Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (often shortened to Dolby Labs and known simply as Dolby) is an American company specializing in audio noise reduction and audio encoding/compression. Dolby licenses its technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers.
Public | |
Traded as | NYSE: DLB (Class A) Russell 1000 Component |
---|---|
Industry | Audio encoding/compression Audio noise reduction |
Founded | May 18, 1965; 54 years ago in London, England, United Kingdom |
Founder | Ray Dolby |
Headquarters | , |
30+ (2014) | |
Area served
|
Worldwide |
Peter Gotcher (Executive chairman) Kevin Yeaman (President and CEO) |
|
Products | Dolby ScreenTalk Dolby Media Producer Dolby Lake Processor |
Revenue | US$1.082 billion (2017)[1] |
US$248.64 million (2017)[1] | |
US$201.80 million (2017)[1] | |
Total assets | US$2.534 billion (2017)[1] |
Total equity | US$2.137 billion (2017)[1] |
Number of employees
|
1,867 (2015)[2] |
Subsidiaries | Audistry[3] Via Licensing[4] |
Website | www.dolby.com |
- 2Technologies
![What Is Dolby Digital What Is Dolby Digital](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b8kPd3MOK5I/hqdefault.jpg)
History[edit]
Dolby Labs was founded by American Ray Dolby (1933â2013) in London, United Kingdom, in 1965. In that same year, he invented the Dolby Noise Reduction System, a form of audio signal processing for reducing the background hissing sound on audio tape recordings. His first U.S. patent on the technology was filed in 1969, four years later. The method was first used by Decca Records in the UK.[5]
He moved the company headquarters to the United States (San Francisco, California) in 1976.[6] The first product Dolby Labs produced was the Dolby 301 unit which incorporated Type A Dolby Noise Reduction, a compander based noise reduction system. These units were intended for use in professional recording studios.
Dolby was persuaded by Henry Kloss of KLH to manufacture a consumer version of his noise reduction. Dolby worked more on companding systems and introduced Type B in 1968.
Dolby also sought to improve film sound. As the corporation's history explains:[citation needed]
- Upon investigation, Dolby found that many of the limitations in optical sound stemmed directly from its significantly high background noise. To filter this noise, the high-frequency response of theatre playback systems was deliberately curtailed⦠To make matters worse, to increase dialogue intelligibility over such systems, sound mixers were recording soundtracks with so much high-frequency pre-emphasis that high distortion resulted.
The first film with Dolby sound was A Clockwork Orange (1971), which used Dolby noise reduction on all pre-mixes and masters, but a conventional optical sound track on release prints. Callan (1974) was the first film with a Dolby-encoded optical soundtrack.[7] In 1975, Dolby released Dolby Stereo, which included a noise reduction system in addition to more audio channels (Dolby Stereo could actually contain additional center and surround channels matrixed from the left and right). The first film with a Dolby-encoded stereo optical soundtrack was Lisztomania (1975), although this only used an LCR (Left-Center-Right) encoding technique. The first true LCRS (Left-Center-Right-Surround) soundtrack was encoded on the movie A Star Is Born in 1976. In less than ten years, 6,000 cinemas worldwide were equipped to use Dolby Stereo sound. Dolby reworked the system slightly for home use and introduced Dolby Surround, which only extracted a surround channel, and the more impressive Dolby Pro Logic, which was the domestic equivalent of the theatrical Dolby Stereo.[8]
Dolby developed a digital surround soundcompression scheme for the cinema. Dolby Stereo Digital (now simply called Dolby Digital) was first featured on the 1992 film Batman Returns. Introduced to the home theater market as Dolby AC-3 with the 1995 laserdisc release of Clear and Present Danger, the format did not become widespread in the consumer market, partly because of extra hardware that was necessary to make use of it, until it was adopted as part of the DVD specification. Dolby Digital is now found in the HDTV (ATSC) standard of the United States, DVD players, and many satellite-TV and cable-TV receivers.Dolby developed a digital surround soundcompression scheme for TV series The Simpsons.[citation needed]
On February 17, 2005, the company became public, offering its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, under the symbol DLB. On March 15, 2005, Dolby celebrated its fortieth anniversary at the ShoWest 2005 Festival in San Francisco.[citation needed]
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On January 8, 2007, Dolby announced the arrival of Dolby Volume at the International Consumer Electronics Show. It enables users to maintain a steady volume while switching through channels or program elements (i.e., loud TV commercials).[citation needed]
On June 18, 2010, Dolby introduced Dolby Surround 7.1, and set up theaters worldwide with 7.1 surround speaker setups to deliver theatrical 7.1 surround sound. The first film to be released with this format was Pixar's Toy Story 3 which was later followed by 50 releases using the format. As of April 2012, there are 3,600 Dolby Surround 7.1 movie theaters.
