Dolby® Digital Live is a real-time audio encoding technology that delivers interactive 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio from games played on PlayStation® 3, Xbox®, and Xbox 360™ consoles.
Encodes 5.1-channel audio within the console from the game’s audio engine into a Dolby Digital output bitstream compatible with all Dolby Digital 5.1 playback systems, including audio/video receivers (AVRs), home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems, and integrated 5.1 speaker systems
Enables unparalleled creativity for game developers, including effects placement and movement responsive to game play in real time
Delivers an immersing, involving gaming experience faithful to the developer’s sound design
Assigns channels the same as movies and all other 5.1-channel content (Left, Center, Right, Left Surround, Right Surround, and Low-Frequency Effects)
Requires no special equipment or technology for developers
Needs only one output connector on the console (S/PDIF)
Dolby Digital is an advanced audio coding technology that efficiently delivers up to 5.1 discrete channels of surround sound. Widely used throughout the world for cinema, home theater, and broadcasting, it also enables game developers to deliver a vibrant, totally immersing surround sound gaming experience to players with PlayStation 3, Xbox, and Xbox 360 consoles.
The key to gaming with interactive, discrete 5.1-channel surround sound is the presence in these consoles of Dolby Digital Live technology. It encodes 5.1-channel audio within the console from the game’s audio engine into a compact Dolby Digital bitstream in real time. Output from the console via a single S/PDIF connector, the bitstream can be decoded for 5.1-channel surround playback by any device equipped with Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding, including virtually all home theater systems and components, and integrated 5.1 speaker systems.
Dolby Digital Live as a standard feature in advanced game consoles makes it both possible and practical for game developers to deliver gaming experiences with unprecedented gamer involvement. Sonic perspectives and effects locations can follow the game action, such as when the player looks in a new direction or another player creeps up from behind. Whatever happens in the 5.1 mix from the game’s audio engine will be faithfully delivered to the gamer via the same proven Dolby Digital technology that powers cinemas and home theaters worldwide.
A further advantage is that game developers need no special equipment or licenses to create games that are compatible with Dolby Digital Live playback. Dolby, however, will upon request provide developers with assistance in assuring the delivery of the gaming experience they intend.
Why Dolby
Dolby Digital Live provides a practical, cost-effective solution for delivering discrete multichannel audio to gamers.
For console makers, the need for only one connection to deliver multichannel audio eliminates the cost and real estate that multiple analog connectors would require. For gamers, the use of Dolby Digital 5.1 encoding ensures playback compatibility with virtually all multichannel playback systems, from elaborate home theaters to compact integrated 5.1-channel speaker systems.
Together, these and the other benefits of Dolby Digital Live make it practical for game developers to create game audio with 5.1-channel immersion and directionality that can be experienced by the largest number of game players possible worldwide. US.