What is Dolby Surround

[Kelmas]

If anyone don't know what Surround system actually is, here's some info ;)

Dolby Surround was the earliest consumer version of Dolby's multichannel analog film sound format Dolby Stereo.

When a Dolby Surround soundtrack is produced, four channels of audio information—left, center, right, and mono surround—are matrix-encoded onto two audio tracks. The stereo information is then carried on stereo sources such as videotapes, laserdiscs and television broadcasts from which the surround information can be decoded by a processor to recreate the original four-channel surround sound. Without the decoder, the information still plays in standard stereo or monaural. The Dolby Surround decoding technology was updated during the 1980s and re-named Dolby Pro Logic. The terms Dolby Surround and LtRt are used to describe soundtracks that are matrix-encoded using this technique.

----------------------------------------------------------
Dolby Surround Matrix | Left | Right | Center | Surround
----------------------|-------|-------|--------|----------
Left Total (Lt) | 1.000 | 0.000 | 0.707 | j0.707
Right Total (Rt) | 0.000 | 1.000 | 0.707 | k0.707
----------------------------------------------------------

j = + 90º phase-shift , k = - 90º phase-shift

Source: Wikipedia

[campone]

I'm confused by looking at those numbers. what are they ? Is it too techy ? Can you explain a little bit.

[meghx33]

Thanks for the information

[Makyu]

The stereo information is then carried on stereo sources such as videotapes, laserdiscs and television broadcasts from which the surround information can be decoded by a processor to recreate the original four-channel surround sound. Without the decoder, the information still plays in standard stereo or monaural