Information on original audio mixes?

[TripleHBK]

Does anyone know of any online resources which identify a films original audio presentation? I'm talking specifically about a website that would have a searchable database of films that would specify whether a film was filmed/released theatrically in Dolby Digital/DTS Stereo, Surround, ATMOS etc. and the number of channels?

I realize that IMDB lists some of this information but I decided to watch Ginger Snaps tonight and was faced with the decision of using the 2.0 track or the 5.1 track and wasn't sure which was the original presentation. I'm not a stickler for only using the original audio tracks when watching a film, but I do appreciate knowing how the film was presented theatrically. In the case of Ginger Snaps IMDB lists "Dolby Digital" but since that umbrella covers everything from 2.0 to 7.1 it isn't helpful. It also doesn't lend any real assistance with Ginger Snaps since both the 2.0 and the 5.1 tracks are in DTS-HD MA.

Such a resource would also be interesting in reading about films that had sound mixes that may not have ever been carried over (officially) onto any physical medium. Such as Cinema Digital Sound (CDS) mixes or titles with 4 track audio that may have been altered for their home media presentation.

Anyone know of anything out there like this?

[notops]

If IMDB's information is correct about it actually being released in Dolby Digital, then it was most definitely 5.1

2 channel tracks would have been labeled as Dolby Stereo SR. At that time, only 5.1 tracks were referred to as Dolby Digital (or in some cases SRD).

[BozQ]

There is a forum, I think it's film-tech something. It has an amazing database of information about the DCPs of many movies.

That being said, Ginger Snaps appears to be an old film. In the year 2000? So it most likely is a 35mm release and a Dolby Digital 5.1 sound mix.

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[Geoff D]

Ugh, someone talking of a film released in 2000 as "old". Thanks, that doesn't make me feel like some doddery old codger at all.

[benricci]

Jeez, movies from the 2000's are now considered "old films"?

[yellowcakeuf6]

A definitive database would be great.
Dolby Surround 7.1 didn't appear in theaters until 2010, so it would have most likely been 5.1 for U.S. releases before that unless the EX designation was added for 6.1 or 7.1 (it can all be very confusing). And remember, there was also Dolby 6-Track (discrete) for 70mm films. As has been mentioned, before that there was Dolby SR (optical) and SR-D which improved Dolby Stereo(4-2-4 matrix). Dolby Stereo was their original surround, which the Dolby processor turned a 2 channel track into 4 (left, center, right and mono surround). IMDB sometimes lists Dolby Stereo as simply Dolby. The home video version of Dolby Stereo was Dolby Surround. I think this is mostly correct (lol) because I'm getting confused.

[The Fallen Deity]

IMDB are really good in regards to information about what the audio in films was mixed into originally.

As for Ginger Snaps: I'm pretty sure that the 2.0 track is a downmix of the 5.1 track. Scream Factory are notorious for creating downmixes.

The film was released in 5.1 originally anyway so it's best to go with that option.

[yellowcakeuf6]

There were exceptions, but when the formats were competing, movies would usually be released with all of them on the film soundtrack area. You will see this with some older films listing Dolby format, SDDS and DTS at the end of the credits. I know there were some DTS exclusives, which had the best consistent sound. I saw some SDDS (8 channel/5 screen,2 surround, subwoofer) back in the day in a properly set up theater and they also sounded fantastic, but a lot of theaters had issues with the SDDS system.
The best thing to do if you are interested in all this is to read a history of Dolby (and SDDS; DTS) and its sound formats on the web. Once you get to know each era you will have a better understanding what the most likely format was used in the year the movie was released.

[notops]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

A definitive database would be great.
Dolby Surround 7.1 didn't appear in theaters until 2010, so it would have most likely been 5.1 for U.S. releases before that unless the EX designation was added for 6.1 or 7.1 (it can all be very confusing). And remember, there was also Dolby 6-Track (discrete) for 70mm films. As has been mentioned, before that there was Dolby SR (optical) and SR-D which improved Dolby Stereo(4-2-4 matrix). Dolby Stereo was their original surround, which the Dolby processor turned a 2 channel track into 4 (left, center, right and mono surround). IMDB sometimes lists Dolby Stereo as simply Dolby. The home video version of Dolby Stereo was Dolby Surround. I think this is mostly correct (lol) because I'm getting confused.

Great post, but SRD was for 5.1 Dolby Digital. Dolby SR was the improvement on Dolby Stereo 4/2/4 (better dynamic range).

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by notops

Great post, but SRD was for 5.1 Dolby Digital. Dolby SR was the improvement on Dolby Stereo 4/2/4 (better dynamic range).

True. I tried to cram too much information in that post and left out some details.