Dolby Laboratories
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224364604
2008-07-08T15:06:17Z
Tommyknchan
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{{Redirect|Dolby}}
{{Infobox Company
| name = Dolby Laboratories
| logo = [[Image:Dolby logo.svg|300px|]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{nyse|DLB}})
| foundation = [[London]], [[England]] (May 1965)
| founder = [[Ray Dolby]]
| location_city = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
| location_country = {{flag|United States}}
| locations = 13 (2007)
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Ray Dolby, <small>[[Chair (official)|Chairman]]</small><br />Bill Jasper, <small>[[Chief Executive Officer]]</small>
| industry = [[Noise reduction#Audio noise reduction|Audio noise reduction]]<br />[[Audio compression (data)|Audio encoding/compression]]
| products =
| services =
| revenue = [[United States dollar|US$]]482,028,000 (2007)
| operating_income = [[United States dollar|US$]]186,952,000 (2007)
| net_income = [[United States dollar|US$]]142,831,000 (2007)
| assets = [[United States dollar|US$]]991,697,000 (2007)
| equity = [[United States dollar|US$]]797,156,000 (2007)
| num_employees = 976 (2007)
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid = [http://www.audistry.com/ Audistry]<br />[http://www.cinea.com/ Cinea]<br />[http://www.vialicensing.com/ Via Licensing]
| slogan = entertainment.next
| homepage = [http://www.dolby.com www.dolby.com]
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
'''Dolby Laboratories, Inc.''' ('''Dolby Labs''') ({{nyse|DLB}}) is a USA-based company specializing in [[Noise reduction#Audio noise reduction|audio noise reduction]] and [[Audio data compression|audio encoding/compression]].
==History==
Dolby Labs was founded by [[Ray Dolby]] in [[England]] in 1965. He moved the company to the [[United States]] ([[San Francisco, California]]) in 1976. The first product he made was ''Type A [[Dolby Noise Reduction]]'', a simple [[compander]]. One of the features that set Dolby's [[compander]] apart was that it treated only the quiet sounds that would be masked by tape noise. Dolby marketed the product to record companies.
Dolby was persuaded by [[Henry Kloss]] of [[KLH (company)|KLH]] to manufacture a consumer version of his noise reduction. Dolby worked more on companding systems and introduced B-type in 1968.
Dolby did not manufacture consumer products outright; it [[license]]d the technologies to [[consumer electronics]] manufacturers.
Dolby also sought to improve film sound. As the corporation's history explains:
:Upon investigation, Dolby found that many of the limitations in optical sound stemmed directly from its significantly high background noise. To filter this noise, the high-frequency response of theatre playback systems was deliberately curtailed… To make matters worse, to increase dialogue intelligibility over such systems, sound mixers were recording soundtracks with so much high-frequency pre-emphasis that high distortion resulted.
The first film with Dolby sound was ''[[A Clockwork Orange (film)|A Clockwork Orange]]'' (1971), which used Dolby noise reduction on all pre-mixes and masters, but a conventional optical sound track on release prints. ''[[Callan (TV_series)#Cinema_Film|Callan]]'' (1974) was the first film with a Dolby-encoded optical soundtrack. In 1975 Dolby released [[Dolby Stereo]], which included a noise reduction system in addition to more audio channels (Dolby Stereo could actually contain additional center and surround channels matrixed from the left and right). The first film with a Dolby-encoded stereo optical soundtrack was ''[[Lisztomania]]'' (1975), although this only used an LCR (Left-Center-Right) encoding technique. The first true LCRS (Left-Center-Right-Surround) soundtrack was encoded on the movie ''[[A Star Is Born]]'' in 1976. In less than ten years, 6,000 cinemas worldwide were equipped to use Dolby Stereo sound. Dolby reworked the system slightly for home use and introduced [[Dolby Surround]], which only extracted a surround channel, and the more impressive [[Dolby Pro Logic]], which was the domestic equivalent of the theatrical Dolby Stereo.
Dolby developed a digital [[surround sound]] [[audio data compression|compression]] scheme for the cinema. Dolby Stereo Digital (now simply called [[Dolby Digital]]) was first featured on the 1992 film ''[[Batman Returns]]''. Introduced to the home theater market as [[Dolby Digital|Dolby AC-3]] with the 1995 [[laserdisc]] release of ''[[Clear and Present Danger (film)|Clear and Present Danger]]'', the format did not become widespread in the consumer market, partly because of extra hardware that was necessary to make use of it, until it was adopted as part of the [[DVD]] specification. [[Dolby Digital]] is now found in the [[High-definition television in the United States|HDTV (ATSC) standard of the USA]], [[DVD player|DVD players]], and many satellite-TV and cable-TV receivers.
