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09-13-2003, 03:45 AM
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#1 of 9 
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First there was 4 channel...
surround, then there was 5.1 channel surround, then there was 6.1 channel surround, and now there's an official 7.l channel surround. What'll be next?
Look at the trend.
First there was 4 channel, which was the left center right and surround.
Then there was 5.1 channel, a huge jump from 4 channel surround. It gave way to 5 discrete channels and 1 lfe. For that there was FL, C, FR, SL, SR
Then there was 6.1 channel, a derivative of 5.1 and 4 channel surround. The rear array is similar to 4 channels minus the surround.
Now there's 7.1 channel, seems like a full derivative off of 5.1 and 4 channel surround. Utilizing the "LCR" of the 4 channel surround to derive the rear channels. However, unlike 6.1, 7.1 seems to utilize LCRS. Not to say that that's how it exactly is, but is anybody else seeing this pattern?
Soon, with fully discrete 5.1 audio, they'll be matrixing material similar to PL2 to yield 8.1 channel audio.
I don't think 8.1 would ever reach home though. Unless they decide to have an overhead effects channel, but that'd be too much trouble.
p.s. by they I mean dolby, since DTS doesn't utilize matrix decoding except with Neo.
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09-13-2003, 04:48 AM
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#2 of 9
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There have been a handful of discrete 7.1-channel formats available for over ten years now, just not in domestic variants. These formats appeared well before the current 5.1 ('6.1') extended surround formats, in fact. As far as I know, discrete 6.1-channel is the current limit in the home; what is this 8.1-channel format you mention?
DTS uses matrixed decoding for DTS-ES Matrix 6.1. Matrix decoding techniques are also a fundamental part of DTS-ES Discrete 6.1.
Adam
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09-13-2003, 05:05 PM
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#3 of 9
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I'm talking about an official, non-manufacturor 7.1 channel format. Well, there has been SDDS but that's cinema only.
7.1 channel format for the home isn't discrete, and if they do come out with a 8.1 channel format then I don't believe that'll be discrete either. All that'll be required is a 5.1 discrete channel format, and the 2 rear surrounds can be put through a matrix decoder similar to pro-logic 2 to yield a 8.1 channel format. I'm not saying that it does exist just yet, rather that it's a possibility.
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09-13-2003, 10:20 PM
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#4 of 9
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Is there a question or a point in all that? 
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09-19-2003, 10:42 AM
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#7 of 9
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Michael Reuben
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Quote:
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7.1 channel format for the home isn't discrete
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Which is another way of saying there's no "7.1" channel format for the home. The notation "x.y" refers to discrete channels only, despite the increasing misuse by hardware manufacturers who like to call their equipment "7.1" when all they've done is add more outputs.
As Adam said, the current home formats are limited to 6.1. The lion's share of software for the home market is either 5.1 or 2.0. I don't see that changing anytime soon.
M.
"Most people never have to face the fact that, at the right time and the right place, they're capable of anything." -- Chinatown
"What kind of movies would there be if everyone in them had to do what we thought they should do?" -- Roger Ebert
HTF Beginner's Primer and FAQ
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09-19-2003, 11:56 AM
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#8 of 9
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This thread got me thinking about matrixing and how it works/etc. Could matrixing be the next step in a horizontal line array?
Take a 5.1 audio sample for instance. You have 4 independent effect/music channels, a center (mostly used for voice or straight on effects), and an LFE. What if instead of the 4 outside monitors, you were surrounded by say, 10, 20, 30, however many speakers your room could fit.
To simplify things, I'll take Left and Right channels. Matric them, so I have a center effects/music channel:
L C R
Now, I matrix the Left/Center, and the Right/Center, to create two more channels:
L LC C RC R
Then we matrix L/LC, LC/C, C/RC, RC/R:
L LLC LC LCC C RCC RC RRC R
And it could go on and on. Using independent small monitors for each of the matrixed channels, could this not represent a fluid line array, especially if you could account delay into the process, and create a circle with the monitors? Granted, acoustically tuning this theoretical room would be exhausting, but just something I had in my head.
- Ben
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09-21-2003, 06:05 AM
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#9 of 9
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Ben, if someone really wanted to do this they could, but it would be quite an exercise.
The ideal number of speakers/channels for a home theatre system is an interesting topic (take a look here for more), and there's no doubt there would be advantages to more channels.
However, the limitations inherent to matrixing would make discrete channels preferable. An additional pair across the front soundstage and a pair of height channels (which would add something no number of channels along the horizontal plane can) would add a great deal to the listening experience.
Adam
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