Dolby unveils its Atmos technology
The cinematic sound evolution has come a long way. From the mono sound in the early stages to stereo, and then progressing to 5.1 surround and subsequently 7.1 surround sound, acoustics have only got better.
However, even surround sound did not fully complement the human ear, which has a 360-degrees hearing capability. But after witnessing increasing adoption of three-dimensional (3D) visuals, cinema will now see the advent of multi-dimensional audio that promises to substantially enhance the movie experience.
Seeking to give cinema-goers with a lifelike immersive listening experience, sound technology innovator Dolby Laboratories has unveiled its new Dolby Atmos technology in Chennai. The technology was unveiled at Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai which has become the first cinema chain in India with the revolutionary Dolby Atmos audio technology.
Terming the technology as "revolutionary and completely different from an experience perspective," Pankaj Kedia, Country Manager, Dolby Laboratories India said Dolby Atmos will enable truly better sound, by allowing smoother movement of sound and natural audio.
The key highlight of the Dolby Atmos technology is the twin array of overhead speakers on the ceiling of the theatre, as well as support for additional surround sound speakers.
The overhead speakers enable even minute sounds such as the whizzing of an insect or jet, the clap of thunder and lighting, the chirping of birds and even the pitter-patter of raindrops sound strikingly real.
Dolby claims its Atmos technology is a new audio platform that will change the experience of sound in entertainment by delivering a more natural and realistic sound-field and thereby transporting the audience into the story.
Elucidating on the immersive aspect, Kedia quoted acclaimed filmmaker George Lucas, who has said "sound is 50% of the movie experience."
Kedia said Dolby Atmos will have provision for up to 64 channels or speaker feeds and 128 simultaneous and audio streams.
Dolby is expecting Atmos to eventually replace the 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound systems presently in use in theatres.
"Dolby Atmos makes simplified distribution of sound and scalable audio playback in the auditorium possible. It takes into account that every cinema theatre is different is in size and set-up," he added. The company is looking at having around 50 Dolby Atmos-equipped screens in the country by 2013, Kedia disclosed.
Ashim Mathur, Marketing Head, Dolby Laboratories India said Dolby Atmos will be primarily a cinema theatre technology that will draw audiences to theatres for the new audio experience.
Rajinikanth-starrer Sivaji 3D which releases on December 12, 2012 will be the first Indian film to be released with Dolby Atmos. Several major Hollywood studios have released flicks adopting the Atmos technology. These include Disney's 'Brave'; DreamWorks Animation's 'Rise of the Guardians' and Twentieth Century Fox's 'Taken 2', 'Chasing Mavericks' and 'Life of Pi' as well as Peter Jackson's much-anticipated 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' from Warner Bros.
'Gravity' and 'Pacific Rim' also from Warner Bros as well as 'Star Trek into Darkness' from Paramount Pictures will release in the same format in 2013.
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