On [[February 17]], [[2005]], the company became [[joint stock company|public]], offering [[stock]] for sale on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] under the symbol DLB.
On [[March 15]], [[2005]], Dolby celebrated forty years of enhancing entertainment at the [[National Association of Theatre Owners|ShoWest 2005 Festival]] in [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]].
On [[January 8]], [[2007]], Dolby announced the arrival of an entirely new product called Dolby Volume at the International [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES). This product enables users to maintain a steady volume while switching through channels or program elements (i.e., loud TV commercials).
Dolby Labs has been good to its founder. Ray Dolby is a member of the [[Forbes 400]] with an estimated net worth of 2.7 Billion<ref>http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/54/richlist07_Ray-Dolby_KQ30.html</ref> in 2007.
[[Horrorween]] 2009 is to be released in Dolby 3-D.
==Technologies==
===Analog audio noise reduction===
* '''[[Dolby noise reduction system|Dolby A/B/C/S-Type NR]]''': professional and consumer noise reduction systems for [[Magnetic tape sound recording|tape]]s and analog [[compact audio cassette|cassettes]].
* '''[[Dolby SR]]''' (Spectral Recording): professional four-channel noise reduction system in use since 1986, which improves the dynamic range of analog recordings and transmissions by as much as 25 [[decibel|dB]]. Dolby SR is utilized by recording and post-production engineers, broadcasters, and other audio professionals. It is also the benchmark in analog film sound, being included today on nearly all 35 mm film prints. On films with digital soundtracks, the SR track is used in [[movie theater|cinemas]] not equipped for digital playback, and it serves as a backup in case of problems with the digital track.
* '''[[Dolby FM]]''': noise reduction system for FM broadcast radio. Dolby FM used Dolby B, combined with 25 microsecond pre-emphasis. This system integrated into a small number of receivers, and was used by a few radio stations in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The system is no longer used, however.
* '''Dolby HX Pro''': single-ended system used on high-end tape recorders to increase headroom. The recording [[Tape bias|bias]] is varied with respect to the high frequency component of the signal being recorded. It does nothing to the actual audio that's being recorded, and doesn't require a special decoder. Any HX Pro recorded tape will have, in theory, better sound on any deck.
===Audio encoding/compression===
* '''[[Dolby Digital]]''' (also known as '''AC-3'''): is a lossy audio compression format. It supports channel configurations from mono up to six discrete channels (referred to as "5.1"). This format first allowed and popularized [[surround sound]]. It was first developed for movie theater sound and spread to [[Laserdisc]] and [[DVD]]. It has been adopted in many broadcast formats including all [[ATSC|North American digital television (ATSC)]], [[DVB-T]], [[direct broadcast satellite]], [[cable television]], [[DTMB]], [[IPTV]], and surround sound radio services. It was also part of [[Blu-ray]] and [[HD DVD]] standards. Dolby Digital is used to enable surround sound output by most [[video game consoles]]. Several [[personal computers]] support converting all audio to [[Dolby_digital_live#Dolby_Digital_Live|Dolby Digital]] for output.
**'''[[Dolby_Digital_EX#Dolby_Digital_Surround_EX|Dolby Digital EX]]''': introduces a matrix-encoded center rear surround channel to Dolby Digital for 6.1 channel output.<ref name="ddex">
{{cite web
| publisher = Dolby Laboratories
| title = Dolby Digital EX
| url = http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/dolby_ex.html
| accessdate = 2008-04-23 }}</ref>
This center rear channel is often split to two rear back speakers for 7.1 channel output.
**'''[[Dolby Digital Plus]]''': audio codec based on Dolby Digital that is backward compatible, but more advanced. The DVD Forum has selected Dolby Digital Plus as a standard audio format for [[HD DVD]] video. It supports datarates up to 6 Mbyte/s, an increase from [[Dolby Digital|Dolby Digital's]] 640 kbit/s maximum. Dolby Digital Plus is also optimized for limited datarate environments such as [[Digital broadcasting]].
