n 'progressive rock' music, was for its alleged (i.e. self-declared) audience to start actually exploring it. The f'n *music*, I mean. With or without f'n 'Steven's' involvement, seeing how this covers about 0,00041 %.

[at least 100 dead]

Wots "progression"?

[rdclark]

Music lovers buy the content. Only gearheads care about the container. There are a few gearhead music lovers, but you could have coined the term "niche market" to describe them.

I buy more than my share of Steven Wilson remixes etc., and have spent many a happy Sunday afternoon immersed in a 5.1 remix of music I love. But 75% of my ear-time is still in my car, in my office, in my bedroom, or via headphones on a portable player. The music matters first; a surround remix isn't going to redeem crap.

[strawberrybrick]

FWIW, and perhaps more kudos to him, Steven Wilson has become the de facto TMOQ for remix.

[arabicadabra]

Economics being what they are, I may have to wait for God's kingdom to experience surround sound....

[zravkapt]

What ever happened to whatever was used on Water's ATD and Floyd's PULSE? I think it was called Q-Sound or something.

[Zeuhlmate]

When I was 16 I had an Ambiophonic system on my HiFi.(Eno described it on the back of one of his early ambient albums "Ambient 4: On Land" EGED 20, 1982) It was kind of the poor mans Quadrophonics.
- I had a box that was connected to my main speakers between speakers and the amp, and all the music that wasnt in one of the speakers, was sent as mono to both speakers of another pair of speakers behind you at a little lower volume. Worked terrific with some music. Sounded somewhat natural with simple stuff but absolutely 'psychedelic' with albums like Gentle Giant The Power and the Glory!

Here is the 'device' I had made by B&O: http://beophile.com/?page_id=371

[tozo]

Surround sound is a nice diversion from time to time. Kinda what 3D is to movies. Fun, but not worth too much effort

[soundsweird]

The other genre that has really latched on to surround sound is Electroacoustic, which I find makes a lot more sense than listening to any type of rock music in surround. Check out the Canadian label Empreintes Digitales at www.electrocd.com My favorite artists are Normandeau, Gobiel, Dhomont. There's even a release by Plunderphonics composer John Oswald.

[Progbear]

Surround Sound hasn't caught on, and probably never will, because it requires too much equipment, and the result is too gimmicky.

Prog, the domain of true geekdom, is the most likely to embrace 5.1 but it'll never go mainstream.

Prog, the Enoch Light of the 70s.

[r2daft2]

What I can't understand is why surround sound is not catching on whilst vinyl is (if it's true that it is!).
You can't play vinyl in the car or on your Walkman so is only suitable for a specialised set up in your favourite listening room at home.
Surround sound discs are typically cheaper than vinyl and (whatever format) should be playable on all blu-ray players which are cheaper than record decks and increasingly common in the home to watch films etc.
Surround sound discs will never replace stereo CDs - I would never expect them to.
I just find it quite odd that many prog-related artists now release CD/surround sound audio packages from day 1 but mass-market artists (such as U2, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Elton John, Queen, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Adele, One Direction etc.) release albums in stereo only - although their video releases (live concerts) may well have surround sound as standard.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Surround sound discs will never replace stereo CDs - I would never expect them to.

That 'stereo CD' is a dying medium with the general public anyway, and the 'vinyl resurgence' is also merely a niche-listener's curiousa phenomenon. I suppose a large percentage of active listeners actually DO see their habit as something best confined to the contemplative surroundings of a living room (of some sort).

[interbellum]

I just find it quite odd that many prog-related artists now release CD/surround sound audio packages from day 1 but mass-market artists (such as U2, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Elton John, Queen, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Adele, One Direction etc.) release albums in stereo only - although their video releases (live concerts) may well have surround sound as standard.

Bowie's Ziggy Stardust on 5.1 surround SACD: http://www.sa-cd.net/showreviews/1318 (I believe "Heathen" was released in 5.1 too).
Elton John has a series of 5.1 re-releases too and Queen's Night At The Opera is on DVD-A 5.1.
But I guess you mean NEW releases.

[r2daft2]

Mainly new releases. I'm aware of the odd example of record companies dipping their toes in the water to see what the market for surround sound might be for their back catalogue of artists. They usually choose one title per artist - their best seller. Only the prog-related discs seem to have any success but I really haven't a clue what else might be out there - there's just no promotion that I'm aware of.