Surround Sound Formats

Moving from stereo to surround sound can be a confusing business. Mark Cousins explains the principal differences and standards in multi-channel audio.

Surround sound might be the current ‘big thing’ in production circles, but confusion over the multitude of formats (DVD-V, DVD-A, DTS, SACD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic) that can be used to carry multi-channel audio continues to deter and confuse beginners. As with any new product entering the professional and consumer markets, there will always be a number of formats vying for our attention (just like the infamous VHS and Betamax wars, for example), each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. However, as creators of surround sound material, what are we to make of this tremendous variety in standards? And can we really expect one master – in other words, the final surround mix – to be a suitable delivery format for a variety of different destinations?

This feature first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 36
Filed under Ten Minute Masters

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