Dolby Laboratories announces the release of a new version of the Dolby
Digital Professional Encoder software (version 7.0), which allows content
producers to add informative data to enhance consumers’ enjoyment of Dolby
Digital soundtracks...
Applications for the Consumer Electronics market include:
•Dolby Digital Surround EX flag
The Dolby Digital Surround EX flag enables Dolby Digital Surround EX
receivers and processors equipped to detect the flag to switch automatically
into Surround EX mode upon receiving a Dolby Digital Surround EX bitstream
encoded using this new software. This means the viewer no longer has to make
the switch manually when playing material produced using the new encoder
software.
•HDCD flag
Many receivers, processors, and DVD players have digital filters equipped
with HDCD decoding (praised for its better-than-CD sound quality). The Dolby
Digital Professional Encoder version 7.0 gives HDCD decoders the ability to
recognize HDCD encoding in a Dolby Digital track and automatically apply
HDCD decoding for maximum sound quality.
•Coding enhancements
Dolby Digital Encoder 7.0 also includes improvements that enhance audio
quality, including improvements to the basic coding scheme and dynamic range
control profiles.
Applications for the Broadcast/Professional Audio market include:
•Support for audio metadata input
This feature is particularly beneficial in DTV broadcast environments where
Dolby E is used as the format for distributing multichannel audio. Metadata
parameters, typically set by the program producer, control how the listener
ultimately hears the audio . Metadata is carried with the Dolby E coded
audio as it passes through the broadcast distribution chain. At the final
stage of distribution, when Dolby Digital encoding takes place, the metadata
automatically sets up the encoding parameters in the Dolby Digital encoder,
thus preserving the program producer’s intent for final audio reproduction.
•Improved downmix and compression capability
A much greater range of downmix options and improved dynamic range
compression capability are available in version 7.0 of the encoder. This
gives users greater flexibility over how the multichannel mix will sound
when downmixed to two channels in the decoder.
The Dolby Digital Professional Encoder 7.0 is completely compatible with all
existing Dolby Digital decoders. It has been released to manufacturers of
licensed Dolby Digital encoders, who will incorporate it into their
products. Additionally, Dolby Laboratories is releasing version 2.0 of its
reference DP569 Dolby Digital encoder this month, which contains the version
7.0 Dolby Digital encoder software.