SurCode Dolby E Encoder

[jseelye02]

Hi all. Anyone have any thoughts/reviews on the Minnetonka SurCode Dolby E Encoder? I'll be needing to encode Dolby E soon and this piece of software is about $2200 LESS than the DP571.

I'm curious about the sound quality compared to the hardware... if anyone has any knowledge about this let me know!

Thanks.

[TVPostSound]

Anything that says Dolby must go through Dolby's testing and scrutiny.
That being said, it should be identical to the hardware, as is the Dolby Digital Encoder (AC3), and the Dolby Surround encoder (ProLogic).

I would also see how close Neyrinck is to having his Dolby E encoder approved by Dolby.
http://www.neyrinck.com/Pages/Neyrin...de_Dolby_E.pdf
I personally like his AC3 encoder over Minnetonka's.

Disclaimer: Both vendors are excellent, it's just my personal opinion.

[TVPostSound]

As far as the hardware goes you will need the 570, 571, and the 572!!!

The software covers them all.

You will absolutely need the Decoder too!! Without it you wont know if you're sending out noise, or an encoded program.

[bru95bg]

Originally Posted by jseelye02

I'm curious about the sound quality compared to the hardware... if anyone has any knowledge about this let me know!
.

I've just finished testing the software version with ProTools under 7.4 -couldn't find fault -it works. We plan to test using ProTools 8 in the next month. Also consider if you need DolbyE for 23.976 projects if you have sync sorted for your ProTools rig you won't need the Dolby TriLevel box so software cost is considerably lower.

Minnetonka were very approachable and happy to arrange trail license.

Cheers

Bruno

[jseelye02]

Trail license is a great idea... let's see if I can work that out.

We actually bought Minnetonka's LTRT encoder a while ago, but when we A/B'd it with the output of the DP563 the software output was noticeably more thin and brittle. I'm guessing the technology is much better these days (this was a year ago).

Thanks guys!

[adamscriv]

Originally Posted by TVPostSound

Anything that says Dolby must go through Dolby's testing and scrutiny.

HAHAHA

[pneyrinck]

Originally Posted by TVPostSound

I would also see how close Neyrinck is to having his Dolby E encoder approved by Dolby.
http://www.neyrinck.com/Pages/Neyrin...de_Dolby_E.pdf

Neyrinck SoundCode For Dolby E is now available as a beta preview for those looking to evaluate using it in their tape-based or file-based workflow. It features encoding as well as decoding for confidence monitoring. Shipping March 1.

Neyrinck Web Site

[philper]

Originally Posted by pneyrinck

Neyrinck SoundCode For Dolby E is now available as a beta preview for those looking to evaluate using it in their tape-based or file-based workflow. It features encoding as well as decoding for confidence monitoring. Shipping March 1.

Neyrinck Web Site

Thanks for including a stand-alone version.....

Philip Perkins

[danijel]

Originally Posted by pneyrinck

Neyrinck SoundCode For Dolby E is now available as a beta preview for those looking to evaluate using it in their tape-based or file-based workflow. It features encoding as well as decoding for confidence monitoring. Shipping March 1.

Neyrinck Web Site

Looks like Minnetonka Dolby E is available as of today:
Minnetonka Now Shippng Dolby E Encoder and Decoder for Pro Tools - Digi User Conference

Interesting timing
Good luck to you both!

[jumpnyc]

I was a beta tester as well - and I can say under 7.4 encoding and decoding on a pro tools HD3 Accel rig was no problem. And Dolby testing and certification is a BIG DEAL. It's very tough to get. If I had the work at the moment requiring Dolby E encoding/decoding this would be a no brainer.

[Pedro_vde]

Originally Posted by jumpnyc

... And Dolby testing and certification is a BIG DEAL. It's very tough to get...

What do you mean by that jumpnyc?

Kind regards from Belgium

Pedro

[TVPostSound]

Originally Posted by Pedro_vde

What do you mean by that jumpnyc?

Kind regards from Belgium

Pedro

jumpnyc was responding to adamscriv's sarcastic response to my statement.

