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Since the release of the PLAY DVD we have become aware of an issue with the DTS soundtrack on the latest generation of surround amplifiers.

PLAY is the first disc produced using a new DTS encoder and it seems that the version we used has set a flag within the DTS audio stream that can cause a 30db reduction in volume.

We have only experienced the issue on a Denon AVR-3805 amplifier (kindly lent to us by Denon UK), although it may be more widespread as new audio decoder chips reach the consumer market in other products. Reading through our DVD forum, our experience would tie in with the comments of people on the boards . A 30db volume reduction is very noticeable, so the DTS audio heard through these amplifiers is going to be both disappointing, and give a you big shock if you turn it up and then flip back to one of the other audio tracks, or navigate back to a menu.

Only the latest amplifiers are reading the 'Dialogue Normalization" setting in the DTS audio which is causing the volume reduction. Other amplifiers are simply ignoring this information, so during the product development and testing, and to most consumers the DTS was and still is the best sounding audio on the disc.

We are currently working with DTS, Warner Vision and Denon to find a solution, and will keep you posted.

Please let us know if you have experienced this problem on any other equipment.

In the kind of about-face in the light of changing circumstance that could be critisized at election time as 'weak', Tina has extended her competition deadline. Entries will now be accepted until Thursday 16 December.

In an attempt to justify the move a spokesperson close to Tina said "Some fans have written in to say that they had difficulty in completing it at short notice" adding that Play was not released until 23 Nov in Canada.

I've just had an email from Gillian Caldwell, the Executive Director of Witness and thougt we'd pass on the information......

"I am tremendously proud to announce the launch of Witness to Truth: A Video Report and Recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Sierra Leone at www.witness.org. As many of you will recall, I traveled to Sierra Leone with my family in November of last year to produce this film on behalf of the TRC, and it was embargoed until the TRC delivered its written report and film to the President of Sierra Leone last month.

"Witness to Truth," marks the first time that video has been used by a TRC to raise public awareness of its findings and recommendations. It highlights the key causes and consequences of the war, and encourages civil society in Sierra Leone and beyond to hold the government accountable for implementing the binding recommendations issued by the TRC.

For those of you in the New York area, I will participate in a screening and panel discussion of "Witness to Truth" on Friday December 10th, International Human Rights Day, at NYU's School of Law, Tishman Auditorium, Vanderbilt Hall, 40 Washington Square South, from 6:30 - 8pm. The event is free and open to the public."

As you may have heard Sizer Barker joined Tom Robinson for his Evening Sequence show on BBC Radio 6 Music last night and performed exclusive session tracks. Don't worry if you missed it though as you can still listen via Real Player and the BBC's archived broadcast, but hurry, it'll only be online for a week!

By our calculations and the glare of the large white body hanging over the studios this evening, tonight sees that extraordinary event , a Full Moon. I realise some of you have been celebrating the Full Moon on the forums since Wednesday, and I'd like to claim we are as ever fashionably late, but the pictures below are our proof - today's the day.

In celebration of these lunar happenings we offer you a new remix of Rhythm of The Heat by Engelspost - A link to the QuickTime audio is as you would expect to be found on the Moon Club video page.

Noticing the news reports on WOMADshop's greatly reduced price for the lush gatefold double LP version of Adrian Sherwoods Never Trust A Hippy I decided it was time to acquire a copy. I enjoyed it so much; the sound reverberating into the Wiltshire countryside late into the night, that I decided to show you what you're missing if you fail to get hold of a copy.

Be amongst the first to see this exclusive film of the entire first side of album - that's nearly 20 minutes of immersive audio visual entertainment.

You need QuickTime and a broadband connection, then sit back marvel at the deep low end of this 120g pressing, the richness of err analogue sound?

webmaster@realworld.co.uk

There we were thinking you didn't care to give us your thoughts, but it turns out it may just be that your having to experience the site through Microsoft Internet Explorer on the PC and it didn't like our code. Appolagies for this.

The problem is now fixed, so if you have seen the DVD why not post a review, we want to know what you think. If you come across any other features of the site that don't work for you, let us know.

WOMADshop now have two PG bundles on offer, both from £50 delivered

Bundle 1
Still Growing Up Tour 2004 Duffel Bag containing:
Poster (zorb ball),
White T shirt,
Programme,
CD Holder
Tour Cap.

Bundle 2
Still Growing Up Tour Duffel bag to include:

Poster,
Navy long sleeve T shirt
Programme,
Anna Gabriel DVD 'Growing Up On Tour, A Family Portrait'
and Melanie Gabriel CD.

To coincide with the release of PLAY in the USA today Peter is doing a series of radio interviews. We are not sure if the broadcast time will be the same as the interview time, or how/where you can tune into the broadcasts, but here is the information we have. Time is EST

9:00 VH1 Syndicated
9:15 WAXQ NY
9.30 WKQX Chicago
10.00 KLOS L.A
10.15 ABC radio Syndicated
10.30 Westwood Syndicated
10.45 Maverick Syndicated.

With next Tuesday's U.S release date for PLAY approaching we thought we would wet your appetite with our new feature on the DVD. Check out snippets of each video in our Flash DVD simulator, and exclusive video interview with Peter Gabriel and Daniel Lanois, articles on the DVD production, images and more. if you already have a copy let us know what you think in the review section.

A new competition and results from the last are now posted on Tina's pages.

Peter Gabriel interviewed recently in influencial music industry trade rag 'Music Week' ,on the week of being honoured at the MITS, commented on the launch of his new imprint PRE:
'I never really wanted to go outside Real World Records, but one of the problems with the music business is it's very hard to get stuff racked and firms are cutting space that would have gone to world music, and for some of the acts that are rock or from 'our' cultural heritage, they've always had tough time being put in the world music section.....PRE was an old label that was dormant and we've got Pina and Sizer Barker on it."
When asked what drew Peter to these artists, he said:
"With Pina, it was the voice that initially attracted me. There's a passion there that I liked. With Sizer Barker it's all about the songwriting. The songs are a combination of futuristic and retro elements, so you can hear a bit of The Beatles in there, but also a really exciting glimpse of the way rock is heading."

"Cruise with Johnnie and the Drivetime Show. Joining Johnnie in the studio is singer/songwriter Peter Gabriel."

You can hear this BBC Radio 2 show today between 17.05 and 19.00. To listen via the internet follow the link below.

We have just launched our new site for "Sizer Barker", the first signings to Peter Gabriel's new record label "PRE Records". Take a look, have a listen, and download some lovely things!

In a surprise move we have made a little update to the Full Moon Club - members will find two new additions to the video page in the form of 'Washing Of The Water' from the new PLAY DVD and an audio stream of Peter's "Book Of Love" which is currently to be heard in the Mirimax movie "Shall We Dance"