Welcome To DTS:X - Open, Immersive And Flexible Object-Based Audio Coming To Cinema And Home (eng)

   CALABASAS, Calif., April 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DTS Inc., a global leader in audio technology solutions, has unveiled further details about DTS:X, its open, next-generation, object-based, multi-dimensional audio technology. DTS:X replicates a real-world sound environment that transports the audience into a new dimension of sound immersion by delivering truly captivating entertainment experiences in the cinema and at home. The technology also provides numerous customization options for cinema and home theater owners.

   Unlike existing surround sound systems, DTS:X is not tied to prescribed speaker configurations or a specific number of audio channels. DTS:X adapts to the viewing environment, allowing for a flexible speaker configuration that best fits the viewing space. DTS:X more accurately conveys the fluid movement of sound to create a richer entertainment soundscape than has previously been possible by moving sound objects to and through specific locations within - in front of, behind, above and beside the audience, precisely where the mixer placed them.

   "DTS:X is built on the foundation of providing an open, adaptable solution for content creators, cinemas and homes to fulfill our goal of bringing immersive audio to as many people around the world as possible," said Jon Kirchner, chairman and CEO of DTS, Inc. "Until recently, sound in movie theaters and in our homes has been dictated by a standardized speaker layout. Through the use of object-based audio, DTS:X is able to scale immersive soundtrack presentations across a wide range of playback systems, from efficient to extravagant, while staying true to the content creator's vision. This approach delivers the most authentic three-dimensional audio experience ever, making the audience feel as if they are in the center of the action."

  DTS:X + CINEMA    In 1993, DTS revolutionized cinema sound, delivering "Jurassic Park's" award-winning 5.1-channel soundtrack on CD-ROM, which was synchronized to the picture using a time code printed on the film. Twenty-two years later, DTS:X, the industry's newest audio solution, is no longer limited to channels or tied to a speaker layout and is now delivered as part of the Digital Cinema Package.

   The foundation of DTS:X is MDA, DTS' license fee-free, open platform for creation of object-based immersive audio. MDA gives movie studios unprecedented control over the specific placement, movement and volume of sound objects. The platform also enables sound engineers to "mix once" for both immersive and conventional cinemas in a combined object- and channel-based audio format, allowing content to be easily distributed beyond the theater for streaming, broadcast, optical media and more.

   "MDA is DTS' license fee-free contribution to the professional audio community for mixing and storage of immersive audio content," said Kirchner. "MDA fits perfectly within today's production workflow, and a combination of MDA and DTS:X provides a complete end-to-end workflow, from creation to exhibition."

   The DTS:X licensing program in cinema will offer theater owners the opportunity to provide their audience the most compelling, immersive sound experience possible. This can be achieved for almost any room configuration by installing DTS:X-approved equipment and working with the recommended speaker installation guidelines.

   To ensure quality and provide flexibility within the DTS:X program, DTS has partnered with industry-leading server, sound rendering and processing companies. GDC Technology, QSC and USL, have developed and made available DTS:X-ready components that process and render MDA files.

• GDC Technology - develops, manufactures and sells digital cinema servers and provides a comprehensive suite of digital cinema products, services and solutions for exhibitors and distributors
• QSC - designs and manufactures professional audio systems and solutions for professional installed, portable, production and cinema sound customers worldwide
• USL - is engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of motion picture audio equipment and sound processors

GDC Technology is an initial partner integrating DTS:X into theaters.

• GDC Technology - boasts the largest installed base of digital cinema servers in the Asia-Pacific region, and the second largest, globally
  • GDC is the worldwide DTS:X certification agent with an exclusive in Asia
  • GDC will make MDA firmware updates available to theater owners over to its existing installed server base of more than 40,000 servers starting in May 2015
  • GDC will provide DTS:X installation and certification for approximately 350 screens throughout Asia beginning in May 2015

   "GDC is committed to offering state-of-the-art technology to its customers. We chose DTS:X because we believe it will transform the movie theater experience for audiences around the world," said Dr. Man-Nang Chong, founder and CEO of GDC Technology. "Theater owners will appreciate the easy integration and flexible solutions that DTS:X offers as they upgrade their screens to this superior sound experience. Audiences win too. Because of the flexibility in speaker layout that DTS:X offers, immersive audio is now available to a larger number of theaters of all sizes than ever before."

   DTS is presently working with several major studios and mixing stages in Los Angeles, Northern California and Canada that are evaluating DTS:X. DTS:X content announcements will be made by the studios when ready, in alignment with DTS.

