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Techno Tidbits & Problem-solving
DTS
D
TS has been adopted as a sound recording format in the latest movie theaters since the release of “JURASSIC
PARK” in 1993, and has a good reputation for high quality sound and dynamic surround effects.
In this system, 6 channels of digital sound are recorded on CD-ROM, rather than on the film. DTS adopts a
simultaneous playback format. With a low rate of compression of sound signals and a high rate of transmittance,
a higher sound quality format is produced. Also, unlike the process of recording digital sounds on film directly,
the only components required are a CD-ROM player as might be used with a personal computer and a DTS
processor, and therefore less investment is required than with other formats. For this reason, the format is
being introduced in more and more movie theaters, and is being adopted in home movie software (DVD, LD)
and music software (5.1 channel CD). DTS has recently added a third surround channel to its system. This has
come to be known as DTS Extended Surround or simply DTS-ES.
THX
THX is a Lucasfilm, Ltd. program dedicated to maximum accuracy in movie presentation. Movie sound tracks are
recorded in large movie dubbing stages using movie theater equipment. For a sound track to be presented
accurately in your home, special technologies are required. In your home the room is much smaller and has a
bright sound, the speakers are very different and there are only six-eight of them, plus, you sit much closer to
each one of those speakers. Because of these differences we often miss the power and emotion that thrills us
in a good movie. Now Pioneer and THX have teamed up to bring the full glory of accurate cinema sound to the
comfort and convenience of your home.
Re-Equalization™
: In a theater the room is very large and dead sounding, you sit a long way back from the
speakers and the speakers themselves are very specialized. Because a sound track recorded in this dead
sounding space when it is played at home it sounds overbright. THX Re-Equalization adjusts for this difference in
a very precise way.
Adaptive Decorrelation™ :
When a sound track sends mono sound to the surround speakers it often seems to
be coming come from one side instead of from all around you as it would in a theater. Adaptive Decorrelation
helps to correct this inaccuracy.
Timbre Matching™ :
When recording a sound track it is very important that the surround sounds move
smoothly and seamlessly around the theater. It is very distracting when sounds seem to jump from speaker to
speaker. Timbre Matching helps to smooth the movement of the surround sounds even though you are using
only two speakers.
Bass Peak Level Manager™ :
Some Dolby Digital sound tracks can produce bass peaks that are undesirable in
a home theater environment. The Bass Peak Level Manager allows you to set the maximum peak levels
appropriate to your system. (Set this function according to the
BASS PEAK LEVEL MANAGER
instructions on
page 40.)
Loudspeaker Position Time Synchronization™ :
This feature allows you to adjust for the difference in the
distance from each individual loudspeaker to the listening position. Doing this ensures that all the speakers
operate in precise synchronization improving the seamless nature of the soundfield. (Set this function according
to the
CHANNEL DELAY
instructions on p.36.)
THX Surround EX™ :
THX Surround EX–Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories
and the THX division of Lucasfilm Ltd.
In a movie theater, film soundtracks that have been encoded with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology are able
to reproduce an extra channel which has been added during the mixing of the program. This channel, called
Surround Back, places sounds behind the listener in addition to the currently available front left, front center,
front right, surround right, surround left and subwoofer channels. This additional channel provides the
opportunity for more detailed imaging behind the listener and brings more depth, spacious ambience and sound
localization than ever before.
Movies that were created using the Dolby Digital Surround EX technology, when released into the home
consumer market may exhibit a Dolby Digital Surround EX logo on the packaging. A list of movies created using
this technology can be found on the Dolby web site at http://www.dolby.com.
Only receiver and controller products bearing the THX Surround EX logo, when in the THX Surround EX mode,
faithfully reproduce this new technology in the home.
This product may also engage the "THX Surround EX" mode during the playback of 5.1 channel material that is
not
Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded. In such case the information delivered to the Surround Back channel will
be program dependent and may or may not be very pleasing depending on the particular soundtrack and the
tastes of the individual listener.
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