Dolby Makes Some Noise at NAB Show 2011

Dolby Laboratories announced its Dolby Media Emulator software at the NAB Show 2011.

For more information visit: www.dolby.com


Unedited press release follows:

Dolby Launches Loudness Tools and Showcases Imaging Technology

New loudness solutions for broadcasters, video reference monitor for postproduction, and 7.1 surround sound for broadcasters demonstrated at NAB booth SU3117
2011 NAB Show

LAS VEGAS–Today at NAB Show® 2011, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) (booth SU3117) launched Dolby® Media Emulator, software that ensures optimized delivery of audio soundtracks to meet broadcast specifications, enabling operators to easily monitor the loudness level of audio. Dolby will also soon make its dialogue gating technology available to manufacturers at no charge, and introduced licensing programs for its suite of loudness metering and correction technologies.

“Addressing loudness differences is a challenge facing our customers throughout the content processing chain, from postproduction to broadcast and delivery,” said Brick Eksten, President of Digital Rapids Corporation. “We’re pleased to be working closely with Dolby to integrate their loudness metering and measurement technologies into our media transformation solutions to help our customers meet regulatory and practical loudness requirements.”

By putting loudness solutions in the hands of its partners, Dolby is helping broadcasters comply with regulations such as the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act while providing a consistent, optimal audio experience. Dolby delivers unique and effective solutions that address loudness inconsistencies throughout the broadcast chain.

Key benefits of the Dolby Media Emulator include:

* Simplifies metadata authoring through integration into major audio workstations
* Provides easy monitoring of the different consumer environments
* Enables quicker workflows for metadata throughout production

Dolby will be showcasing its range of loudness products, including Dolby Media Meter 2 and Dolby Media Emulator for postproduction, the Dolby DP568 Professional Reference Decoder, the Dolby DP600 Program Optimizer for distribution, and the award-winning Dolby Volume for consumer playback.

Color grading with Dolby’s award-winning reference monitor
Released in 2010, the Dolby Professional Reference Monitor has already won significant industry awards, including Broadcast Engineering magazine’s “Pick Hit Award” (IBC2010), the 2010 IABM Award for Excellence (IBC2010), and TV Technology magazine’s Mario Award (NAB 2010).

The Dolby Professional Reference Monitor has also been used on a number of high-profile projects, including the October 2010 4K restoration of Apocalypse Now released on Blu-ray Disc™, a 2011 Oscar®-nominated film, and other feature films.

“We chose the Dolby monitor for the restoration of Apocalypse Now because we were impressed with its precise color accuracy, particularly how it renders true black levels with exceptional dark detail,” said Doug Delaney, Digital Intermediate Colorist, iO Film. “The monitor gave me the confidence that other display technologies don’t to make the bold color decisions called for with this film and to judge those choices accurately.”

The Dolby Professional Reference Monitor will be displayed at the Dolby booth as well as at the following partner booths: Band Pro Film and Digital (C10308), Digital Vision (SL6920), FilmLight (SL7920), NVIDIA (SL2728), and RED Digital Cinema (SL6220).

Demonstrating 7.1 surround sound
Dolby will demonstrate discrete 7.1 surround sound in a broadcast environment for the first time at its booth. Using Dolby Digital Plus technology over a Motorola set-top box, Dolby will play content from DreamWorks’ Megamind, released in 7.1 in the cinema and on Blu-ray Disc.

Dolby will also showcase the flexibility of Dolby Digital Plus, a digital audio coding technology that efficiently delivers optimized audio quality over a wide range of bit rates, by streaming content from Netflix using a Sony PlayStation® 3 and by playing content from a Nokia N8 mobile phone connected via HDMI®.

Dolby Digital Plus allows broadcasters to offer advanced services such as audio description for the visually impaired, which can be delivered at the same time as surround sound. Audio description is increasingly being mandated for broadcasts in a number of countries. First demonstrated at IBC2010, the Dolby solution allows visually impaired viewers to enjoy HDTV surround sound programming complete with optional audio descriptive tracks.

John Griffin, Dolby’s Senior Director of Consumer Electronics, will be speaking at the “Content in the Cloud Conference” about the benefits of cloud-delivered content to broadcasters today at 4:30 p.m. in room N232.

About Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) is the global leader in technologies that are essential elements in the best entertainment experiences. Founded in 1965 and best known for high-quality audio and surround sound, Dolby creates innovations that enrich entertainment at the movies, at home, or on the go. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.