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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-null!kinmonth
From: kinmonth@null.DEC
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: CD max play time
Message-ID: <2052@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 27-Jun-84 11:35:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.2052
Posted: Wed Jun 27 11:35:30 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 30-Jun-84 03:49:23 EDT
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 25


A while ago someone said or implied that a CD had a maximum play time
of 72 minutes. Is this correct? Does anyone known for sure what the
max play time is? Is this time fixed forever? As manufacturing
technology improves, will they be able to sqeeze more on, or are
the tracking specifications for the laser pickup such that an older
player could not track newer more "compact" discs?

I am somewhat disappointed that the max time might really be 72 mins.
I saw in a record store the other day a CD recording of Mahler's 2nd
with Solti and the Chicago Symphony. What disappointed me was the fact
that it comes on two discs. If the symphony does indeed run over 72
mins, it cannot be by much. I think Mahler #2 times usually are in the
75 min range. I'll admit it. I'm lazy and one thing I hate to do is
get up and turn the record over (or worse, have to CHANGE records).
I have a reel-to-reel deck that accomodates 10.5 inch reels just so
I can listen to things like Mahler symphonies without having to fumble
around with records and cassettes. I sure hope they'll be able to get
a 75 symphony onto a single CD. Does anyone know if records companies
will be putting longer works on multiple discs (even if the work
might be sqeezed onto one) just so they can sell the set for twice
as much?

	Bruce Kinmonth		...decvax!decwrl!rhea!null!kinmonth