Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sdcrdcf.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!oliveb!hplabs!sdcrdcf!brad
From: brad@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Brad Spear)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: SURROUND SOUND decoding
Message-ID: <2303@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Sep-85 11:39:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.2303
Posted: Tue Sep  3 11:39:04 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Sep-85 04:47:25 EDT
References: <65600003@hpfcrx.UUCP>
Reply-To: brad@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Brad Spear)
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 28
Summary: 

In article <65600003@hpfcrx.UUCP> dac@hpfcla.UUCP writes:
>
>Does anyone know how SURROUND SOUND is encoded on stereo soundtracks?
>What do SURROUND SOUND decoders do with standard stereo tracks?

Basically, "surround sound" simply puts additional sound channels behind the
user, as theatres do.  This is the same thing that quadrophonic tried to do
in the early seventies.  "Surround sound" appears to overcome the biggest
commercial problem of quad, that is, two major competing (and incompatable)
decoding systems for all stereo sources (turntable, cassette, open reel, etc.)
plus a discrete system for turntables (which required replacing all most
everything in that audio path).  In addition, there were multitudes of
"enhancers" and "simulators".

"Surround sound" has been in use in a SINGLE format by theatres for a long
time, and is already encoded in many (all?) movie soundtracks from the last
few years.  All that is required is a decoder on the user's end.

The only problem left is where to put the extra speakers.  Some put them ahead
of the user, but closer to the user than the main speakers, some put them
behind the user, in addition to the differences in amplification and speakers.

>What is the capital of Assyria?

I ... I don't know that ... AAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE

Brad Spear
sdcrdcf!brad