In April 2012, Dolby introduced its Dolby Atmos, a new cinematic technology adding overhead sound, first applied in Pixar's motion picture Brave.[9] In July 2014, Dolby Laboratories announced plans to bring Atmos to home theater. The first television show to use the technology on disc was Game of Thrones.
On February 24, 2014, Dolby acquired Doremi Labs for $92.5 million in cash plus an additional $20 million in contingent consideration that may be earned over a four-year period.[10]
In May 2019, Dolby decided to add Dolby Atmos to hundreds of newer songs in the music industry. Jab bhi teri yaad aayegi song.
Technologies[edit]
Analog audio noise reduction[edit]
What Is Dolby Digital Comp
- Dolby A: professional noise reduction systems for tapes and analog cassettes.
- Dolby NR/B/C/S: consumer noise reduction systems for tapes and analog cassettes.
- Dolby SR (Spectral Recording): professional four-channel noise reduction system in use since 1986, which improves the dynamic range of analog recordings and transmissions by as much as 25 dB. Dolby SR is utilized by recording and post-production engineers, broadcasters, and other audio professionals. It is also the benchmark in analog film sound, being included today on nearly all 35 mm film prints. On films with digital soundtracks, the SR track is used in cinemas not equipped for digital playback, and it serves as a backup in case of problems with the digital track.
- Dolby FM: noise reduction system for FM broadcast radio. Dolby FM was tried by a few radio stations starting with WFMT in 1971. It used Dolby B, combined with 25 microsecond pre-emphasis. A small number of models of tuners and receivers were offered with the necessary decoder built in. In addition, a few cassette deck models appeared that allowed the deck's internal Dolby B decoder to be put in the line in to line out 'pass-through' path, permitting its use with Dolby FM broadcasts. The system was not successful and was on the decline by 1974.
- Dolby HX Pro: single-ended system used on high-end tape recorders to increase headroom. The recording bias is lowered as the high frequency component of the signal being recorded increases, and vice versa. It does nothing to the actual audio that is being recorded, and it does not require a special decoder. Any HX Pro recorded tape will have, in theory, better sound on any deck.
- Dolby Advanced Audio: Dolby surround sound, locking preferred volume level, optimizes audio performance for specific PC model and lets turning up the volume to the built-in speakers without distorting the sound.[11]
Audio encoding/compression[edit]
-
Dolby Digital (also known as AC-3) is a lossy audio compression format. It supports channel configurations from mono up to six discrete channels (referred to as '5.1'). This format first allowed and popularized surround sound. It was first developed for movie theater sound and spread to Laserdisc and DVD. It has been adopted in many broadcast formats including all North American digital television (ATSC), DVB-T, direct broadcast satellite, cable television, DTMB, IPTV, and surround sound radio services. It is also part of both the Blu-ray and the now defunct HD DVD standards. Dolby Digital is used to enable surround sound output by most video game consoles. Several personal computers support converting all audio to Dolby Digital for output.
- Dolby Digital EX: introduces a matrix-encoded center rear surround channel to Dolby Digital for 6.1 channel output.[12] This center rear channel is often split to two rear back speakers for 7.1 channel output.
- Dolby Digital Plus (also known as E-AC-3) is a lossy audio codec based on Dolby Digital that is backward compatible, but more advanced. The DVD Forum has selected Dolby Digital Plus as a standard audio format for HD DVD video. It supports datarates up to 6 Mbit/s, an increase from Dolby Digital's 640 kbit/s maximum. On Blu-ray, Dolby Digital Plus is implemented differently, as a legacy 640 kbit/s Dolby Digital stream plus an additional stream to expand the surround sound, with a total bandwidth of approximately 1.7 Mbit/s. Dolby Digital Plus is also optimized for limited datarate environments such as Digital broadcasting.
