Dolby Digital 5.1-Channel Implementations for HDTV and DTV Services and Postproduction Facilities
Worldwide Recommended 5.1 Implementation Method for Cable and Satellite HDTV Uplinks
We recommend that cable and satellite networks request 5.1-channel programming to be delivered in Dolby® E, a technology designed for the optimal transmission of multichannel audio through stereo infrastructures. At the uplink facility the Dolby E stream can be routed or switched before being decoded and then re-encoded into Dolby Digital 5.1 for broadcast to consumers. Metadata provided by the Dolby E stream is passed on to the Dolby Digital encoder. Your legacy stereo programming can also be integrated seamlessly and switched automatically using the special features of the DP572 Dolby E Decoder. The Dolby LM100 Broadcast Loudness Meter is also recommended for measuring the loudness between the programs and channels of your cable service. More 
Worldwide Recommended 5.1 Implementation for Postproduction of DTV or HDTV Surround Sound
Today, major terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasters worldwide are specifying the delivery of programs using Dolby E. Dolby recommends that postproduction facilities deliver their multichannel audio programming for DTV or HDTV broadcasts using Dolby E, while simultaneously creating a Dolby Pro Logic® II surround mix for two-channel analog broadcast services. Additionally, to set the appropriate dialogue normalization metadata parameter for Dolby Digital or Dolby E programs, we suggest the Dolby LM100 Broadcast Loudness Meter. More
Recommended Methods and Current 5.1-Channel Implementations by US HDTV Networks and Local Stations
Dolby Recommended Method
We recommend that networks distribute their 5.1-channel programming using Dolby E, a technology designed for optimal transmission of multichannel audio through stereo infrastructures. At the local stations, the Dolby E stream can be routed or switched as necessary before being decoded and then encoded into Dolby Digital 5.1 for broadcast to consumers. Local stereo audio can be switched using special features of the DP572 Dolby E Decoder. Metadata is provided by the Dolby E stream and passed on to the Dolby Digital encoder.
There are two ways to employ the Dolby recommended method at a local affiliate station. The first diagram illustrates a typical configuration for stations that switch network and local audio feeds as AES3 signals separate from video. The second diagram illustrates a typical configuration for stations that operate with audio embedded in SDI or HD-SDI video signals.
ABCThe ABC network distributes 5.1-channel programming with high-bit-rate Dolby Digital. The bitstream is decoded and then re-encoded into Dolby Digital 5.1 at the ATSC data rate for broadcast to consumers. This configuration does not provide a metadata input to the Dolby Digital encoder. Presets are used to switch the encoder between 5.1- and two-channel operation. More
|
CBSCBS distributes 5.1-channel programming with Dolby E. The Dolby E stream is decoded at local stations, then encoded into Dolby Digital 5.1 for broadcast to consumers. Metadata is transmitted by the network and is accessible through the Dolby E stream or as vertical ancillary space (VANC) data extracted from the HD-SDI video signal. More
|
NBCNBC distributes 5.1-channel programming as six discrete PCM audio channels. The PCM is encoded into Dolby Digital 5.1 at local stations for broadcast to consumers. Metadata is transmitted by the network and is accessible as auxiliary data from the MPEG IRD. Presets on the Dolby Digital encoder are used to switch between the external metadata provided by the network and internal metadata used for local audio. More
|
PBSPBS distributes an ATSC-compliant transport stream, complete with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, to all of its DTV stations. The transport stream may be passed through directly to transmission, or it may be decoded for local insertion and then re-encoded into Dolby Digital 5.1 for broadcast to consumers. This configuration does not provide a metadata input to the Dolby Digital encoder, so presets are used to switch the encoder between 5.1- and two-channel operation. More |
Return to DTV and HDTV/DVD/Pro Audio Solutions>