* [[Image:Dolby-E Hardware.jpg|thumb|180px|Dolby-E selected hardware.]] '''[[Dolby E]]''': professional coding system optimized for the distribution of surround and multichannel audio through digital two-channel post-production and broadcasting infrastructures, or for recording surround audio on two audio tracks of conventional digital video tapes, video servers, communication links, switchers, and routers. The Dolby E signal does not reach viewers at home. It is transcoded to Dolby Digital at lower datarate for final DTV transmission.
* '''[[Dolby Stereo]]''' (also known as ''Dolby Analog''): original analog optical technology developed for 35 mm prints and is encoded with four sound channels: Left/Center/Right (which are located behind the screen) and Surround (which is heard over speakers on the sides and rear of the theatre) for ambient sound and special effects. This technology also employs A-type or SR-type noise reduction, listed above with regards to analog cassette tapes. See also [[Dolby Surround]]
* '''[[Dolby TrueHD]]''': Dolby's current lossless coding technology. It offers bit-for-bit sound reproduction identical to the studio master. Over seven full-range 24-bit/96 kHz discrete channels are supported (plus a [[LFE]] channel, making it 7.1 surround) along with the [[HDMI]] interface. It has been selected as the mandatory format for [[HD DVD]] and as an optional format for [[Blu-ray Disc]]. Theoretically, Dolby True HD can support more channels, but this number has been limited to 8 for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
* '''[[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]]'''<ref>
{{cite web
| publisher = Dolby Laboratories
| title = AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
| url = http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/aac.html
| accessdate = 2008-04-23 }}</ref>
* '''[[HE-AAC|aacPlus]]'''<ref>
{{cite press release
| title = Dolby Laboratories to Acquire Coding Technologies
| publisher = Dolby Laboratories
| date = 2007-11-08
| url=http://www.codingtechnologies.com
| accessdate = 2008-04-23 }}</ref>
===Audio processing===
* '''Dolby Headphone''': simulates 5.1 surround sound in a standard pair of stereo headphones.<ref>http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone.html</ref>
* '''Dolby Virtual Speaker''': simulates 5.1 surround sound in a setup of two standard stereo speakers.<ref>http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/headphone.html</ref>
* '''[[Dolby Pro Logic]]''', '''[[Dolby Pro Logic#Dolby Pro Logic II|Dolby Pro Logic II]]''', '''[[Dolby Pro Logic#Dolby Pro Logic IIx|Dolby Pro Logic IIx]]''': expands stereo content to surround sound
* '''Audistry''': sound enhancement technologies<ref>http://www.audistry.com/files/audistry_technicalwhitepaper.pdf</ref>
* '''Dolby Volume''': reduces volume level changes<ref>http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/dolby-volume.aspx</ref>
===Video processing===
* '''Dolby Contrast''' provides enhanced image contrast to LCD screens with LED backlight units by means of local dimming. <ref>{{cite web |url= http://investor.dolby.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=284934 |title= Dolby Debuts New Video Technologies at International CES 2008 |publisher=Dolby press release |accessdate=2008-03-28}}</ref><ref>http://www.dolby.com/professional/motion_picture/solutions_d3ddc.html</ref>
* '''Dolby Vision'''<ref>http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/dolby-vision.aspx</ref>
===Digital Cinema===
* '''Dolby Digital Cinema'''<ref>http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/dolby-digital-cinema.aspx</ref>
* '''Dolby 3-D Digital Cinema'''<ref>http://www.dolby.com/professional/motion_picture/solutions_d3ddc.html</ref>
===Live Sound===
* '''Dolby Lake Processor'''<ref>http://www.dolby.com/professional/live_sound/Products/lake_processor.html</ref>
==See also==
* [[DBX (noise reduction)|dbx]] (analog noise reduction competitor)
* [[Digital Theatre System|DTS]] (digital soundspace competitor)
* [[Meridian Lossless Packing]] ([[Lossless data compression|lossless]] coding for DVD-Audio)
* [[SRS Labs]] (surround sound competitor)
==External links==
* [http://www.dolby.com Dolby Labs site]
* [http://www.dolby.com/dolbycast/ Dolbycast - Official Dolby Podcast]
* [http://seekingalpha.com/transcripts/for/dlb Transcripts of Dolby Laboratories, Inc.'s Quarterly Conference Calls]
* [http://www.dolby.com/consumer/popup_headphone/ Dolby Headphone/Virtual Speaker DEMO]
[[Category:Audio codecs]]
[[Category:Digital audio]]
[[Category:Film sound production]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1965]]
==References==
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