Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 18, 2010. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
At ShoWest 2010, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) announced its partnership with Walt Disney Pictures(r) and Pixar(r) Animation Studios to develop the new Dolby(r) Surround 7.1 audio format.
Disney and Pixar said that Dolby Surround 7.1 will be introduced in selected cinemas in June with Toy Story 3 in 3D.
“For 40 years, Dolby has not only provided content creators with tools for creating a more realistic audio experience, but also gives cinema operators the ability to deliver that exact experience to audiences as intended by the creator,” said Page Haun, Senior Director, Marketing, Cinema Market Segment, at Dolby Laboratories. “With Toy Story 3 in a discrete 7.1 mix, the bar is now higher for both cinema operators and their customers.”
Dolby Surround 7.1, according to Dolby, offers cinema audiences of 2D films a stronger sense of immersion and gives creators better control over on-screen sound placement when mixing a 3D film. As audio and visual 3D elements can be created together, creators can draw viewers more deeply into the dramatic action.
Dolby Surround 7.1 includes four surround zones for arranging cinema audio channels: the standard left and right surround channels, plus the new Back Surround Left and Back Surround Right zones. With these two new zones, directionality in the cinema’s 360-degree surround environment is improved.
The format has eight audio channels in the following layout: left, center, right, low-frequency effects (LFE), left surround, right surround, back surround left (new) and back surround right (new).
To help operators adopt the new format, Dolby is offering Cinema Processor systems CP650 and Dolby CP750 as playback options for digital cinema.
At ShoWest, Dolby is demonstrating the new surround format for exhibitors with a demo of familiar Pixar films in a discrete 7.1 mix. After the show, operators will be able to test and present the content in their own cinemas.
Cinema operators interested in Dolby Surround 7.1 can contact their local Dolby representative or dealer.
Further Links:
- More information
