Dolby Digital vs DTS

[jibucha]

Hello

I just wanted to take a moment to point out something that I have not encountered any information regarding sound formats in general.

Formats & Encoding Mix l There are the technical differences between the formats, including specifics such as bit-rates and differences of use of channels available by each format.

It is the use of channels and mixes that I think are not commonly recognized or addressed in the discussions that I have personally encountered.

It is the mixes that are encoded for each format that seem to not be recognized, There are many factors to be considered in mixes of the sound, such as the effort put into each, familiarity of each format by the sound engineer, technical aspects, and other considerations. I do believe that the mixes may be the formost consideration, although not commonly recognized.

Use of Channels l While the many progressions of the sound formats throughout the years may have changed the dynamics of each format, I do recall, that originally, the differences regarding how channels can be used was a major consideration of the sound formats.

Dolby had a fixed rate of each channel, while DTS allowed for the use of the entire available bits to be distributed among the channels completely at the discression of the sound engineer.

So; with Dolby, the use of each channel was a fixed amount that could not be changed by the sound engineer, regardless of sound requirements.

However, with DTS, the total amount of bits available, could be used entirely as the sound engineer determined, among any channel configuration. This means that all of the available bits could be used in one channel, if either required or desired, for any sound quality.

So, with DTS, having a larger number of bits available in any channel configuration, as well as a higher bit-rate, would seem a considerable advantage; which, it did commonly seem to be the case in soundtrack sound quality.

Still though, I do believe that the quality of the sound mix itself, is the consideration of paramount importance; perhaps overriding the technical aspects of the sound formats. So, it is possible for one or the other to sound better than the other; when all considerations are heard.


Thank You