Dolbyâ digital surround sound |
First introduced in 1992 with Batman Returns.
Also known as AC3 (Audio Coding), or Dolby 5.1 (where .1 indicates subwoofer bass channel). Dolby Digital has been chosen as the standard sound technology for DVD (digital video disk) and HDTV (High definition TV).
It is a digital encoded system of 6 separate and independent surround sound channels, for 6 speakers (Front (Left/right), Rear (left/right), Front center and Sub-woofer. Since it is digital you can get no noise and so a sound engineer can place sounds exactly in each channel.
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Designed for CD-ROM technology, has been placed between sprocket holes to keep film standard. The Dolby Digital soundtrack is optically encoded right on the film strip, in the space between the sproket holes. This allows it to co-exist with the analog sound track. Note that VHS tapes cannot store a Dolby Digital signal. |
Refs: Dolby Labs, Circuit City, rit.edu
[Rev 20/12/98]18/5/97 © 1997 V/2-Com (Verhaart), P O Box 8415, Havelock North, New Zealand.
