Dolby Updates PC Entertainment Experience Program

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. increased its presence in the PC market this week with the release of its next-generation "PC Entertainment Experience" program, a suite of Dolby audio post-processing and connectivity technologies designed to enhance the listening experience for consumers. Dolby launched the initial Dolby PC program more than four years ago to define several scenarios for PC surround in various environments. Now, Dolby has expanded the program to offer some additional DSP.

The latest updates to the Dolby PC Entertainment Experience program consist of second-generation Dolby Home Theater, a robust suite of DSP and tools, and Dolby Sound Room, providing virtual surround via speakers of headphone with a Dolby Digital source. The three technologies (including Dolby Master Studio which hasn't been updated) break down as follows:

	Dolby Master Studio	Dolby Home Theater	Dolby Sound Room
Digital Audio Source	Dolby Digital	Dolby Digital	Dolby Digital
Digital Audio Creation	Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator	Dolby Digital Recording or Dolby Digital Stereo Creator	- - -
Digital Audio Encoding	Dolby Digital Live	Dolby Digital Live	- - -
Surround Sound Expansion	Dolby Pro Logic IIx	Dolby Pro Logic II	- - -
Virtual Surround Sound	Dolby Headphone Dolby Virtual Speaker	Dolby Headphone Dolby Virtual Speaker	Dolby Headphone Dolby Virtual Speaker

Among the updates to the Dolby PC Entertainment Experience program is Dolby Control Center, a user-friendly GUI interface that makes it easy to configure and control the listening experience. The system works via the use of simple on-screen controls and interactive visuals for selecting speakers and fine-tuning surround sound effects.

Second-generation Dolby Home Theater now offers the following:

• New: Sound Space Expander is a sound stage enhancer that produces a wide stereo image and in the process improves the separation of instruments without diminishing the center of the mix.
• New: Natural Bass is a bass enhancement system for speakers and headphones that provides up to an octave of downward extension in the bass response of most speakers.
• New: Dolby Pro Logic(R) IIx creates a vivid 7.1-channel surround sound experience from any stereo (two-channel), 5.1, or 6.1 movie, music, TV, or game audio source.
• Dolby Digital Live converts any audio signal from a PC or game console into Dolby Digital for easy connection to home theater systems through a single digital cable.
• Dolby Headphone technology creates a personal surround sound experience using any set of headphones and makes listeners feel like the action is happening all around them.
  

Second-generation Dolby Sound Room now offers the following:

• New: Sound Space Expander is a sound stage enhancer that produces a wide stereo image and in the process improves the separation of instruments without diminishing the center of the mix.
• New: Natural Bass is a bass enhancement system for speakers and headphones that provides up to an octave of downward extension in the bass response of most speakers.
• Dolby Headphone technology creates a personal surround sound experience using any set of headphones and makes listeners feel like the action is happening all around them.

For more info, check out http://www.dolby.com/consumer/pc/pcee2.html