Surround DEcoders

[ODZ]

So, did some thread searches and found some great info on software encoders, looking for opinions on hardware decoders.

I'm looking at the parasound 7100 . I've seen/heard it before and it definitely did the job I'm hoping for, support for multiple formats, but wonder if it is too "home theatre-ish"?

Any other recommendations along these lines from you crazy cats out there doing surround in the pro realm?

[Geert van den Berg]

If you want a professional hardware encoder/decoder then your best option is to purchase them from Dolby or DTS themselves.

The difference between a consumer and a profesional decoder is that you can listen to the effect of parameters set in the metadata and a clean signal unaffected by the parameters set in the metadata.

Software wise the Neyrick plugs are interesting.

http://www.neyrinck.com/

[georgia]

there is:
Dolby Surround encoder/decoder plug-in
Nuendo encoder plug-ins
DTS has a new set of DTS s/w encoders
FCP via compressor can do encoding
A-Pack that comes with DVD studio Pro can do dolby AC3 encoding
DOLBY has the new Media producer suite of encoder/decoders
Sonic has an encoder/decoder
Minnetoka SurCode is a good Dolby encoder
Stienberg has a set of encoders
DOLBY has a set of hardware based Encoders and Decoders
Vegas has a built in encoder system
Paul Neyrinck has a great encoder/decoder tool set - he just demo'd it here today... I love it.


cheers
geo

[minister]

GEO.... he asked about hardware DEcoders....


what are you trying to do exactly?

[philper]

The price I found for that box was around $3000. If you have that much to spend maybe think about saving up for the Dolby 564.

Philip Perkins

[ODZ]

for the great info. That's just the kind of stuff I was looking for.

[ODZ]

Originally Posted by minister

GEO.... he asked about hardware DEcoders....


what are you trying to do exactly?

for ENcoding, I intend to stay ITB.

Primarily, I need a means to monitor and reference rendered disks to ensure a good burn. This is for a school's surround studio build out, I don't need ALL the high end bells & whistles, as they will only dig so deep into the surround technilogy, so just a means to reproduce the final burned disk.

I'll admit, my experience with surround is limited. I've done a few surround music mixes with success in both PTHD and d8b.

All suggestions and approaches are welcome.

[minister]

Originally Posted by ODZ

Primarily, I need a means to monitor and reference rendered disks to ensure a good burn.

a simple DVD player will do this for you.
you can find some with analog discreet 5.1 (RCA unbalanced) out's as well. i have a SONY, and i believ Panasonic makes one too. available at Best Buy, Ultimate elctronics, etc....

[georgia]

check out the new DOLBY 600

the Dolby® DP600 Program Optimizer is an innovative tool designed specifically for cable, satellite, IPTV, and terrestrial TV broadcasters that employ a file-based infrastructure and workflow. The DP600 includes the world’s first intelligent audio analysis and automated loudness normalization engine for many of the most common broadcast media file and audio formats in use today. In addition, it offers Dolby E, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus encoding, decoding, and transcoding, all in an open architecture.
Automatic Loudness Correction and Metadata Configuration

Using the DP600, broadcasters can provide their viewers with a consistent audio experience and reduce loudness complaints across all of their programs, channels, and/or networks. Expanding upon the unique Dialogue Intelligence™ technology developed for the Dolby LM100 Broadcast Loudness Meter, the DP600 normalizes the loudness of audio programs with no impact on their original dynamic range.

The DP600 automates previously lengthy quality-control processes, and performs them in faster-than-real time. The DP600 automatically analyzes audio bitstreams coded in Dolby E, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus, for any channel configuration and loudness level. It intelligently and automatically sets, validates, and corrects audio metadata parameters (such as dialnorm) without the need for decoding and reencoding—ensuring a properly encoded bitstream. The DP600 also provides intelligent and automatic speech-based loudness normalization for both PCM audio and MPEG-1 LII audio.
File-Based Audio Encoding/Decoding and Cross-Conversion

Optionally, the DP600 offers faster-than-real-time file-based encoding and decoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby E bitstreams, functions previously available only in real-time Dolby hardware products. Additionally, it enables multichannel audio transcoding of Dolby E to Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus formats. It also offers a unique high-quality, single-step Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus transcoder that preserves the metadata and minimizes tandem coding losses. This allows the audio from existing media archives to be converted to next-generation broadcast formats.
Workflow Flexibility and Ease of Use

The Dolby DP600 platform suits several types of applications, including archiving, automated QC, content conversion, and media asset management, and it offers considerable potential for integration with third-party systems through an open API.

In recognition that not all users will require a high level of integration, the DP600 also features a hot folder ingest process that is simple to set up and use. In this mode, users can define specific work order profiles, and all media files moved to the hot folder will be automatically processed based on the profile, and delivered to a user-defined folder upon completion.


cheers
geo

[philper]

Originally Posted by georgia

check out the new DOLBY 600

the Dolby® DP600 Program Optimizer is an innovative tool designed specifically for cable, satellite, IPTV, and terrestrial TV broadcasters that employ a file-based infrastructure and workflow. The DP600 includes the world’s first intelligent audio analysis and automated loudness normalization engine for many of the most common broadcast media file and audio formats in use today. In addition, it offers Dolby E, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus encoding, decoding, and transcoding, all in an open architecture.
Automatic Loudness Correction and Metadata Configuration

Using the DP600, broadcasters can provide their viewers with a consistent audio experience and reduce loudness complaints across all of their programs, channels, and/or networks. Expanding upon the unique Dialogue Intelligence™ technology developed for the Dolby LM100 Broadcast Loudness Meter, the DP600 normalizes the loudness of audio programs with no impact on their original dynamic range.

The DP600 automates previously lengthy quality-control processes, and performs them in faster-than-real time. The DP600 automatically analyzes audio bitstreams coded in Dolby E, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus, for any channel configuration and loudness level. It intelligently and automatically sets, validates, and corrects audio metadata parameters (such as dialnorm) without the need for decoding and reencoding—ensuring a properly encoded bitstream. The DP600 also provides intelligent and automatic speech-based loudness normalization for both PCM audio and MPEG-1 LII audio.
File-Based Audio Encoding/Decoding and Cross-Conversion

Optionally, the DP600 offers faster-than-real-time file-based encoding and decoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby E bitstreams, functions previously available only in real-time Dolby hardware products. Additionally, it enables multichannel audio transcoding of Dolby E to Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus formats. It also offers a unique high-quality, single-step Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus transcoder that preserves the metadata and minimizes tandem coding losses. This allows the audio from existing media archives to be converted to next-generation broadcast formats.
Workflow Flexibility and Ease of Use

The Dolby DP600 platform suits several types of applications, including archiving, automated QC, content conversion, and media asset management, and it offers considerable potential for integration with third-party systems through an open API.

In recognition that not all users will require a high level of integration, the DP600 also features a hot folder ingest process that is simple to set up and use. In this mode, users can define specific work order profiles, and all media files moved to the hot folder will be automatically processed based on the profile, and delivered to a user-defined folder upon completion.


cheers
geo

How much?

Philip Perkins

[minister]

Hi Georgia!

that box is about $25,000!

[georgia]

youch! I didn't know it was that much! ( yo, Misinter! )

cheers
geo