Copyright: ©2003. Sony Pictures Digital Inc.
Citation: ©2003. Sony Pictures Digital Inc.


About this file

This file contains context-sensitive help topics and is not intended for browsing.

Revised July 31, 2003


IDH AUDIOSRVC DATARATE
Data rate

The average data rate of the encoded Dolby Digital file.

The lowest possible data rate is dependent on the Audio coding mode. Modes with a higher number of channels require a higher data rate. To achieve lower data rates, the encoder will need to compress the file more, possibly resulting in slightly lower quality.


IDH AUDIOSRVC SAMPLERATE
Sample rate

Specifies the sampling rate of your encoded files. The Dolby Digital encoding process requires that only files sampled at 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz are used.


IDH AUDIOSRVC CODINGMODE
Audio coding mode

Specifies the number of full-bandwidth audio channels within the encoded bitstream and also indicates the channel format.

The audio coding mode is designated as two numbers: M/N. M indicates the number of front channels, and N indicates the number of rear (surround) channels.


IDH AUDIOSRVC LFE ENABLE
LFE enable

Select this check box to enable the LFE (low frequency effects) channel. This channel is typically used as a subwoofer channel.

This option is not available when 1/0 or 2/0 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list.


IDH AUDIOSRVC BITSTREAM MODE
Bitstream mode

Indicates the type of service the bitstream conveys.

Certain delivery media such as DVD can contain multiple Dolby Digital bitstreams. Use this control to specify the type of bitstream you are encoding.


IDH AUDIOSRVC DIALOG NORMALIZATION
Dialog normalization

Indicates how far, in decibels, the average dialog level of the encoded program is below digital 100%.

The value of this parameter will directly affect the sound reproduction level when decoded.


IDH AUDIOSRVC BANDWIDTH
Audio bandwidth

Displays the width of the frequency spectrum that will be reproduced in the encoded signal.

Its value depends primarily on the Data rate parameter. Higher data rates allow for higher bandwidth audio because less compression that is needed.


IDH AUDIOSRVC INTEL BYTE ORDER
Save data in Intel byte order

Toggles the byte order of the encoded AC-3 file.  Select the check box to save the file using the Intel byte order (little endian).

When the check box is cleared, the file will be saved in Motorola byte order (big endian). This can potentially increase the time it takes to encode a file.

All Dolby Digital decoders should be able to decode Intel or Motorola byte-ordered files.


IDH BITSTREAM CENTERMIX LEVEL
Center mix level

Indicates the level of the center channel with respect to the left and right channels if it is downmixed during playback.

Downmixing will occur on playback systems without a center channel.

This option is only available when 3/0, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAM SURROUNDMIX LEVEL
Surround mix level

Indicates the level of the surround channel(s) with respect to the left and right channels if they are downmixed during playback.

Downmixing will occur on playback systems without surround capabilities.

This option is only available when 2/1, 2/2, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAM COPYRIGHT CHECK
Set copyright bit

Select this check box to apply copyright protection to the encoded Dolby Digital stream.


IDH BITSTREAM ORIGINAL CHECK
Mark as original bitstream

Select this check box if the bitstream is an original.

If the bitstream is a copy of the original, clear the check box.


IDH BITSTREAM DOLBY SURROUND MODE
Dolby surround mode

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate whether a two-channel Dolby Digital encoded stream is conveying a Dolby Surround encoded program.

This information is not used by the Dolby Digital decoding algorithm, but may be used by other portions of the audio reproduction equipment, such as a Dolby Pro Logic Surround decoder.

This option is only available when 2/0 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAM INFO EXISTS CHECK
Include audio production information

Select this check box to encode additional production information such as Mix level and Room type in the Dolby Digital Stream.


IDH BITSTREAM MIX LEVEL
Mix level

Indicates the acoustic sound pressure level of the dialog level during the final audio mixing session.

Setting the appropriate value can make playback across multiple systems more consistent with the original mix.


IDH BITSTREAM ROOM TYPE
Room type

Indicates the type and calibration of the mixing room used for the final audio mixing session.

This setting is not typically used within the Dolby Digital decoding algorithm, but may be used by other parts of the audio reproduction equipment.


IDH PREPROC DIGITAL DEEMPHASIS
Digital de-emphasis

Select this check box to apply a deemphasis filter to the encoded stream. Select the check box only if a preemphasis filter was applied to the source audio files.


IDH PREPROC HIGH PASS FILTER
DC high-pass filter

Select this check box to apply a high-pass filter to the encoded stream to remove any DC offset that is present in the source audio files.

Select the check box for best results.


