Question:
I've just got a Surround Sound package, and I noticed that last night's Taggart on ITV1 had "Dolby Surround".
Pardon my ignorance, but what does this mean exactly, i.e. how many channels of sound -- five? Could you get this with normal analogue telly? I have a NICAM stereo tv set -- I recorded it and played it through my new system but AFAIK there were only 2 channels. Is this because VHS could only record the 2 channels?
Had I watched this 'as live', would I have experienced all the channels of sound?
I think there are at least 4 questions in there (!), but can anyone help? Cheers.
Is this because VHS could only record the 2 channels?
Yes.
Had I watched this 'as live', would I have experienced all the channels of sound?
Yes.
Symo
Oops, I missed one..
Pardon my ignorance, but what does this mean exactly, i.e. how many channels of sound -- five?
No. Four channel.
Symo
Thanks Symo!
:thumbs:
Any equipment capable of recording a stereo signal will record Dolby surround information as well. Therefore if the playback device is plugged into a pro-logic amp you will still get surround effects. The whole point of surround is that stereo systems are transparent to it. If you failed to get surround effects then:
1. You decoded incorrectly,
2. Only stereo was actually transmitted,
3. The surround effects are very subtle and only occasional use was made of the surrounds.
On most surround stuff made for tv, the effects are still predominantly stereo. The surrounds are only really used for ambient noise such as 'the gentle rumble of Enterprises engines' in the background. I need a new anorak! ;)
Erm.. just set your amp to Pro-Logic mode, rather than stereo..
Erm.. just set your amp to Pro-Logic mode, rather than stereo..I did sample that but I'd assumed that was 'cheating' -- if it had been genuine 4 or 5 channel sound it would've played automatically.
One thing I should point out is that I currently have one of those red/white cables running just from my amp to the video recorder, I don't have one connected to the tv itself yet. I presume that doesn't matter in this case, after all the telly signal's going into the (stereo) video?
Originally posted by Dene
I did sample that but I'd assumed that was 'cheating' -- if it had been genuine 4 or 5 channel sound it would've played automatically.
One thing I should point out is that I currently have one of those red/white cables running just from my amp to the video recorder, I don't have one connected to the tv itself yet. I presume that doesn't matter in this case, after all the telly signal's going into the (stereo) video?
:nono:
Your amp will not automatically switch to Pro Logic as the signal from the TV or VCR isn't digital - you have to switch it yourself - it's not like a DVD.
Just leave it set to Pro Logic all the time and anything that's broadcast in PL will sound right.
Your cabling is OK (although technically the signal is running from the VCR to the amp).
And Symo was wrong when he said your VCR could only record 2 channels. THe Pro Logic info is encoded in the NICAM signal so, providing you have a NICAM VCR it will record all channels.
I did sample that but I'd assumed that was 'cheating' -- if it had been genuine 4 or 5 channel sound it would've played automatically.
Iutomatically, but Dolby Surround/Pro-logic is really only two channels anyway - the centre & rears are matrixed from the stereo signal..
As Icebun said, just leave your amp in pro-logic mode all the time and it'll be fine..
Originally posted by Bapapapa
If it's encoded with the pro-logic flag then depending on your amp it should switch automatically Such flags are only supplied via a digital interface. An analog stereo signal (whether it's off a tape, or off a NICAM broadcast) has no method of carrying any 'flags'. So, it's down to the user to set their amp correctly.
Prologic information cannot be removed from a suitably encoded stereo signal; this would be rather like trying to unmix a coloured paint. The only way it can be suppressed is if the soundtrack's two channels are mixed into mono (eg. due to receiving TV from the mono FM soundtrack, using a mono VCR etc).
Ahh... my processor automatically switches to pro-logic for stereo broadcasts whether analogue or digital..
Anyway, norty Symo for saying it's a four channel signal..
:nono:
:nuts:
Originally posted by Bapapapa
Anyway, norty Symo for saying it's a four channel signal..
