audio conferencing Meaning
Home Theater Audio - What's Multichannel Audio?
"Hi-Fi" and stereo were the large things for audio enthusiasts decades ago. Some individuals even bought vinyl records of sound effects just to marvel on the fidelity and stereo effects. Quadraphonic sound was tried for some time, but systems were expensive and recording and media required 2 additional channels. In the last decade digital audio makes even more sophisticated systems not just possible but also affordable.
Surround Sound, Dolby, and THX
Stereo uses 2 recorded sound channels to feed a left speaker plus a right speaker, roughly akin to our left and right ears. Multichannel audio processes additional channels to enhance the audio knowledge about additional speakers. There's various kinds surround sound. The first uses a fixed listener area for a 3-dimensional audio effect. Unfortunately this means there's a single "sweet spot" in which the effect works best. Other forms use speakers behind the listeners to have an audience-wide experience. Each speaker feed is termed a channel.
Audio processing from Dolby Laboratories began way back in the 1960s with noise reduction. Dolby processing has evolved to multi-channel surround-sound processing through a succession of small steps. Probably the most recent is Dolby TruHD. This provides loss-less encoding (no information lost, no noise added) of 8 or maybe more channels.
You may have read about receivers boasting about THX. THX is not actually a recording, encoding, or surround sound technology. It's actually a quality standard and certification system. Originally useful for movie theaters, it "guarantees" high-quality multi-channel sound.
5.1 Channel Systems
The most frequent arrangement today uses 6 speakers, and it is referred to as 5.1 channels. The ".1" channel is made for a sub-woofer dedicated to powerful suprisingly low frequencies. A good sub-woofer is especially important for movie and gaming special effects. Two of the remaining speakers are the standard stereo speakers. Another pair is also stereo, but these "rear" speakers are placed behind the listeners. So you literally are encompassed by sound. The final speaker is really a middle speaker, placed between the front stereo pair. Ideally, it's mounted fairly high to provide a broad sound experience.
7.2 Channel Systems
Add 3 more speakers plus you've got a 7.2 channel system. Many current receivers are only able to handle 5.1, so make sure to choose one that can handle the 9 speakers if you want to go with this arrangement.
The ".2" speakers are two sub-woofers, making your deep bass truly stereo. The remaining pair can be used in a number of ways. The best sound comes from placing them in front above the main stereo pair. Here you'd position the middle speaker somewhat lower. You can also position them further to the left and right from the main stereo speakers. Finally, you can use them as remote speakers within an entirely different room.
All in all
These may sound like complicated systems, but each channel and speaker has its own purpose and place. They're really not that difficult to set up. You may have to be clever in running wires to the rear speakers in order that they're not too visible, but wireless speakers are available if this is an excessive amount of trouble. Either way, it's well worth the effort. Installing a home theater surround sound system will lift up your music listening, movie watching, and also video gaming to a totally new level.
Just thought you may be interested in reading this guide: home theater installation and cheap home theater systems.
Making Meaning (part 1/2)
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