to find them in local stores soon, explains Alan Wright.

Hi-fi retailers in Bermuda are refusing to get involved in a gamble that has turned into full-scale technological warfare in the music business.

Electronics industry executives in the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom are scrambling to take the lead in "What Comes Next'' after the compact disc which effectively finished the traditional vinyl record.

The front runners in the multi-million dollar race are the Digital Compact Cassette (DCC) and the Mini-Disc. But there are fears of an early end to the race because DCC could be obsolete before it becomes affordable to the ordinary music fan.

The gamble is that CD technology might push all its rivals aside as it steams headlong into the 21st century, removing both audio and video tapes. Or will the vast sums of money already spent in developing DCC see it take off over summer once prices of DCC players begin to fall? Bermudian retailers are waiting until prices drop below the $1,000 mark before they risk importing DCC players into the Island. Yet two of the world's largest electronics companies Philips and Matsushita have already invested millions in the new format and around 1,500 albums will be available on DCC by Christmas.

What is DCC? Basically it is a highly advanced tape system designed to work hand-in-hand with your crisp, clear-sounding compact discs, rather than providing any great threat. It has introduced digital technology into the audio cassette to improve quality by the same extent as CDs when they phased out vinyl.

Most modern recording studios use digital equipment and many albums are recorded digitally, making it appropriate that they are played back digitally.

It allows recordings to be made accurately and without any surface hiss.

Manufacturers realise that fussy listeners have near perfection on their home systems but also want it in the car and on their personal hi-fis.

Like traditional cassette tapes DCCs are easier to carry around than CDs, and the original can always be retaped if a light-fingered music lover takes a fancy to your favourite recording.

DCC tapes will be the same size as audio cassettes but the artwork is printed on the body of the cassette. The tapes are in modern boxes and can be removed using one hand, perfect for changing tapes while driving. And, like CDs they look good.

But the biggest selling point about DCC systems is their "backwards compatibility''. This means they can play audio cassette tapes without any problem. Therefore there is no junking of your tape collection to replace them with DCCs. The changeover from vinyl to CDs meant whole record collections had to be duplicated. This was a boost for the industry but cost consumers a lot of money. Consumers are not keen to repeat the experience and the record companies know it. Old tapes can also be transferred easily to DCC when they start to show a little wear and tear.

Already in the US and UK record companies have embraced the new idea releasing albums on the DCC format. Classics by Dire Straits, David Bowie, Abba, Bob Marley, Simple Minds and Diana Ross, as well as new albums plus many opera, classical and jazz titles, are now available for those who can afford to shell out $1,900 on a system.

Record companies like Polygram, MCA, Virgin, Geffen, EMI, Island, Capitol Chrysalis and Decca are delighted with the results of the early tests with DCC,adding weight to the campaign.

But dealers in Bermuda are showing mixed feelings over the impact that DCC will make on the home market clearly dominated by the CD with audio cassettes coming a distant second.

Manager at M&M International, on Church Street, Donny Correia says he will bring in DCC systems by the end of the summer. Says Correia: "We will not be selling them right now and I am not looking to bring any in yet. Prices are too expensive. The systems are going for around $1,900 in the US at present.

They will have to come down a lot before they are viable in Bermuda. I am also watching the situation in the US because CD technology is improving. You can now record on CD and there is also CD with pictures.'' Another local dealer, who asked not to be named because he deals with a company that has spent millions of dollars in DCC technology, says: "I think it will be obsolete before it gets here. CD technology is so advanced that I am sure people will prefer to go for CDs. Even so there is a small section of the community in favour of DCC.

"People are moving away from tapes and CD is the main thing they are using now. If they can record on CDs they will not bother using tapes.

"Consumers are not going to pay a lot of money on something that will be out-of-date. I would have trouble selling a DCC because of this and because of the high price.'' However, he said he would review the situation in the fall and then decide whether to introduce any new technology to the Island.

The CD and tape stores are also waiting to see whether the new format will be a success. Joe Lopes, manager of Sound Stage in Washington Mall, said that he has already had large amounts of promotional material from the major record companies about DCC.

He says: "I have been notified that most new albums are on DCC and they are available if we want them. But I have had no interest in them from anywhere else. No-one has been in to inquire about the availability of DCC until you called.

"I am not sure if we will be getting them in later in the year, because people seem to be fairly happy with compact discs. Getting DCC would mean going out and buying the whole new system which would be expensive. I don't think people want to do that at the moment.'' Despite these fears, DCC is still being pushed as tape technology which is unlikely to be bettered for many years to come. The digital sound on the tapes is prompting rave reviews in the US and UK.

After all, tape has already ridden the storm of compact discs. It has always been seen as working hand-in-hand with vinyl records and CDs where people would prefer mobility rather than perfect quality.

To provide a tape with sound as crisp and clear as a compact disc seems a winner on all counts.

But then one must look at the opposition. Mini-discs in particular are being pushed hard by manufacturers.

Correia says that Sony has put a lot of money into making disc technology more efficient. "At the moment only half the CD is being used so Sony is trying to produce a three-inch CD. It will mean the discs can be used for recordings and pictures. "But again they are faced with the popularity of 8mm video tapes which can be as portable as Mini-discs. These can already be picked up easily in the United States.

"People like JVC are sitting back and waiting to see which the consumer gravitates toward before they get involved.'' According to Ed Rego of Stuarts on Reid Street said: "Prices are too high atthe moment. None of these products are about to create a boom yet because they are still facing their first Christmas.

"When prices come down we will be able to see what is left and then we will consider bringing them into Bermuda.'' Alan Wright is a senior reporter with The Royal Gazette. This is his first piece for RG Magazine.

No caption AUGUST 1993 RG MAGAZINE