Convention Paper
DTS Coherent Acoustics Delivering High-Quality Multichannel Sound to the Consumer
AES Convention 100 · Paper 4293 · May 1996
Abstract
With low bit-rate multichannel coders becoming more prominent in the home theater market, attention is beginning to focus on the applicability of the multichannel format for music reproduction in the home. What differences are there between discrete motion picture sound tracks and multichannel music? How does this affect the performance of low bit-rate coders? What are the limitations of the current CD and new DVD platforms as multitrack music players? What impact will these limitations have on the development of a new standard format for the release of multichannel music? This paper analyzes the potential of DVDs and CDs as high-quality multitrack audio media, focusing in particular on the use of DTS Coherent Acoustics as a means of extending the multichannel potential of these platforms. Designed to achieve audio transparency, DTS Coherent Acoustics operates at bit rates of up to 4.096 Mb/s and supports up to 8 discrete channels of audio, at up to 24-bit sample resolution and at sampling rates up to 96 kHz per channel. Within these constraints DVD can deliver a new multichannel music experience to the home. On CDs and laser discs, DTS has already demonstrated a 6-channel capability, at 20-bit resolution and at a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz.
