Audio Briefs

LOS ANGELES— More than 70 new DVD-Audio titles scheduled for release between October and December will bring the format's U.S. selection to 656, the DVD-Audio Council announced. The releases feature 5.1 multi-channel surround sound as well as video and concert footage, artist interviews, web-enabled capabilities, and on-screen displays of lyrics, liner notes, menus, and photo galleries. Artists and bands releasing the DVD-Audio titles Andrea Bocelli, Barenaked Ladies, R.E.M., Luther Vandross, Rod Stewart, Foo Fighters, Carl Perkins, The Mavericks, Diana Krall, Alicia Keys, Blues Traveler, Neil Young, George Strait and Shania Twain. The council's mission is to educate hardware and software retailers to the benefits and features of DVD-Audio while simultaneously promoting consumer awareness of this evolutionary format. Members include Universal, Warner, BMG, EMI, DTS Entertainment, 5.1 Entertainment, Meridian, Dolby and Panasonic.

MAYNARD, MASS.— Ucentric Systems has developed networked music-server software said to be the only in-home music application that automatically discovers and aggregates digital music files stored on all devices, including PCs, connected to a wired or wireless home network. The technology can be integrated into the company's networked-DVR application without an increase in hardware costs. The set-top music server would include a CD drive to rip songs and would features a point-and-click visual interface accessible from TV, PC, and PDA screens. Supported wired options are 802.11g over coax, HPNA V.2 or V.3, and Ethernet. Wireless options comprise the 802.11 family and "several emerging non-standards based chipsets," the company said.

WILMINGTON, DEL.— Audio supplier Balanced Audio Technologies teamed up with New Century Television, developer of broadband-delivered video-on-demand channels, to launch the first Internet channel dedicated to consumer electronics. The BAT Channel features the company's three founders explaining the benefits of their best selling amps, preamps, and other gear. Viewers must tune into www.balanced.com or www.newcentury.com/BAT. New Century was founded in 2002.