  DTS:X + AVRs    Manufacturers representing nearly 90 percent of the home AVR and surround processor market will launch DTS:X-enabled products beginning in early Summer 2015, with additional manufacturer and model announcements to follow in the coming months. Confirmed AVR partners include:

• Denon - AVR-X7200W available now / DTS:X firmware upgrade later in 2015
• Integra - launching several models by Fall 2015
• Marantz - AV8802 available now / DTS:X firmware upgrade later in 2015
• Onkyo - launching several models by Fall 2015
• Pioneer - details to follow
• Steinway Lyngdorf - P200 Surround Sound Processor available Summer 2015 / DTS:X firmware upgrade in Fall 2015
• Theta Digital - Casablanca IVa available Summer 2015
• Trinnov Audio - Altitude32 available now / DTS:X firmware upgrade Summer 2015
• Yamaha - launching DTS:X ready models in Fall 2015

   DTS:X solutions are also available for 2015 AV receiver silicon platforms representing the majority of the DSP platform market share, including Cirrus Logic, Analog Devices and Texas Instruments.

  For home theater system owners, DTS:X provides personalization, flexibility and control for the most optimized listening experience possible. Key features include:

Backward Compatibility - DTS:X builds upon existing DTS-HD Master Audio to provide backward compatibility with existing DTS bitstreams and speaker layouts. In short, all features of DTS-HD Master Audio are supported and enable an immersive audio experience for older content.

• The DTS:X content is backward compatible with the DTS-HD decoder
• The DTS:X decoder supports DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and streaming media file formats
• DTS:X can spatially reformat stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 content to take full advantage of all speakers in a surround system
  • Objects are never lost; if the object is embedded, it can be extracted and used in the rendered experience

Dialog Control - AVR owners will be able to control the volume of specific audio elements at home, such as increasing dialog volume to match their listening preferences.

• Dialog, as an object, can be lifted out from the background sounds when clarity and intelligibility are desired
• Content creators have the choice to implement this feature in their content mix

Flexible Speaker Layout - With flexible speaker layouts and remapping technology, DTS:X allows the placement of home theater speakers virtually anywhere. The freedom of object-based audio enables optimized playback on a multitude of speaker layouts, with any number of speakers. The DTS speaker remapping engine supports any speaker configuration within a hemispherical layout based around the listening position in the room.

• 2015 DTS:X AVRs can support up to 11.2 speaker output channels
• Content created for a specific speaker layout can be remapped for playout through a different layout
• Enables remapping of outputs to custom or OEM-defined speaker layouts, and remapping legacy content to new output configurations
• Support for 32 speaker locations (subject to each manufacturer's product capabilities)
• Metadata-based spatial mapping renders the ideal 3D sound image to actual speaker layouts

Lossless - DTS is known for lossless, master audio quality with no compromise, delivering dynamic bit allocation. DTS:X supports lossless encoding for the highest audio quality possible. In situations where bitrate is of high concern, DTS:X can also operate in a high-quality lossy mode.

• Supports up to 96k for object mixes
• Still supports up to 192k for stereo and multi-channel mixes
• DTS:X is true to the audio master, delivers in the highest quality and preserves its fidelity

sursa: prnewswire.com si listen.dts.com

The Difference Between Dolby Digital and THX (eng)

   Because you are a home-theater Jedi, my question may seem a bit primitive. However, I am compelled to ask only because my own A/V guy can only seem to give me answers in terms of bass curves and decibels. Which processing mode is better to use, Dolby Digital or THX?

   I am using an Integra DTR-7.9 A/V receiver with Anthony Gallo A'Diva Ti speakers for the front left, right, and center, three Gallo Micro Nucleus Ti speakers for the surrounds, and a Gallo MPS-150 sub modified by Gallo with its upgraded TR-3 driver for a 6.1 setup. My receiver automatically switches to Dolby Digital EX or THX Surround EX (whichever I choose) when I play 5.1 or better content, but which one should I have it switch to?

   Where THX is concerned, I know that all speakers should have a frequency response down to at least 80Hz, which only three of mine do—the A'Diva Ti speakers (the Nucleus Micro Ti speakers only go down to 90Hz). I fear you may tell me to just set it to whichever sounds better, but a guy like me needs more than that. With my setup, what would you do? I like the brightness of Dolby Digital, but I also like the punch of THX, though the highs seem muddled because of Re-EQ (which I can turn off). Should I turn on Loudness Plus and ditch Dynamic EQ? Lots of questions, too many settings, I need guidance!

"Help me Obi-Scott Kenobi, you're my only hope."

