Despite the extremes of the rain, 91 members and guests gathered atDolby Laboratories in the city to hear Ioan Allen, V.P. at Dolby and aFellow of the SMPTE, and the Engineering Director - Motion Pictures forthe SMPTE give a presentation "Film Sound and Better Film Sound: theDolby Experience." This tongue-in-cheek title may be the understatmentthe year.
First, about the venue: the Dolby screening room has a 14 dBsp noisefloor and an excess of 84 dBsp dynamic range with up to 16 kilowatts ofaudio amplification available to the 5.1 channel full-surround sound. Withone exception, a trailer, the amplification was hardly taxed.
The program consisted of accentuating each point with a film clip includingthe first stereo recording, the first "A-type Dolby" film track,Dolby SR and Dolby Digital. It is the recent film sound developments suchas Dolby Spectral Recording and Dolby Digital that can provide a film soundtrackwith the highest fidelity this side of the digital master. Film tracksonce had very limited fidelity and dynamic range. Now, Dolby film soundformats are capable of carrying a much higher fidelity "message",making the film audio essentially transparent. Taking advantage of thenew formats has required new approaches to soundtrack production. A dramaticdemonstration using a clip from "Shine" and a Japanese animeshowed that Dolby film sound at its best means not only better qualityaudio, but theater sound experience that consistently realizes the director'soriginal intentions.
While Dolby's involvement with film sound first achieved wide recognitionwith the spectacular audio effects of such films as "Star Wars,"the Dolby name has long since come to mean more than just special or dramaticeffects. The objective is high-quality sound reproduction of dialogue andmusic, as well as sound effects. Dolby technology is a means, not an end.It can be likened to an artist's palette that provides the artist witha full range of colors, where before there were but a few. Above all, Dolbyformats have been developed to enhance that very special experience ofgoing to the movies.
I would particularly like to thank Mr. Allen, and Dolby Laboratories,on behalf of the San Francisco Section, SMPTE for providing this and similarpresentations for our section, our student members, and our community.I would add that Dolby has provided continuing support to our section inproviding speakers and facilities for our educational activities--seminarsand tutorials. Charles Hintz, Chair
DOLBY LABS, San Francisco Tickets will have detail directions &location.