Distribution and Emission of Multi-Channel Audio Programs, and Implications for Post Production

Many new digital television emission formats, including DVD, CATV, DBS, and terrestrial television, incorporate the Dolby Digital (AC-3) low bit rate audio coding system. This system is capable of delivering discrete multi-channel audio to the consumer, and it also offers several unique features such as dialogue normalization and dynamic range control. The Dolby Digital is intended for use in emission, which is defined as the final link in the delivery path to the consumer. Many of the features of Dolby Digital are best controlled in the post-production process. A distribution path is required between the output of post production and the input to the final AC-3 emission encoder. While the handling of multi-channel audio is routine in the post production area, the infrastructure needed to distribute multi-channel audio in the broadcast environment is currently lacking. — This paper will describe some of the unique features of Dolby Digital which should be understood and managed by those in post production. The paper also illuminates some of the problem areas in distribution of the completed multi-channel audio program to the actual point of emission to the final consumer.

Published

1997-11

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/M00240

ISBN

978-1-61482-928-7