Adam Meyerson

   I am honored that you think of me as a home-theater Jedi! And your question is not primitive at all—in fact, it reveals a common misconception that THX modes are somehow equivalent or similar to Dolby Digital and DTS. They are not the same thing at all. Dolby Digital and DTS are codecs (coder/decoders) that are used by content creators to encode sound so it takes less storage space and bandwidth, and then by A/V receivers and preamp/processors to decode the audio information so it can be played back.

   THX modes do not encode or decode audio—instead, they process the sound after it has been decoded by the Dolby Digital, DTS, or any other codec. For example, THX Surround EX in the Integra DTR-7.9 applies Re-Equalization (Re-EQ), Timbre Matching, and Adaptive Decorrelation to the audio decoded by Dolby Digital EX. So you don't choose one or the other—instead, you choose whether or not to apply THX post-processing to the decoded audio. In your case, if you enable THX Surround EX, the AVR applies THX post-processing to the Dolby Digital EX soundtrack; if you choose Dolby Digital EX, the THX post-processing is not applied to the audio.

   According to THX, "THX Listening Modes can be used in conjunction with a variety of audio encodings (Dolby Digital, DTS, etc). For instance, THX Cinema Mode does not override material that was encoded with Dolby Digital. However, it does add some settings that help adapt the audio for the home environment.

   "Setting your speakers to 'Small (80Hz)' insures that they are passing off the appropriate amount of bass to the subwoofer. If you are not able to do that, for whatever reason, with one or more of your speakers, that's okay. It just means you'll hear a little less bass out of the subwoofer." You won't notice this much at all, since your surrounds go down to almost 80Hz.

   You fear that I'll tell you set your AVR to whatever sounds good to you, and I'm afraid I must do just that. If you like the brightness of unprocessed Dolby Digital and the punch of THX Surround EX processing but the highs sound muddled, enable THX Surround EX and turn off Re-EQ.

   You also mention Loudness Plus, which is a THX function, and Dynamic EQ, which is part of the DTR-7.9's Audyssey processing. Both do much the same thing—they adjust the frequency response when listening at volumes lower than so-called "reference level" to maintain the soundtrack's intended tonal balance. (Reference level is loud, so I certainly listen at volumes lower than that.) I wouldn't expect to hear much difference between the two, but I recommend trying them both (not at the same time!) to see if you have a preference. Also, try listening at your normal volume without either one. If you do find one to sound better than the other, use that one and disable the other one; if you prefer the sound without them, so be it.

   May the A/V Force be with you!

sursa: soundandvision.com

DTS:X Details to Be Unveiled at Launch Event on April 9th (eng)

   The immersive audio format wars just got a little more interesting. DTS, who teased us at CES with demos of their object-based immersive surround format DTS:X (but no hard details), just announced a DTS:X launch event for April 9th at their headquarters in Calabasas, California.

   The company will unveil details about how -- and hopefully when -- consumer electronics hardware vendors will have products to support the new surround sound format as well as which studios are on board to bring it home. To date, we've only seen a few hardware makers announce support of the format (including high-end processor vendors Trinnov and Steinway-Lyngdorf), but DTS has said that support for the format will be widespread, from companies such as Anthem, Denon, Integra, Krell, Marantz, McIntosh, Onkyo, Outlaw Audio, Pioneer, Theta Digital and Yamaha.

   For those unfamiliar with the term, "immersive audio," it's the next generation of surround sound. In addition to using speakers in front of you, behind you and (in some cases) next to you, immersive audio also places sounds above your head for a more immersive surround sound experience. Similar to Dolby Atmos, DTS:X is an object-based system which means sounds can be placed in discrete points in space, and will be rendered at playback time, depending on your particular speaker configuration. This is more flexible then a purely channel-based system which hardcodes a mix for a specific number of speakers.

   As for software, we haven't heard from any studios yet of their support for the format, however the company gave out a demo disc earlier this year (at CES 2015) which included clips from movies from Lionsgate ("Divergent") and 20th Century Fox ("Rio 2"). Neither studio has made any formal announcements but we're hoping for more details next month.

A DTS demo disc given out at CES:2015 left some tantalizing clues as to how the format will come to the home market.

   As with Dolby Atmos and their use of existing codecs (Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus) as the delivery mechanism for Atmos, it appears that DTS will deliver DTS:X in a format that is already in use. The DTS:X cuts on the demo disc all play back on existing gear (players and receivers) in standard DTS:HD Master Audio 7.1 surround. We're guessing that existing Blu-ray players will support the new format by bistreaming the audio track out to a new DTS:X-capable receiver. More details will follow after the event.

sursa: bigpicturebigsound.com