posted 03-21-2010 02:43 PM                    

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LAS VEGAS, Mar 16, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- At ShoWest 2010, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. announced it is working with Walt Disney Pictures® and Pixar® Animation Studios to deliver a new audio format, Dolby® Surround 7.1. Disney® and Pixar have stated that Dolby Surround 7.1 will be launched in select theatres with the release of Toy Story® 3 in 3D this June.

"For 40 years Dolby has not only provided content creators with the tools to create a more realistic audio experience, but has also enabled the exhibitor to deliver audiences the ability to experience the content as the creator intended," said Page Haun, Senior Director, Marketing, Cinema Market Segment, Dolby Laboratories. "The release of Toy Story 3 in a discrete 7.1 mix will raise the bar for movie theatre owners and their patrons."

Dolby Surround 7.1 brings a more exciting sensory experience to audiences for 2D and gives content creators control over audio placement in a theatre when mixing 3D movies. The ability to compose audio with visual elements of 3D allows content creators to immerse the audience deeper into the movie with dramatic realism.

Dolby Surround 7.1 provides content creators four surround zones to better orchestrate audio channels in a movie theatre environment. The four surround zones incorporate the traditional Left Surround and Right Surround with new Back Surround Left and Back Surround Right zones. The addition of the two Back Surround zones enhances directionality in panning 360 degrees around the theatre.

Dolby Surround 7.1 format comprises 8 channels of audio and has the following channel layout: Left, Center, Right, Low-Frequency Effects (LFE), Left Surround, Right Surround, Back Surround Left (new), and Back Surround Right (new). In order for exhibitors to deliver the new format, Dolby will be providing Dolby Surround 7.1 playback capabilities in the Dolby CP650 and Dolby CP750 digital cinema audio processor lines.

At ShoWest, Dolby is demonstrating to exhibitors a discrete 7.1 mixed demo reel of past Pixar movies to showcase the advanced audio solution. After the show, exhibitors will be able to access the content to test and demonstrate in their theatres.

Exhibitors interested in learning more about Dolby Surround 7.1 should contact their nearest Dolby reseller or Dolby sales office.

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posted 03-21-2010 08:27 PM                    

quote: Daniel Schulz

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We have inquired with Disney as to whether they would be interested in making the 7.1 mix available for theaters with XD10 or XD20 players, as they are capable of 8 channel playback. Their response was negative, as they see the 7.1 as a logical enhancement to the 3-D digital presentation.

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posted 03-22-2010 07:21 AM                    

quote: Bobby Henderson

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On the negative side: Digital cinema currently has uncompressed Linear PCM set as the standard audio format. Is Dolby looking to replace that with a lossy compressed format just to add two audio channels (and a Dolby brand)? Digital cinema can already support 8 channel playback in LPCM. The problem is no movie studio has bothered to take advantage of it. Maybe one problem is the generic sort of vibe LPCM carries.

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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I don't know how this new Dolby 7.1 format could be worked into being compatible with 35mm film systems unless Dolby came up with a new film reader and used the right side of the film strip to add more Dolby Digital data. The current 35mm SR•D system is so compressed as it is matters would be worsened if two more audio channels were squeezed into the same limited area of space.

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