Redbook cd's???

Simply means CDs that comply with the general CD norms published, so it seems, in a redbook. It has no connection whatsoever with Chairman Mao! Excludes, obviously, SACDs and DVDAs. Not sure if HDCD is to be found in the "redbook".

It just means regular CD (vs. any other 5" disc media). The term comes from the "Redbook Standard" that was established by Sony/Philips and later adopted by the IEC as the standard for CDs.

For the most part, it refers to the 16 bit wordlength and 44.1 kHz sampling rate using PCM for two-channels. But in addition, it also specifies the techical details of the media (pit length, spacing, etc.). On a side note, the addition of any digital rights management actually violates the standard.

This has been brought up before but here would be the full explanation on Redbook :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_(audio_CD_standard)

Gotta love Google.

Thanks for the info guys. I though I was missing something, turns out I was not. Thanks again for the replies.

There is a GREAT article in this month's "the absolute sound" about the invention of the CD, including a well detailed outline of the Redbook Standard.

I've seen the redbook - it is a real book... I used to work for Philips - the technical specifications for creating and reading a CD were contained in a giant "Red Book", ie red three rind binder (hence the name) - when I was there in 90-96 we were working on the CD-i software which was the "green book."

In addition to sampling rates and sizes (44.1k/16 bit)and data rates there are very specific descriptions of data files, machine specs, tolerances, transfer rates, error correction, etc. The Redbook - possibly the most boring book ever written!! And the book that essentially ruined the recording industry - they forgot to include some kind of encryption (like DVD's have now), opening up the way for everyone to copy and steal music... but that's another story. Who could have known that computers would get faster and the internet would be invented...