Customer Reviews

Studio Voodoo

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow, these boys can mix! This 'DTS Experience' is mind numbing in its complexity. It is jaw dropping mixed specifically for the 5.1 format. It's very difficult to describe it. There is drums a-plenty, tribal rhythms, Spanish guitars, opera divas improvising over trance-techo beats, quirky (and at times annoying) spoken dialogue, synths synths and more synths panning and shooting all over the room. Is is perfect? No, buts it's darn close. I found the yoga instruction dialogue throughout Trance Dance to be irritating. I could also do without the cheesy new-wave three-party converstation that starts off the otherwise mind-blowing Integraton.

Bottom line: If you have a DTS-capable sound system (especially if you have 6.1!) this is the 'wow' disc to get. I can't wait for their next release!

This DVD-Audio, one of the few created specifically for surround, is a slickly produced recording that uses surround quite effectively. In general the music superficially combines a variety of musical styles (Swahili vocals, Balinese "ketchak" (monkey-chant), chants, operatic vocals, flamenco guitar, etc.) over a generic "tribal" electro beat that overall becomes a vapid, unsatisfying mish-mash. It feels like dts, in an effort to promote DVD-Audio and surround, hired some musicians to whip up surround music that would have a broad, bland appeal. There is 1 slide per piece (each crassly headed by the self-promotional "dts music experience"). The mix is actually 6.1 if you are setup for that. There is also an "art" gallery and a binaural headphone mix offered. People who think this is "avant-garde" must only know mainstream rock. And while the use of surround is effective, it's not as innovative as the very adventurous Immersion release, and not as musically coherent as the Subotnick release (to mention 2 other DVD-Audios that are true surround sound).

First of all, the recording and mixing engineers did a great job, but ....., there are only moments of repeatably listenable moments of music. The remainder seems more experimental noise of the nervous banging, talking, generally irritating type. I tried several times to listen this as openly as possible, and in the end just feel cheated. Not just out of my money, but out of my time. By the way I came across this DVDA because Amazon shows that people who bought Blue Man Group (BMG) also bought Studio Voodo. They are not even close to the same. BMG is great, this is a bad investment.

This DVD is mesmerizing and amazing! I can honestly say I have NEVER heard anything like it before. A friend of mine told me about Studio Voodoo that their record was "a must have". I recently bought a DVD player and this DVD was my first purchase. Money well spent. Each song puts you in a different world of sound - from african drum circles, to flaminco dancers and guitars. This DVD puts you inside the music, like you are actually sitting in the middle of this amazing musical experience!! Studio Voodoo is definitely a must have for anyone who truly appreciates clever, exciting music!

i just want to thank "surroundguy" for pointing out that while this is clearly arranged for surround sound, the music itself is glossy and ultimately empty, really more demo material. i was reminded of this when i recently saw an older issue of Sound & Vision, which observes that this "DVD is in fact just a 'surround demo disc'...Multichannel a Go Go..." Right on. DVD-Audio can be outstanding when both the surround sound and music are strong. this DVD only gets it half right.

I have purchased alot of surround music, mostly older titles remixed seem to be available and the newer ones are not that interesting, but this is completely fresh and the release date says 2001!! This is what I play for my friends to blow them away. I want another DVD Studio Voodoo!

Studio Voodoo is probably the most innovative and challenging surround sound production to be released to date. Studio Voodoo won the DISCUS AWARD Best DVD-A of 2001 for Creative Excellence. Thats how I heard of them, and the DVD-A explores the exciting possibilities of surround sound. Great songs with interesting stories. I recommend it!

This is an amazing album! Lot's of drums and percussion loops are combined with ethnic vocals and chants in a surround sound dance extravaganza. If you like hardcore dance music, this album is for you. There's lots of extra stuff too, like a video and art gallery. Check it out!

but this DVD was money I wasted after reading the reviews here at ( ). I have a very good DTS-setup (no DVDA). But if you are looking for the performance of 5.1 get some DTS sampler like the Big Picture, Cincinatti Pops (which is far better). And if you like techno variations, you may find them with this DVD as with a lot of other CD’s. As for DVDA – take a real one, with music you like. As a gadget this DVD does not deliver.

Great music, great surround mix. I don't have a DVD-A player, so am referring to the DTS 6.1 ES surround mix. The DTS sound quality is excellent, and encoded at the highest bit rate.