- Dolby Digital Live is a real-time hardware encoding technology for interactive media such as video games. It converts any audio signals on a PC or game console into the 5.1-channel Dolby Digital format and transports it via a single S/PDIF cable.[13] A similar technology known as DTS Connect is available from competitor DTS.
-
Dolby E selected hardware.Dolby E: professional coding system optimized for the distribution of surround and multichannel audio through digital two-channel post-production and broadcasting infrastructures, or for recording surround audio on two audio tracks of conventional digital video tapes, video servers, communication links, switchers, and routers. The Dolby E signal does not reach viewers at home. It is transcoded to Dolby Digital at lower datarate for final DTV transmission.
- Dolby Stereo (also known as Stereo A): original analog optical technology developed for 35 mm prints and is encoded with four sound channels: Left/Center/Right (which are located behind the screen) and Surround (which is heard over speakers on the sides and rear of the theatre) for ambient sound and special effects. This technology also employs A-type or SR-type noise reduction, listed above with regards to analog cassette tapes. See also Dolby Surround
- Dolby TrueHD: Offers bit-for-bit sound reproduction identical to the studio master. Over seven full-range 24-bit/96 kHz discrete channels are supported (plus a LFE channel, making it 7.1 surround) along with the HDMI interface. Theoretically, Dolby TrueHD can support more channels, but this number has been limited to 8 for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
- Dolby Pulse: released in 2009, it is identical to the HE-AAC v2 codec except for the addition of Dolby metadata, which is common to Dolby's other digital audio codecs. This metadata 'ensures consistency of broadcast quality.'[14]
- Dolby AC-4 is a lossy audio compression format which can contain audio channels and/or audio objects.
- Dolby Atmos: Star Wars Battlefront (2015 video game) was the first game encoded in Dolby Atmos. Has encoding support for up to 12 channels for theatres, and encodes up to a maximum of 8 channels for games and 4K movies. Each channel is encoded at 24-bit/128KHz and only supports for HDMI, DisplayPort. Digital optical is also supported with limitations, as you'll only get a full 5.1 channels, instead of the full 8.1 channels with HDMI, or DisplayPort.
Audio processing[edit]
- Dolby Headphone: an implementation of virtual surround, simulating 5.1 surround sound in a standard pair of stereo headphones.[15]
- Dolby Virtual Speaker: simulates 5.1 surround sound in a setup of two standard stereo speakers.[15]
- Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and Dolby Pro Logic IIz: these decoders expand sound to a greater number of channels. All can decode surround sound that has been matrixed into two channels; some can expand surround sound to a greater number of speakers than the original source material. See the referenced articles for more details on each decoder.
- Audistry: sound enhancement technologies[16]
- Dolby Volume: reduces volume level changes[17]
- Dolby Mobile: A version of Dolby's surround sound technology specifically designed for mobile phones, notably the HTC Desire HD, LG Arena and LG Renoir
- Dolby Audio Plug-in for Android: An API packaged as a Java Library that allows Android Developers to take advantage of Dolby Digital Plus Technology embedded into mobile and tablet devices, notably the Fire HD, Fire HDX, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 series.
Video processing[edit]
- Dolby Contrast provides enhanced image contrast to LCD screens with LED backlight units by means of local dimming.[18]
- Perceptual Quantizer (PQ), published by SMPTE as SMPTE ST 2084, is a transfer function that allows for the display of high dynamic range (HDR) video with a luminance level of up to 10,000 cd/m2 and can be used with the Rec. 2020 color space.[19][20][21][22] On August 27, 2015, the Consumer Electronics Association announced the HDR10 Media Profile which uses the Rec. 2020 color space, SMPTE ST 2084, and a bit depth of 10-bits.[23] On August 2, 2016, Microsoft released the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which supports the HDR10 format with PQ (ST 2084) transfer function and Rec.2020 color space.[24]
- Dolby Vision is content mastering and delivery format similar to HDR10 media profile. It supports both high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (ITU-R Rec. 2020 and 2100) at all stages from content creation and production to transmission and playback. Dolby Vision includes the Perceptual Quantizier (SMPTE ST-2084) electro-optical transfer function and supports displays with up to 10,000-nit maximum brightness (4,000-nit in practice). It also provides up to 4K resolution and color depth of up to 12-bits (backward compatible with current 8-bit and 10-bit displays).[25] Dolby Vision can encode mastering display colorimetry information using static metadata (SMPTE ST 2086) and dynamic metadata (SMPTE ST 2094-10, Dolby format) for each scene.[26] Examples of Ultra HD (UHD) Dolby Vision is available in TV, monitor, mobile device and theater. Dolby Vision content can be delivered on Ultra HD Blu-ray discs,[27][28] over conventional broadcasting, OTT, and online streaming media services.[29] Dolby Vision metadata can be carried via HDMI interface versions 1.4b and above.[30]
- ICtCp provides an improved color representation that is designed for high dynamic range (HDR) and wide color gamut (WCG).[31] An improved constant luminance is an advantage for color processing operations such as chroma subsampling and gamut mapping where only color information is changed.[31] ICtCp is based on a modification of IPT called ICaCb.[32]
Digital cinema[edit]
- Dolby Digital Cinema[33]
- Dolby 3D[34]
- Dolby Atmos[35]
- Dolby Cinema, a premium cinema concept developed by Dolby Laboratories as a direct competitor to IMAX[36]
Live sound[edit]
- Dolby Lake Processor[37] - as of 2009, all Lake products are owned by Lab Gruppen[38]
Dolby Surround systems at a glance[edit]
Over the years Dolby has introduced several surround sound systems. Their differences are explained below.
