Audio formats
■Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is a digital surround sound system that gives you completely independent multi-channel audio. With 3 front channels (left, center, and right), and 2 surround stereo channels, Dolby Digital provides 5 full-range audio channels. With an additional channel especially for bass effects, called LFE (low frequency effect), the system has a total of 5.1-channels (LFE is counted as 0.1 channel). By using 2-channel stereo for the surround speakers, more accurate moving sound effects and surround sound environment are possible than with Dolby Surround.
■Dolby Pro Logic
A surround system that takes a 4-channel signal and records it as a 2-channel signal, then by way of some arithmetic processing converts back to an independent 4-channel signal for playback.
■Dolby Pro Logic II
Dolby Pro Logic II is an improved technique used to decode vast numbers of existing Dolby Surround software. This new technology enables a discrete 5-channel playback with 2 front left and right channels, 1 center channel, and 2 surround left and right channels (instead of only 1 surround channel for conventional Pro Logic technology). Music and Game modes are also available for 2-channel sources in addition to the Movie mode.
■DTS (Digital Theater Systems)
The 5.1-channel surround system adopted by most movie theaters. With an abundance of audio data, it is able to provide authentic-sounding effects.
■Linear PCM (LPCM)
A signal that is changed to digital format without compression. A CD is recorded with 16-bit sound at 44.1 kHz, while DVD recording is anywhere from 16 bits at 48 kHz to 24 bits at 192 kHz, which makes it a higher quality sound than CD. This signal also has a type called Packed PCM (P.PCM) that can be compressed without any loss of data.
■Matrix 6.1
CinemaStation incorporates a Matrix 6.1 decoder for Dolby Digital and DTS multi-channel software that enables 6.1-channel reproduction by adding the surround back channel to existing 5.1-channel format. (The surround back channel is created from surround left and right channels, and output from a virtual surround back speaker.) With this additional channel, you can experience more dynamic and realistic moving sound especially scenes with “fly-over” and “fly-around” effects.