:nono:
:nuts:
I am flogging myself as we speak.:(
;)
Symo
Pardon my ignorance, but what does this mean exactly, i.e. how many channels of sound -- five? Could you get this with normal analogue telly? I have a NICAM stereo tv set -- I recorded it and played it through my new system but AFAIK there were only 2 channels. Is this because VHS could only record the 2 channels?
Had I watched this 'as live', would I have experienced all the channels of sound?
I think there are at least 4 questions in there (!), but can anyone help? Cheers.
Answers:
Is this because VHS could only record the 2 channels?
Yes.
Had I watched this 'as live', would I have experienced all the channels of sound?
Yes.
Symo
Answers:
Oops, I missed one..
Pardon my ignorance, but what does this mean exactly, i.e. how many channels of sound -- five?
No. Four channel.
Symo
Answers:
Thanks Symo!
Answers:
:thumbs:
Answers:
Any equipment capable of recording a stereo signal will record Dolby surround information as well. Therefore if the playback device is plugged into a pro-logic amp you will still get surround effects. The whole point of surround is that stereo systems are transparent to it. If you failed to get surround effects then:
1. You decoded incorrectly,
2. Only stereo was actually transmitted,
3. The surround effects are very subtle and only occasional use was made of the surrounds.
On most surround stuff made for tv, the effects are still predominantly stereo. The surrounds are only really used for ambient noise such as 'the gentle rumble of Enterprises engines' in the background. I need a new anorak! ;)
Answers:
Erm.. just set your amp to Pro-Logic mode, rather than stereo..
Answers:
Erm.. just set your amp to Pro-Logic mode, rather than stereo..I did sample that but I'd assumed that was 'cheating' -- if it had been genuine 4 or 5 channel sound it would've played automatically.
One thing I should point out is that I currently have one of those red/white cables running just from my amp to the video recorder, I don't have one connected to the tv itself yet. I presume that doesn't matter in this case, after all the telly signal's going into the (stereo) video?
Answers:
Originally posted by Dene
I did sample that but I'd assumed that was 'cheating' -- if it had been genuine 4 or 5 channel sound it would've played automatically.
One thing I should point out is that I currently have one of those red/white cables running just from my amp to the video recorder, I don't have one connected to the tv itself yet. I presume that doesn't matter in this case, after all the telly signal's going into the (stereo) video?
:nono:
Your amp will not automatically switch to Pro Logic as the signal from the TV or VCR isn't digital - you have to switch it yourself - it's not like a DVD.
Just leave it set to Pro Logic all the time and anything that's broadcast in PL will sound right.
Your cabling is OK (although technically the signal is running from the VCR to the amp).
And Symo was wrong when he said your VCR could only record 2 channels. THe Pro Logic info is encoded in the NICAM signal so, providing you have a NICAM VCR it will record all channels.
Answers:
I did sample that but I'd assumed that was 'cheating' -- if it had been genuine 4 or 5 channel sound it would've played automatically.
Iutomatically, but Dolby Surround/Pro-logic is really only two channels anyway - the centre & rears are matrixed from the stereo signal..
As Icebun said, just leave your amp in pro-logic mode all the time and it'll be fine..
Answers:
Originally posted by Bapapapa
If it's encoded with the pro-logic flag then depending on your amp it should switch automatically Such flags are only supplied via a digital interface. An analog stereo signal (whether it's off a tape, or off a NICAM broadcast) has no method of carrying any 'flags'. So, it's down to the user to set their amp correctly.
Prologic information cannot be removed from a suitably encoded stereo signal; this would be rather like trying to unmix a coloured paint. The only way it can be suppressed is if the soundtrack's two channels are mixed into mono (eg. due to receiving TV from the mono FM soundtrack, using a mono VCR etc).
Answers:
Ahh... my processor automatically switches to pro-logic for stereo broadcasts whether analogue or digital..
Anyway, norty Symo for saying it's a four channel signal..
:nono:
:nuts:
Answers:
Originally posted by Bapapapa
Anyway, norty Symo for saying it's a four channel signal..
:nono:
:nuts:
I am flogging myself as we speak.:(
;)
Symo
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