IDH PREPROC LOW PASS FILTER
Bandwidth low-pass filter

Select this check box to apply a low-pass filter to the encoded stream. The low-pass cutoff frequency will be near the frequency displayed in the Audio bandwidth box.

Select the check box for best results.


IDH PREPROC LFE LOW PASS FILTER
LFE low-pass filter

Select this check box to apply a low-pass filter to the encoded LFE channel. The low-pass cutoff frequency will be at 120 Hz.

Select the check box for best results.

This control is availble only when the LFE enable check box is selected on the Audio Service tab.


IDH PREPROC PHASE SHIFT
90-degree phase shift`

Select this check box to apply a 90-degree phase shift to the surround channels. This phase shift is useful when generating multichannel Dolby Digital streams that may be downmixed in an external two-channel decoder.

This control is availble only when 2/1, 2/2, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH PREPROC ATTENUATION
3 dB attenuation

Select this check box to apply a 3-dB attenuation to the surround channels. This may be necessary when creating Dolby Digital content that may be transferred onto a format for consumer home theater playback.

Cinema soundtrack surround channels are mixed 3 dB higher than the front channels to compensate for cinema amplifier gains. Home theater surround channel gains are calibrated differently, making a 3-dB attenuation necessary in most cases.

This control is availble only when 2/1, 2/2, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH PREPROC COMPRESSION
Compression characteristic

Choose a setting to determine the characteristic curve of the dynamic range compression algorithm.

A Dolby Digital decoder will use this information to affect the output levels of the program. Selecting the appropriate setting for your program material will ensure proper playback during the decoding process.


IDH PREPROC OVERMOD PROTECTION
RF overmodulation protection

Select this check box to apply an RF preemphasis filter is used in the clip-protection algorithm to prevent RF (antenna input) overmodulation in set-top-box decoders.


IDH PREPROC LINE MODE
Line mode profile

Choose a setting to specify the type of compression that will be applied when the decoder is set to line mode and dynamic range control is applied.

Dynamic range control limits the softest and the loudest portions of the audio stream to maintain a comfortable and intelligible listening level.


IDH PREPROC RF MODE
RF mode profile

Choose a setting to specify the type of compression that will be applied when the decoder is set to RF (antenna) input mode and dynamic range control is applied.

Dynamic range control limits the softest and the loudest portions of the audio stream to maintain a comfortable and intelligible listening level.


IDH TIMECODE ADD TIMESTAMPS
Add time stamps

Select this check box to add time stamps to the encoded Dolby Digital stream.


IDH TIMECODE
Start timecode

Establishes the time for the first encoded time stamp. Each successive Dolby Digital frame will be stamped with a time relative to the Start timecode.


IDH_BITSTREAMEX_ALTBSION
Enable BSI extension

Select this check box to add extended bitstream information to your encoded file.

Extended bitstream information is optional but helps you control how your encoded file will be downmixed if downmixing is necessary.


IDH_BITSTREAMEX_DOLBYEX_MODE
Dolby Surround EX mode

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate whether or the bitstream is conveying a Dolby Surround EX encoded program.

This control is availble only when 2/2 or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH_BITSTREAMEX_ADCONVERTER
A/D converter type

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate the type of analog-to-digital conversion that was applied to your audio. Choosing a setting allows a decoder to apply the correct digital-to-analog conversion.


IDH BITSTREAMEX STEREODOWNMIX
Stereo downmix preference

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to choose the downmix mode that should be used when your multichannel audio is played back through stereo outputs.

Lt/Rt downmix preferred will produce a surround-compatible downmix (left total/right total).

Lo/Ro downmix preferred will produce a simple stereo (left only/right only) downmix.

This control is availble only when 3/0, 2/1, 3/1, 2/2, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAMEX LOROCENTER
Lo/Ro center mix level

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate the level of the center channel when mixed to a simple stereo (left-only/right-only) output.

This control is availble only when 3/0, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAMEX LOROSURROUND MODE
Lo/Ro surround mix level

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate the level of the surround channels when mixed to a simple stereo (left-only/right-only) output.

This control is availble only when 3/0, 2/1, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAMEX LTRTCENTER MODE
Lt/Rt center mix level

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate the level of the center channel when mixed to a Dolby Surround/Pro Logic (left-total/right-total) output.

This control is availble only when 3/0, 3/1, or 3/2 is selected in the Audio coding mode drop-down list on the Audio Service tab.


IDH BITSTREAMEX LTRTSURROUND MODE
Lt/Rt surround mix level

Choose a setting from the drop-down list to indicate the level of the surround channels when mixed to a Dolby Surround/Pro Logic (left-total/right-total) output.