Decoder | Encoder | Year | Description | Channels |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dolby Stereo | 1975 | Cinema use with optical technology. Uses Dolby A for noise reduction. Upmix stereo to Surround 4.0 | FL FR with C and MonoSurround matrixed | |
Dolby Surround | Dolby Surround | 1982 | First Home use. Analog. Upmix stereo to Surround 3.0 | FL FR and MonoSurround matrixed |
Dolby Stereo SR | 1986 | Cinema use. Uses Dolby SR for noise reduction. | FL FR with C and MonoSurround matrixed | |
Dolby Pro Logic | 1986-1987 | Improved Dolby Surround. Upmix Stereo to Surround 4.0. | FL FR with C and MonoSurround matrixed | |
Dolby Digital | Dolby Stereo AC3 |
1986 Modern 1992 Film 1995 Laser Disc |
Discrete channel encoder/decoder. Pro Logic Decoder can be used for downmixed stereo inputs. | FL FR C SL SR SUB |
Dolby Digital EX/Dolby Digital Surround EX | 1999 | non-discrete 6.1 or 7.1 (5.1 with Center Rear matrixed onto SL & SR) | FL FR C SL SR (with matrixed RearMono) SUB [non-discrete 7.1: BackLeft and BackRight] | |
Dolby Pro Logic II | 2000 | Improved Dolby Pro Logic. Upmix Stereo to Surround 5.1 in either Movie, Music, or Game mode. | FL FR C SL SR SUB | |
Dolby Pro Logic IIx | 2002 | Upmix Stereo or Surround 5.1 to 6.1 or 7.1 in either Movie, Music, or Game mode. | FL FR C SL SR SUB Left Back and Right Back | |
Dolby Digital Plus | Dolby Media Encoder | 2005 | Lossy compression codec; 48 kHz sampling frequency, 20-bit word length; supports data rates of 32 kbit/s â 6 Mbit/s, scalable, including 768 kbit/s â 1.5 Mbit/s on high-definition optical discs, typically, and 256 kbit/s for broadcast and online. 1.0- to 7.1-channel support for current media applications; extensible to 16 channels; discrete. Backward compatible with Dolby Digital through S/PDIF connection up to 640 kbit/s. Supports Dolby Metadata. | FL FR C SL SR SUB Left Back and Right Back |
Dolby TrueHD | Dolby Media Encoder | 2005 | Lossless compression codec; supports 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz sampling frequency up to 24-bit word length; supports variable data rate up to 18 Mbit/s; maximum channel support is 16 channels as presently deployed. Higher bitrate than Dolby Digital Plus. Blu-ray Disc channel support up to eight channels of 96 kHz/24-bit audio; six channels (5.1) up to 192 kHz/24-bit; and two- to six-channel support up to 192 kHz/24-bit maximum bit rate up to the maximum of 18 Mbit/s. | |
Dolby Pro Logic IIz | Dolby Laboratories | 2009 | Upmix Stereo or Surround 5.1/7.1 to 7.1 Height or 9.1 with the addition of front height channels. (Based on Dolby Pro Logic IIx.) | L, C, R, Ls, Rs, Lrs (Left Back), Rrs (Right Back), LFE, Lvh and Rvh |
![Digital Digital](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PvnlpPWAcZc/maxresdefault.jpg)
See also[edit]
- CX (analog noise reduction competitor)
- dbx (analog noise reduction competitor)
- HighâCom (analog noise reduction competitor)
- DTS (digital soundspace competitor)
- Meridian Lossless Packing (lossless coding for DVD-Audio)
- SRS Labs (surround sound competitor)
- Beats Audio (digital soundspace competitor)
- Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (digital soundspace competitor)
References[edit]
- ^ abcde'DLB Company Financials'. NASDAQ.
