History
In recent decades, all multi-channel audio recordings have been based on sound channels. Microphones that were scattered around in strategic places when the film was produced, recorded what was happening in the front and what was happening in the back – this is how the surround sound was created.
The recordings reached up to 7.1 channels, which could with digital methods reach a greater number of channels, but they were still based on the same 7.1 recording channels.
Dolby labs decided it was time to present the following, but after researching they understood the limitation of channel-based recordings, as these could not faithfully reproduce the exact passage of a bird overhead or raindrops falling from the sky. The whole purpose of the cinematic experience is to convince the mind to believe that what it hears and sees – is indeed what is happening – real and realistic. This is actually the biggest pleasure factor, as through it, one can connect much deeper to the plot, get excited and have more fun.
All the mixer could do in these recordings was to amplify certain channels and change Delay values (delay or advance in the time dimension of certain channels)
And so, the realization that more advanced technology is needed has reached the commercial and home cinema market.
Dolby Atmos - Object Based Audio
In 2012 Dolby introduced the first film in this format – “BRAVE”, which actually brought with it the most significant breakthrough in the last 20 years.
From that moment on, all the important film studios, began adopting the format, since the advantage was clear and immediate. In fact, every object in a soundtrack, such as: an airplane, a gust of wind, a siren of a vehicle, is mapped independently and can be placed, in any speaker in the system, according to the editor’s choice.
What’s more, the displacement of the same object is controlled independently, without restrictions, that were found in the previous formats.
Dolby even did more, fully mapping and adding new “extensions” to ceiling speakers – in order to create what is known as – IMMERSIVE SOUND, which allows a three-dimensional, peripheral and real sound experience.
A plane that moves from right to left – will now be mapped, first with the right speaker, then with ceiling speakers and will end with the left speaker, just like in reality.
How will all this magic come to life in your home?
Each sound processor and even the latest basic receiver, includes a Dolby Atmos processor. After defining the configuration of the speakers and the space, the same processor will know exactly where to place the various objects, depending on their optimal location.
We are witnessing a welcome trend of more home theaters, targeting this format. Home living rooms and media rooms, enjoying this amazing format every day.
Simulation software for selecting speaker locations, according to Dolby Global requirements.
