Dolby® Volume is a solution for digital television, home theater equipment, and set-top box (STB) manufacturers that offers their customers a more consistent and satisfying listening experience.

Provides viewers with consistent volume across all content and input sources when incorporated in televisions, STBs, and A/V receivers

Introduces no artifacts or audible side effects

Reduces most common cause of viewer complaints

Dolby Volume is a signal process that provides home viewers with a consistent playback volume level across all sources and content, and also ensures a reference-quality listening experience at any volume level.

The technologies behind Dolby Volume, such as auditory scene analysis and loudness-domain signal processing, are based on advanced models of human hearing. This makes it possible to correct source and content level differences without the artifacts, such as pumping and breathing, introduced by previous leveling and compression solutions.

Dolby Volume also actively balances low, middle, and high frequencies in each channel to compensate for the ear’s changing sensitivity as the playback level is raised or lowered. As a result, the nuances and impact of the original mix are maintained even at low playback levels.

Products such as TV sets, home theater systems, and STBs that incorporate Dolby Volume deliver a uniquely consistent and satisfying entertainment experience to the consumer.

Why Dolby Volume

Loudness variations from channel to channel and program to program are cited by many terrestrial, cable, IPTV, and satellite operators as a primary source of subscriber complaints. Viewers are annoyed by constantly having to reach for the volume control to maintain their preferred playback volume.

While operators transmitting in Dolby Digital can achieve effective loudness consistency by the proper use of dialogue normalization metadata, that functionality is not always available. Built into STBs, televisions, and A/V receivers, Dolby Volume technology can mitigate on the receiving end those volume inconsistencies the operator may not be able to control prior to transmission. Viewers can therefore “set and forget” their volume controls while Dolby Volume maintains their preferred playback level on all channels and content.

By providing a more consistent viewer experience and alleviating a primary cause of subscriber complaints, Dolby Volume can give the terrestrial, cable, IPTV, or satellite operator a useful edge in today’s increasingly cost-conscious and competitive entertainment marketplace.

Note: In devices such as STBs that do not have user playback volume controls, the function of Dolby Volume’s automatic loudness compensation is limited. Volume leveling, however, is fully functional as described.