Confused over the latest digital sound systems you may find at your local cineplex? Well, we're going to clear up the confusion so your ears will have a better idea of what they're hearing!
DTS
It stands for: "Digital Theatre Sound"
What it is: The entire film's soundtrack is encoded on a CD, like the kind you play in a standard CD player. However, this is a special CD which can only be played in a DTS player.
This little black box mounted above the film gate is the DTS reader. It reads a timecode located between the film images and the optical sound track (the analog one) which keeps the disc in sync with the film. The green light indicates it is reading the code, and it must be able to read it at least anywhere within any 4 second period. If it doesn't read anything beyond 4 seconds, the sound automatically switches to optical for back-up. Once timecode is read again, it will immediately switch back into digital right at the point it's supposed to be at in the movie.
Here is what the DTS player at our theatre looks like. Most players and mounted into the sound rack, but this one is mobile, allowing the projectionist to decide which auditorium to play DTS sound
What does it offer?
- Center Channel: for dialogue
- Left Screen Channel
- Right Screen Channel
- Left Surround Channel
- Right Surround Channel
- Subwoofer for behind the screen
What's so great about it?
Well, since it is on a CD, the sound is, of course, excellent and provides a good bass.
Dolby Digital
- The digital sound information is encoded between the sprocket holes on the optical sound track side of the film.
- This dolby digital reader sitting above the film gate reads the digital information.
- Then the sound is decoded in this dolby digital machine, which is mobile as well, afterwards the audio signals are fed directly via computer cables into the amplifiers.
- It also gives six distinct clear channels of noise-free audio.
What's so great about it?
Well, you don't need any discs to go with the film, and it does sound just about as good as DTS, but, as mentioned earlier, I think DTS offers a better bass. But, both systems do offer exceptional noise-free audio divided into distinct channels.
Both of the above systems have computer cables which plug into the processor.
SDDS
It stands for "Sony Dynamic Digital Sound"
And what does this sound system offer?
Ok, now explain this one:
This is an 8-channel sound system. It provides the standard 6 as listed above, plus an extra screen speaker between the center and left speakers, and another between the center and right speakers. This allows for more fuller sound behind the screen.
The grey box on top of the projector here is the SDDS player. It reads the outer two edges of the film where the SDDS tracks are located. And the information is decoded through...
...this processor.
Dolby Digital Surround EX
- It provides a true center rear channel for added full 360 degree sound.
- This format has been around for about 8 years now, and was introduced with 1999's Star Wars Episode 1.
Well, that's it for the different sound formats. Next time you go see a movie, try to find out which of your local cineplexes offers digital sound. You'll be glad you did when you become totally immersed in the film experience. You won't want anything less again!
