Introduction to iTrax
iTrax, a new high definition audio and video download service is a music and video website for people who believe music should be enjoyed at the highest possible fidelity. Music enthusiasts are finally being rewarded with the kind of high definition music and video content that has previously been available only on disc. The iTrax website features a variety of music genres and can be downloaded in any of six audio formats, with or without video and in stereo or two surround sound perspectives. All of the content was recorded and produced in high definition audio and video and no upsampling gimmicks have been used.
iTrax Audio Video Recordings
iTrax is the creation of Dr. Mark Waldrep, President of AIX Records, a Los Angeles based music recording and production company. He is fanatical about music and high fidelity, so much that he records all of the artists featured on iTrax, so he owns the content. Since he owns it, DRM (digital rights management) is handled as a trust issue – he trusts that users will not copy and distribute his content. You won’t find top 40 tunes on iTrax, but you will find acoustically stunning two-channel and multichannel recordings that elevate music to its finest, from artists who love music at its finest. One of my favorite AIX recordings, “Now is the Month of Maying” is performed by Zephyr, an a cappella ‘recording in the round’. Twelve vocalists positioned at each hour on the clock bathe the listener in rich, full surround sound, as if you’re standing in the center of the group. It is simply an astounding recording that places the listener in the recording venue. His classical, folk and jazz recordings are equally jaw-dropping with exceptional clarity and detail. The iTrax music library is expected to grow as the company signs on additional artists who produce high definition content.
iTrax is 'iTunes for Adults'
At a recent industry trade event, I listened as Mark introduced iTrax to his audience. As he explains it, “Current download services are not taking advantage of the technical advances made in the art and science of recording. Today you can download almost any standard definition CD or dumbed down MP3 file, but that’s not the best available, far from it. iTrax is a no-compromise approach to high quality music and video downloads, it’s iTunes for adults.”
How to Download iTrax Content
iTrax tunes can be purchased individually or as an album and are priced differently depending on the audio format. In general, they range from $.79 to as much as $2.99 per song and as high as about $20.00 for an entire album. You can also listen to a free preview of each selection before making a purchase. iTrax songs and albums can be easily downloaded to a computer or music server and stored on the hard disk. Each selection identifies the size of the file and the length of time required to download it. iTrax supports Windows (including Vista) and Mac OS X operating systems. Copying an iTrax music file to a disc is a bit more complicated depending on the type of file you want to put on a disc. However, the iTrax website includes easy to follow instructions for each type of file and disc.
Conclusion
The iTrax service is long overdue for serious music enthusiasts. Lower quality compressed music formats certainly have a place, and so do high definition music and video formats. iTrax is ‘music for the rest of us’ who enjoy hearing all of the fidelity, clarity and transparency that is possible with high definition audio and video recording technology. For more information and for downloading some hi-def tunes, visit the iTrax website.