- ^'FAQ - Dolby Laboratories, Inc'. Dolby Laboratories. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^'Dolby Laboratories - Sound Technology, Imaging Technology, Voice Technology'. Audistry.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'ViaLicensing'. ViaLicensing. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^Williamson, Marcus (13 September 2013). 'Ray Dolby obituary: Inventor whose noise-reduction technology transformed sound reproduction'. The Independent.
- ^'50 Years of Innovation â Dolby History'. Dolby Laboratories. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- ^Sergi, Gianluca (2004). The Dolby Era: Film Sound in Contemporary Hollywood. Manchester University Press. p. 46. ISBN0719070678.
- ^'Star Wars and the Explosion of Dolby Stereo - Tested.com'. Tested.
- ^'Pixar's Brave to debut new Dolby Atmos sound system'. BBC News. BBC. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Signs Agreement to Acquire Doremi Labs'. Dolby.com. 2014-02-24. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
- ^'Dolby Advanced Audio v2'. www.dolby.com.
- ^'Dolby Digital EX'. Dolby.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Digital Live'. Dolby.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Pulse - combining the merits of Dolby Digital and HE-AAC'(PDF). Retrieved 2008-12-10.
- ^ ab'Dolby Headphone with 5.1 Surround Sound Stereo'. Dolby.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Laboratories - Sound Technology, Imaging Technology, Voice Technology'(PDF). Audistry.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Volume'. Dolby.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Debuts New Video Technologies at International CES 2008'. Dolby press release. Archived from the original on 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2008-03-28.
- ^Adam Wilt (2014-02-20). 'HPA Tech Retreat 2014 â Day 4'. DV Info Net. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
- ^'ST 2084:2014'. Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
- ^Chris Tribbey (2015-07-10). 'HDR Special Report: SMPTE Standards Director: No HDR Format War, Yet'. MESA. Archived from the original on 2015-09-13. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
- ^Bryant Frazer (2015-06-09). 'Colorist Stephen Nakamura on Grading Tomorrowland in HDR'. studiodaily. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
- ^Rachel Cericola (2015-08-27). 'What Makes a TV HDR-Compatible? The CEA Sets Guidelines'. Big Picture Big Sound. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
- ^'High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut (Windows)'. msdn.microsoft.com.
- ^Dolby Laboratories. 'Dolby Vision'(PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-24.
- ^'SMPTE ST 2094 and Dynamic Metadata'(PDF). Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- ^Caleb Denison (2016-01-28). 'Ultra HD Blu-ray arrives March 2016; here's everything we know'. Digital Trends. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
- ^Michael S. Palmer (2016-02-10). 'Hands On First Look: Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player'. High-Def Digest. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
- ^'Dolby Vision'. Dolby.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'Dolby Vision FAQ'. yoeri.geutskens.com.
- ^ ab'ICtCp Dolby White Paper'(PDF). Dolby. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
- ^Jan Froehlich; Timo Kunkel; Robin Atkins; Jaclyn Pytlarz; Scott Daly; Andreas Schilling; Bernd Eberhardt (2015-10-18). 'Encoding Color Difference Signals for High Dynamic Range and Wide Gamut Imagery'(PDF). Society for Imaging Sciences and Technology. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^'Dolby Digital Cinema'. Dolby.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^Dolby 3D Movie TechnologyArchived July 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Dolby.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-09.
- ^Content Creators, Distributors, Exhibitors: Introducing Dolby Atmosâ¢. Dolby.com. Retrieved on 2013-12-09.
- ^Dolby Cinema the Total Cinema Experience. Dolby.com Retrieved on 2014-12-17.
- ^'Dolby Lake Processor'(PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-26.
- ^'About Lake'.
