What's the role of Dolby?

[taxlawmax]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this or if it's been asked before, but y'all certainly seem to know what you're talking about, so here goes...

What exactly is the role of Dolby in audio? What technology do they actually make? Does every decent sound system integrate some form of Dolby technology these days, or are there any alternatives?

I'd appreciate any info you folks might be able to provide.

Thanks!

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

This Wikipedia article provides some good overall information about Dolby. I'd sum it up here, but that article really is pretty good.

Just let us know if you have any questions about it.

Adam

 

[taxlawmax]

Thanks!

The Wikipedia article was very good. A couple of quick follow-up questions, though:

Are there any competing technologies? Could a high-quality sound system avoid integrating Dolby technology (at least for media in which Dolby standards have not been manditorily integrated)?

 

[gus6464]

Thanks!

The Wikipedia article was very good. A couple of quick follow-up questions, though:

Are there any competing technologies? Could a high-quality sound system avoid integrating Dolby technology (at least for media in which Dolby standards have not been manditorily integrated)?

It could contain a multi ch PCM track as well but that is extremely rare. All movies will have either a DD or DTS track. There is also dolby surround which was from the old days.

 

[Exit]

George Lucas really popularized surround sound with the theaters when the first Star Wars came out. I believe the surround sound was Dolby, but I could be mistaken. It was a long, long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks!

The Wikipedia article was very good. A couple of quick follow-up questions, though:

Are there any competing technologies? Could a high-quality sound system avoid integrating Dolby technology (at least for media in which Dolby standards have not been manditorily integrated)?

Dolby is mandated on DVDs, High def DVDs and the hi def TV broadcasting. DTS, a competing system but not mandatory is also in theaters and on the video discs but not on TV as best I know.