[Pedro_vde]

Sorry I missed that... I tought there were some compatibility issues with the Dolby standards...

kind regards from Belgium,

Pedro

[jumpnyc]

My understanding is that Dolby does not certify products without really running them into the ground for testing and sound quality. I believe that a Dolby certified product requires it to measure to their internal QA specifications. And Minnetonka are GREAT PEOPLE who take tremendous pride and care in their work. I have never had a beta test go so smoothly.

[SClarke]

SurCode for Dolby E - encoder is certified and shipping now
SurCode for Dolby E - decoder has been certified and has been shipping. You are welcome to try them out for yourslef it you like.
Contact me offline and I will be happy to arrange a test drive.

Steve Clarke
Minnetonka Audio Software Inc.

Originally Posted by jseelye02

Hi all. Anyone have any thoughts/reviews on the Minnetonka SurCode Dolby E Encoder? I'll be needing to encode Dolby E soon and this piece of software is about $2200 LESS than the DP571.

I'm curious about the sound quality compared to the hardware... if anyone has any knowledge about this let me know!

Thanks.

[jseelye02]

Excellent! You'll hear from me soon... thanks!

[Pedro_vde]

Originally Posted by SClarke

...You are welcome to try them out for yourslef it you like.
Contact me offline and I will be happy to arrange a test drive.

Steve Clarke
Minnetonka Audio Software Inc.

... and me to...

Kind regards from Belgium,

Pedro

[bernhard]

I would like to suggest the following website:

DolbyMastering.com

We offer online Dolby E encoding service for customers without own encoding equipment.

Gearslutz members can PM me for a 10% discount until 05/31/2009

best regards,

bernhard

[Brent_in_Sydney]

Since everyone is spruiking, here's a link to my site with an interview with Paul Neyrinck talking about his Dolby solutions:

ProToolsProfessional.com » Dolby E, Digital and DTS with Paul Neyrinck

[bdangler]

Hello all,
We're considering purchasing either the Minnetonka or Neyrinck software at my work. I'm wondering how long it takes for either program to encode/decode offline? We would be getting it for our AVID editors to save them an hour ingesting another pass through the Dolby boxes. Thanks for your help! ---Burleigh

[minister]

Process time is CPU dependent. Obviously on an older machine it will take much longer. If I remember correctly, it took about 20 minutes to do a 100 minute film on a Harpertown 8-Core Mac Pro.

The Neyrinck plug-ins have the deepest feature set, allow you to audition the converted file in a number of ways -- downmix, RF mode, etc... -- (you do audition your compressed files?) work well with Pro Tools, are reliable and look great (though not really a meaningful consideration). Plus, Paul is a very smart fellow who really knows his business! His is the kind of company we need more of.

Not to take away from Minnetonka -- who are here in my home state. They are smart guys too. Their products are very good.

I just feel that for Encoding on a Mac, Neyrinck is the one to beat.

[thierryd]

Originally Posted by minister

I just feel that for Encoding on a Mac, Neyrinck is the one to beat.

+1 for the Neyrinck Dolby E en/decoding. It has the best integration with ProTools as well.

Greetings,

Thierry

[JB123]

Has anyone taken their Dolby E encoded .wav file (bitstream) to a video post facility and performed a layback? The file is imported into an Avid, an then printed directly to tape (HDCAM). The facility does not have any Dolby E decoder.

After the layback, it needs to be checked to make sure it was printed to tape properly without any dithering or volume changes. To check decoding, can you digitize the dolby E stream back into an avid, then export the stereo .wav file and check it with Neyrinck's decoder plug in within Protools?
Thanks,
John

[kkfaudio]

I'm in the same facility as the machines, so can decode from tape in PT realtime for checking, but re-didging into the Avid works too. I've done a bunch of back and forth PT->Avid->HdCam and back again testing to make sure.

hope that helps,
Kevin

[walidomar]

Hi People
can anyone send me a Dolby e wav file for me to decode?

I'm looking to get Neyrincks dolby E plugin for PT and would really appreciate getting a reference mix for us to base our mixes on, a 30 sec ad spot would be ideal.

thanks in advance from Malaysia (Dolby E broadcasting has finally arrived to these shores)