The designer of the DualDisc, Dieter Dierks, who is also reportedly involved in a legal battle over patent issues with WEA, announced a new disc format called One Disc. The One Disc format showcases Dieter Dierks’ DVDPlus technology, as it combines a full capacity CD on one side and a full capacity DVD on the other side. The creator claims the format has no compatibility issues with existing hardware and can be played or viewed in the standard CD or DVD player including, but not limited to, computers and home theater systems.

DualDisc seems to really have the attention of the four major record labels as the next physical format they want to use to sell their music, having beaten out SACD and potentially incorporating many of the features of DVD-Audio onto the DVD side of the half-CD/half-DVD “dual disc.” According to a release from a number of big record companies a few weeks ago, as many as 50 DualDiscs will be released this October, just in time for the holiday selling season.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting some legal snags for the CD/DVD Dual Disc format even before it is released. In an article that was recently posted on the Times’ website said that Philips, who owns much of the intellectual property behind the Compact Disc and licenses the CD logo, wouldn’t let Dual Disc use the CD logo because it didn’t fit into the CD spec. Another angry party is the German firm that created the first Dual Disc. According to the Times, DVD Plus is claiming WEA has breeched their contract which has allowed the record conglomerate to continue to develop the two sided audio-video disc.

The Dual Disc has been approved to be an official DVD format by the DVD forum and now the remaining major record labels are scurrying to get their content in order for a pending launch of the half-CD/half-DVD discs to consumers. A pre-Christmas launch would be most desirable. However, creating or reworking a classic album into an audio/video surround sound masterpiece reportedly takes anywhere from 12 to 18 weeks, even by the most experienced mixers, masterers and authors of high-resolution discs.

Gibson Guitar Corporation has joined forces with computer chip manufacturers 3Com and Xilinx to produce an all-digital guitar to be released later this year. The guitar boasts new technology that will convert traditional analog signals to high-quality digital signals inside of the guitar. Gibson says the new guitar will work to completely eliminate analog line signals and stray frequencies, providing a clean sound minus the “hum” that mono and stereo outputs create. Another perk of the digital guitar is the string-by-string signal processing. This technology will allow players to control volume, pan and equalization of each individual string. The new guitar will cost approximately $1,000 - $1,500 more than a Gibson standard model electric guitar. Gibson also says it will be 100% compatible with all of their existing equipment.