External links[edit]
- Dolby Laboratories companies grouped at OpenCorporates
âOk so lately Iâve been buying a lot of Blu-Rays with a Dolby TrueHD track and have noticed, after switching over to the original SD 5.1 audio track, they sound very similar. In fact, they sound the same.Can anybody help me clarify what the difference is? Is there even a difference at all? I have a 5.1 Surround System hooked up and I have went back and forth to the two track options and heard nothing different.â
It is difficult to tell differences between Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital 5.1, but actually Dolby TrueHD is different from Dolby Digital 5.1. I found lots of similar queries online, but many lack a proper answer. So here in this post, I will make a comparison between Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital 5.1.
Part 1: What is Dolby Digital TrueHD Audio?
Dolby TrueHD is one of the first two lossless audio formats and codecs to become available only on high-definition optical media. For Blu-ray players and media, although Dolby TrueHD is an optional codec, it is widely supported.
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Dolby TrueHD uses the Meridian Lossless Packing (MLP) algorithm as the basis for its audio compression, which routinely achieves 2:1 compression rations. A Dolby TrueHD bitstream can accommodate up to 14 discrete sound channels, but in practice will carry either 6 (5.1) or 8 (7.1) channels. The standard supports bit depth of up to 24 bits, and data sampling rates of up to 192 kHz â for an uncompressed maximum bit rate of 63 Mbps â but for Blu-ray the current maximum is 8 audio channels at 24 bits and 96 kHz (or as an alternative, 6 channels at 24 bits and 192 kHz) for a maximum encoded bit rate of 18 Mbps. A search of available Blu-ray titles indicates that the current maximum is about half that amount: 6 channels at 96 kHz and 24 bit depth (which translates into a bit rate of 13.5 Mbps uncompressed, and 9 Mbps compressed).
Part 2: What is Dolby Digital 5.1?
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound is the common name for six channel surround sound audio systems. 5.1 is the most commonly used layout in home cinema. It uses five full bandwidth channels and one low-frequency effects channel (the âpoint oneâ). Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, SDDS, and THX are all common 5.1 systems. 5.1 is also the standard surround sound audio component of digital broadcast and music. All 5.1 systems use the same speaker channels and configuration, having a front left and right, a center channel, two surround channels and a subwoofer.
Here is the most common speaker configuration for 5.1. Each black square depicts a speaker. The centre speaker in the top line of the square is used for dialogue. The left and right speakers on either side of the centre speaker are used to create stereo sound for music and other sound effects in the film. The left and right rear speakers create the surround sound effect.
Part 3: Dolby TrueHD vs. Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby TrueHD is a kind of quality-loss audio track, and it includes 7.1 surround sound and 5.1 surround sound. A 5.1 surround sound system uses 6 channels (feeding into 6 speakers) to create surround sound while 7.1 surround sound systems use 8 channels. The two extra channels of sound (and two extra speakers) provide a slightly better audio quality. Here I take 7.1 surround sound as an example to compare Dolby TrueHD with Dolby Digital 5.1.
5.1 Surround Sound | 7.1 Surround Sound | |
Channels | 6 (5 standard + 1 subwoofer) | 8 (7 standard + 1 subwoofer) |
Sound Quality | Standard surround sound | Greater depth and precision |
Suitable for | Small to medium rooms | Large rooms |
Cost | Varies, but cheaper | Varies, but more expensive |
Formats | Dolby Digital, DTS | Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio |
Supported by | All DVDs, video games, etc. Industry standard | PS3, PS4, Xbox One and most Blu-ray players, although only approx. >150 Blu-ray movies feature 7.1 sound. |
History | Invented in 1976 by Dolby Labs. First used in theaters for Batman Returns in 1992 | First theatrical 7.1 release was Toy Story 3 in 2010. Disney will use it for all future releases. |
From the biggest commercial cinemas to the smallest of home theaters, Dolby Atmos is one of the latest ways to get surrounded by sound -- now from above! While Atmos soundtracks will work with a traditional five-speaker-and-subwoofer (5.1) system, one of its main benefits is a greater ability to work with as many (or few) speakers as you have.
In this explainer I'll break down how Atmos works, why height speakers and upward-firing soundbars are cool and everything you've ever wanted to know about Dolby Atmos but never bothered to ask.
Making sound surround
To understand what makes Atmos different than, say, its direct predecessor Dolby Digital, let's first take a look at how sound is mixed for movies and TV shows.
