What are Dolby EX and Dolby ES?

[Xoanon]

I've just been looking over the T2: Ultimate Edition DVD specs across all regions and I have noticed that the Region 1 DVD has the following soundtracks (amongst others):

Dolby DTS ES 5.1
Dolby Digital EX 5.1

The Australian Region 4 DVD has:

Dolby DTS 6.1 ES matrix

I'm just interested in knowing how a DTS ES track and a DTS ES matrix track differs from a standard DTS track/5.1 track. Basically, what do the EX and ES stand for and how do they improve a Dolby soundtrack?

I've had a butchers on the Dolby site but couldnt find anything this specific, believe it or not.

Thanks to anyone who helps me out on this one.

[BJ_M]

dolby and dts are two competing formats ,,,,, if you look on the dts web site - you will get one part of the answer .. and on the dolby web site for the second answer ..


in short --- marketing (es matrix is not as good though)

[Xoanon]

DTS is a Dolby product though, so how can it be competing? I'll check he DTS site now.

[BJ_M]

DTS is NOT a Dolby product

[yoda313]

Hello,

The es/ex are the 6th channel whether matrixed or discrete.

Dolby is a seperate company from dts. Dts is it's own company.

Batman returns was the first Dolby Digital movie in the theaters. Jurrasic Park 1 was the first DTS movie in the theaters (i'm pretty positive ).

Kevin

[BJ_M]

Jurrasic Park 1 - yes (for dts) , and the first to have a DTS sound track on laser disk also (and it is better than the dvd sound track)

[Xoanon]

Thanks Kev, that brings me onto another question: what is matrixed audio and what is discrete audio?

[BJ_M]

matrixed = mixed together
discrete = seperate

[BJ_M]

matrixed audio derives some of the channels from other channels - vs. having their own distinct channel

[Xoanon]

OK, so how does "matrixed" and "discrete" work in the context of a 6.1 ES matrix track? And what does ES and EX stand for?

[Xoanon]

Oh right, sorry posted that at the same time lol!

[BJ_M]

extended .. as in extended channels -- as in more of them or larger range

[adam]

The EX and ES versions add a rear center channel.

DTS and Dolby are competing formats, however DTS's 6.1 ES Matrix uses the Dolby Surround matrix to create the rear center, so it is sometimes labeled, "Dolby DTS 6.1 ES"

So, the Dolby Digital version (ES) uses a matrix for the rear center in all cases. The DTS matrix version does the same. A more appropriate name for these would really be 5.2. Its more then 5.1 but not a full 6.1 because the added channel is matrixed (derived from info from other channels.)

DTS also offers a version where the rear center is discrete so it is a full 6.1.

And of course both Dolby Digital and DTS have their standard 5.1 versions.

[Xoanon]

Sorry, just to be clear: a 6.1 EX matrix track means its a 6.1 track but with the centre rear channel "mixed" (matrixed) into the rear channels(?), which is then decoded to a new, centre channel when played back on capable equipment?

[BJ_M]

yes

[Xoanon]

Thanks Adam, thats very clear. But if ES and EX mean the same thing, as I gather from BJ_M's posts, then why isnt just one abbreviation used?

[BJ_M]

i know also of 7.1 and 8.1 and even more coming out ...

in theaters -- there is also high center and center channels ... in some theaters ..

[BJ_M]

Thanks Adam, thats very clear. But if ES and EX mean the same thing, as I gather from BJ_M's posts, then why isnt just one abbreviation used?

because from two different companies --

as i said in the first place -- it is called marketing ..

[Xoanon]

Thanks guys.

I understand the DTS 6.1 ES matrix. But what about Dolby Digital EX 5.1? Is that just a standard 5.1 track but with a broader sonic range (if thats the correct term)?

[Xoanon]

because from two different companies --

as i said in the first place -- it is called marketing ..

Got you. Thanks for that buddy!

[BJ_M]

Thanks guys.

I understand the DTS 6.1 ES matrix. But what about Dolby Digital EX 5.1? Is that just a standard 5.1 track but with a broader sonic range (if thats the correct term)?

same range and compression .

[Xoanon]

Are you saying a 5.1 track is the same as a 5.1 EX track? So what IS the difference?

[BJ_M]

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/tech_overview.html

[yoda313]

Hello,

The EX is the matrixed rear center channel. It is processed differently than a 5.1 track. They are essentially the same. I don't have an ex receiver so I don't have any personal experience with this just what I've read

Kevin

[adam]

According to DVD Demystified the Dolby 5.1 EX does include the additional matrixed rear center. They just don't list it as 6.1 like the DTS equivalent does.

The new Dolby Digital Surround EX format (DD-EX), which adds a rear center channel, is compatible with DVD discs and players, and with existing Dolby Digital decoders. The new DTS-ES Matrix format, which likewise adds a rear center channel, works with existing DTS decoders and with DTS-compatible DVD players. However, for full use of either new format you need a new decoder to extract the rear center channel, which is phase matrixed into the two standard rear channels in the same way Dolby Surround is matrixed into standard stereo channels. Without a new decoder you'll get the same 5.1-channel audio you get now. Because the additional rear channel isn't a full-bandwidth discrete channel, it's appropriate to call the new formats "5.2-channel" digital surround. There is also DTS-ES Discrete, which adds a full-bandwidth discrete rear center channel in an extension stream which is used by DTS ES Discrete decoders but ignored by older DTS decoders. DTS-ES decoders include DTS Neo:6, which is not an encoding format but a matrix decoding process that provides 5 or 6 channels.

[adam]

Geesh everytime I post like 10 posts slip in before me.

[yoda313]

Geesh everytime I post like 10 posts slip in before me.

Hello,

Just like the poster above you thread in OT

Kevin

[AVNerd]

As far as I know, Dolby Digital EX is still 5.1 channel wise. But it includes a single matrixed rear channel to be used with either a 6.1 or 7.1 speaker setup. Check out this image:



The left shows Dolby EX played through 6.1 speakers, the right shows 7.1 speakers (the 2 rear speakers are mono so they both play the same thing)

DTS ES is basically the same thing, only its DTS' version.

DTS ES Discrete is TRUE 6.1 (Left, Right, Center, Left Surround, Right Surround, Rear and LFE [sub woofer] being the ".1")

As far as I know, Dolby Still has no Discrete 6.1 system.

However, Sony developed an 8.0 system for theatres that, as far as I know, has gone out of buisness. Its called SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound). It actually incorperated 2 more front channels and the sub woofer got its own discrete channel. (Left, Left-Center, Center, Right-Center, Right, Left-Surround, Right-Surround and Sub Woofer). It looks somthing like this:



As far as I know, there have never been plans for a home version.

[Xoanon]

Thanks AV Nerd, that's cool.

[AVNerd]

Sorry, SDDS didnt actually go out of buisness. But they have become less popular with theatre companies with the introduction of DTS and Dolby Digital EX.

I thought they had gone out of buisness because the SDDS units at my work are now discontinued so we cant get parts for them anymore. :P