Direct Stream Digital Audio


Test Your Systems with 4 Formats of Playback!

Many people don't hear the difference or care if there is a difference in sound.  We at DSD-Guide support those people who just want to listen to music regardless of the format.  If you would like to test your ears and your playback system for what formats you prefer read more to find free downloads and how to do a comparative listening test.


An article in the New York Times presents an ugly picture of what might happen if Spotify goes away. But really, it applies to all streaming services. Are you keeping your entire music library on playlists and relying on big business to treat your music library as carefully as you would?

A Recording Control Room

12. The Recording Chain

We have looked at the way microphones work in some detail, and sat in on a typical recording session. Now it’s time to see what electronics and processes the music is going to go through as it travels its way to the listener.

Recently, a subscriber wrote to us and asked this question. Everyone is going to have a different opinion and to a certain extent, if you're happy with how you listen, that's the only opinion that matters. But, if you're asking which sounds closest to the final mixed or mastered version of a music track and from an audio engineering point of view, there are a few critical processes to consider.

Is this really better for the consumer that the price doesn't increase? It could lead to cheaper prices in the short run and in the long run... a bunch of crappy audio recordings upsampled to HD or Apple selling plugins for quick immersive sound experiences. It also means that if you want an HD experience you'll need to get a set of headphones and a bunch of adapters for your iPhone if you really want to have the experience Apple suggests.


With the announcement that Apple is going to offer streaming FLAC and Atmos, we believe DSD is going to benefit from the chaos that will ensue. Apple has no idea what they've just committed to.... killing off great sound except for the few who are committed to DSD.

Rushton Paul writes a very good article on the challenges of DSD recording and how different engineers, labels and resellers approach it. Rushton investigates the variables and gives examples from different labels.

Somehow, the discussion of 'what sounds better' has gone from bad to worse. Click bait videos, angry arguments online, people trying to conjure up proof without getting enough facts. And what happened to DSD in all of this? Is it forgotten? We hope not.

It's hard to mess up a DSD recording. At the same time, it's not easy to DO a true DSD recording. DSD won't improve a bad recording and neither will a $100,000 stereo system.

Michael Bishop

Today we lost a giant... It's hard to believe. Michael Bishop was a pioneer in DSD audio recording and immersive sound, now gone.

Michael was an audio engineer for Telarc and later a co-founder of Five/Four Productions, which recorded classical, jazz and other acoustic music. He was a driving force for DSD and always outspoken for fair practices when it affected all of us. When we had a question or wanted an opinion, Michael was always someone to turn to.


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