Everything you hear in a movie, from the music to the voices to the sound effects, all gets mixed into specific 'channels.' For simplicity's sake, we'll say these channels going around the room are left front (L), center (C), right front (R), right surround (RS), and left surround (LS). Some more complex systems add a 'surround back' channel. All the low frequency noises go to the '.1' subwoofer channel.
So if two characters are speaking on screen, that gets mixed to the center channel. When the music swells during a dramatic moment, that's usually the front left and right channels. Zooming special effects might appear in the surround speakers. To an extent, this same mix also translates to the home. After all, if you have a 5.1 speaker system, you have all those same speakers.
Except⦠you don't. Not exactly. Where your speakers are, how powerful they are, and increasingly, how much range each has, varies greatly compared to a decent movie theater.
Atmos, for the most part, doesn't use channels. Instead, most sounds are treated as 'objects.' Instead of assigning a sound to a channel (and by extension, a speaker), Atmos lets filmmakers assign a sound to a place. Not 'left surround speaker' but 'left rear corner.' Not 'pan from left surround speaker to right sound speaker' but 'pan smoothly across the rear wall.' Not only does this give greater flexibility at the theater, but improves the experience in the theater and, potentially, at home.
Atmos is an end-to-end change in theater and home audio. The mixing is different, as we've discussed, but so is the decoding. At different theaters the number of speakers can vary dramatically, but Atmos will scale with them regardless. Most theaters have many speakers along the walls to ensure everyone gets the same-ish experience. With Atmos those speakers can be individually addressable and a sound designer can pinpoint the exact location in a theater where they want to place a sound. A smoother experience for everyone.
Related on CNET
This includes the headline Atmos feature: height. With speakers hanging from the ceiling, sound engineers can now move sounds seamlessly over your head and all around. Done right, it's not only more convincing than before, but also less obtrusive. It's more natural, so you're less likely to notice the special effects and more likely to stay absorbed in the movie. And that's the point, right?
So what about the home?
Theaters are great and all, but most of us watch more movies at home. Let's get this out of the way first: obviously most people aren't going to install height speakers in their ceiling. That's fine because there are a growing number of speakers that either feature built-in height channels or fit on top of existing models. Imagine a standard tower or bookshelf speaker, but on top is an upward-firing driver that's addressed separately. These speakers bounce sound off the ceiling to mimic 'real' height speakers. I've heard a few of these and they work surprisingly well. Not as well as real height speakers, of course, but it works and it's a far simpler option if you aren't interested in installing speakers in or near the ceiling.
So yes, if you want to take advantage of Atmos you'll need new hardware. But Dolby Digital is still the default for everything, so this isn't a required upgrade. If you're not interested in Atmos, your gear will still work. Even if you get a 4K Blu-ray player with dual HDMI outputs to connect to your older receiver, it will still work if it doesn't have Atmos. It will just play Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus track.
But if you want height channels, more channels or other benefits of Atmos, then you'll need a receiver that can decode it and a source that provides it. (Those sources include 4K Blu-ray players, some media streamers and some game consoles.) And you'll need Atmos content, of course, which we'll discuss in a moment.
To the right, you'll see a couple of Atmos home setup examples. At the top, specially designed upward firing speakers. Each is a traditional speaker but also has separate drivers that shoot sound to bounce off the ceiling. These are tuned so the bounced audio sounds correct to your ears. At the bottom, a soundbar designed to do the same.
Since you've got a greater number of possible speakers, how many could you have if you really wanted to go nuts? 24⦠plus 10 height speakers. Yep, 34 speakers if you want. You don't need to do that, of course. But if you've got a bunch of spare speakers and amps laying around and a room that can fit them, go for it.
A handful of mobile devices, such as the Amazon Fire HD 8 and 10, also have have a version of the technology (called Dolby Atmos for Headphones) built in. Though those are stereo only, they're designed to simulate Atmos effects with any headphones.
Dolby uses a slightly different twist to describe Atmos home systems. Traditionally a '5.1' system has three speakers up front, two on the sides or in back, and a single subwoofer. If you added two height speakers, Dolby would describe this system as a '5.1.2' system. I'm not sure that will catch on, but if you see 'a 7.2.4 home theater' you can deduce that it's probably got three speakers up front, two on the sides, two in back, two subwoofers, and four height speakers.
