Whether you are an audio novice or an experienced technophile, this article is for you. Let's take a few minutes to review the basics of surround sound, and the principles behind it. If you are new to surround sound, this will help you to understand the concept. It will also refresh the memory of those already in the know. These are the basics of sound.
Monophonic sound is single channel and unidirectional. Basically, this means that your audio is all filtered down into a flat single channel. All elements of the recording are mixed down into one source, thereby seeming to originate from the same source no matter where you are standing in the room. This is old school, kids.
Stereophonic sound is reproduced through two channels and is considered superior to monophonic sound. You can tell stereophonic sound, because different sounds originate from either speaker. This type of sound gives one the sense of being there during the recording. The best example of this is listening to a recording of the symphony, where different band members are located in different parts of the room. The strings are over here, and the horns are over there.
Surround sound was first pioneered by Dolby in the early 1970's, and first used in movies such as “Tommy” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”. The Dolby process encapsulates four channels of audio; left, right, rear, and phantom center. The reason it is called phantom center is because it is essentially a mix of the left and right front channels. This gives the listener the impression of being surrounded by sound, hence the name surround sound.
Dolby surround sound has evolved considerably in recent years. Dolby 5.1 is bar far the most common. Dolby 5.1 is similar to traditional surround sound, but it is further broken down and processed into more distinct channels. Dolby 5.1 increases the range of sound by adding stereo rear sound as well as a dedicated subwoofer channel. This results in a far superior surround sound experience. You not only hear surround sound, but you feel it, too!
Technology is ever changing, and the marketplace offers many surround sound options. This article is not complete by any means, and only serves as a primer on the basics. Check out your local electronics superstore for the latest technology.
How To Surround Sound
The integration of technology in the hotel industry is ever increasing. In a recent article in Hotel and Motel Management, Christine Blank writes, "technology is a focus of hotels when they decide to build or renovate convention spaces." Blank continues, "Harrah`s New Orleans Hotel and Casino added electronic gadgets like electronic draperies, automated lighting and dimmer systems, and 60-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screens to their meeting space. An upgraded acoustical system was added to the ballroom of the Rosen Shingle Creek."
Of course, surround sound is no longer just the option for the home. Manufacturer`s are now making surround sound available to your car stereo and DVD systems. The New York Times reported recently that, "multichannel surround sound systems in automobiles", are becoming readily available. The report went onto to say that "in a multichannel sound system in a car, a Compact Disc (CD) player or a Digital Video Disc (DVD) player has to decode and separate six or more audio signals from a disc, which are steered individually to the speakers by the amplifiers. There are several multichannel formats, including Super Audio CD and DVD Audio on music discs, and Dolby Digital on movie discs." With the newer technology it is becoming easier are more cost affective to add these luxuries to one`s vehicle.
So how does the technologically challenged wire their homes for the best experience? John Sciacca of Sound & Vision Magazine says, "to ensure that quality sound is distributed around a home you should use large speakers with more of them in big rooms and areas where the sound system is to be played louder." Sciacca goes onto to add, "ceiling speakers must not be lined up with light cans or ceiling or in any rooms like the kitchen, where the listening position is constantly changing." These little tips will add a more enjoyable listening experience. Lastly,Sciacca, mentions "that a remote control is necessary for the efficient functioning of a surround sound system." And as all men (and some women) know, how in the world did we ever live without one.
Surround sound is the wave of the now, and in the future you will be hard pressed to find anyone`s home not wired for this once reserved for luxury enjoyment
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