TechnoTidbitsTidbitsand
Dolby
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is a discrete digital surround format used for multichannel surround sound. It was developed after the Dolby Surround System and Dolby Pro Logic Surround System. Dolby Digital is a high quality digital sound format that is used by many theatrical film releases.
Other features include:
1)Downmixing on playback for compatibility with mono, stereo, Dolby Pro Logic and 5.1 channel audio.
2)A wide range of bitrates and channels.
3)Decoding dynamic range information and adjusting the dialog level in the soundtrack (called Dialog Normalization, see below for more information).
Dialog Normalization
When a Dolby Digital soundtrack is played back the Dialog Normalization function of the receiver activates automatically. Dialog Normalization is a Dolby Digital function that establishes the average dialog level for the program source being played. If the receiver's level does not match the average dialog level, first you see "DIAL NORM" and "OFFSET +4 dB" (as an example) appear in the receiver's display. In this example, the number +4 dB is the difference between the receiver's gain structure and the Dolby Digital average dialog level. To match the average dialog level, subtract or add the OFFSET level. For example, if the OFFSET level is +4 dB, the amplifier's output is 4 dB over the average recorded level.
Dolby Pro Logic II
Dolby Pro Logic II is an improved version of Dolby Pro Logic technology with extended matrix decoding technology that can create 5.1 channel sound from two channel sources. Dolby Pro Logic II creates basic 5 channel sound by using the innovative "steering logic" circuit. Therefore when listening to typical
Chart Comparing Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby Pro Logic II
| Pro Logic | Pro Logic II |
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Effective sound source | Dolby Surround encoded sources | All two channel stereo sources |
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Surround Sound | Mono | Stereo |
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Frequency Range | Surround within 7kHz | All Channels/Full Range |
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Dolby Digital Surround EX
This new recording technology is able to play 6.1 channel sound and was developed in a collaboration between Dolby Laboratories and Lucasfilm, Ltd. for the film "Star Wars: The First Episode", the first movie ever to be made with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology. In a movie theater this format affords the listener vivid surround sound experience replete with the effect of sounds flying overhead, even for those seated towards the sides of the theater. Dolby Digital Surround EX contains surround back channels which are dubbed into the soundtrack in studio. The channels are encoded into the left and right channels of the soundtrack so this format can be compatible with Dolby Digital 5.1 channel decoding. For a list of movies that contain Dolby Digital Surround EX soundtracks see Dolby website at: http://www.dolby.com
DTS
DTS
In this system, 6 channels of digital sound are recorded on
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