All around
In addition to the gear, you'll also need Atmos content. That's actually pretty easy. If you're streaming you can find it on Netflix and VUDU. On disc it can be found on 4K and regular Blu-ray discs. It's even in a handful of video games including Star Wars Battlefront and Overwatch for PC and Xbox One.
What Is Dolby Digital And Dts
Chances are if the movie is 4K, it's also Atmos -- though that doesn't mean it's in Atmos everywhere you can find that movie. It might be available with Atmos on the 4K Blu-ray, but not on Amazon, for example. Just keep in mind there won't be compatibility issues. If you buy a movie that features Atmos it will also have an audio track your current gear can play, minus the height channels.
Is it worth upgrading all your gear to take advantage of Atmos? No. It's cool, but if you're not a home theater junkie this might be more money than you need to spend if you're nota taking advantage of it. When you're ready to upgrade anyway, chances are the gear you're considering will have Atmos. For example, most of our favorite receivers already work with Atmos. Prices start at around $400 for the Onkyo TX-NR575, but you'll need to spend at least several hundred more on a set of speakers such as the accompanying Atmos kit.
What Is Dolby Digital Connections
CNET Review
Onkyo TX-NR575
The midpriced Onkyo TX-NR575 receiver sounds good and comes fully loaded with Dolby Atmos and Chromecast built in, but it's not our first choice.Read ReviewOn the sound bar side it's a little more expensive still, with the LG SJ9 costing a cool $900. As a result, if you want to get into Atmos investing in a receiver and upgrading speakers as you go is the most cost-effective solution right now.
Got a question for Geoff? First, check out all the other articles he's written on topics like why all HDMI cables are the same, TV resolutions explained, LED LCD vs. OLED and more. Still have a question? Tweet at him @TechWriterGeoff then check out his travel photography on Instagram. He also thinks you should check out his best-selling sci-fi novel and its sequel.
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Dolby Digital Plus surround sound is an improvement on the super-popular Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital EX system. Dolby Digital Plus improves on Dolby Digital and EX by
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Increasing the bit rate: Dolby Digital Plus can be encoded with up to 6144 Kbps (kilobits per second) of data, where Dolby Digital tops out at 640 Kbps. (448 Kbps is the maximum from current formats, however.) All else being equal, higher bit rates mean better sound quality because the audio signals need to be compressed less.
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Improving the encoding: Dolby Digital Plus does a better job of encoding (or digitizing and compressing) sound. Therefore, at a given bit rate, you get better sound quality. Combine this with the vastly increased bit rate of Dolby Digital Plus, and you get great sound!
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Adding more channels: Dolby Digital Plus can provide up to 13.1 discrete channels of sound (14 total speakers, including the subwoofer). You can really envelop yourself in the action with 14 speakers!
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Providing backward compatibility: Dolby Digital Plus decoders can automatically downconvert your sound to the older Dolby Digital formats. So you can play Dolby Digital Plus programs on your older system without having to buy new hardware. And when you do upgrade, you gain all the advantages just mentioned.
One drawback of Dolby Digital Plus is that the very high bit rates it supports overwhelm the digital audio connections that are traditionally used to connect DVD players or set-top boxes to your receiver. If all you have on your receiver is coaxial or optical digital connections, youâll still be able to listen to Dolby Digital Plus, but youâll have to get by with using analog audio connections or by letting your DVD player downconvert to 640 Kbps Dolby Digital.
If you have a newer receiver with an HDMI 1.3 connection, you wonât have this restriction and will get the full Dolby Digital Plus experience because the decoded signals can be carried as multichannel PCM over these high-bandwidth interfaces without sonic compromise.
Some receivers have HDMI connections but still canât handle Dolby Digital Plus â youâll need a receiver with HDMI 1.3 capabilities and an internal Dolby Digital Plus decoding capability. If your receiver doesnât have these capabilities, it wonât keep you from enjoying the benefits of Dolby Digital Plus, but youâll need to use a set of analog connections or configure your receiver to send the Dolby Digital Plus signal as linear PCM instead of as a bitstream.
Dolby Digital Plus is an optional format for Blu-ray discs, so any Blu-ray disc player should support Dolby Digital Plus, though not all discs will use the format. Dolby Digital Plus may also be used for other HDTV content â and may end up being encoded in a lot of the HDTV shows you get from your cable, satellite, or other TV service provider.