RSPE Audio Solutions, Los Angeles Premier Pro Audio Dealer

The Dolby DP600–C Program Optimizer provides automatic file-based loudness analysis and correction for cable, satellite, IPTV, and terrestrial broadcasters. It analyzes and corrects the dialnorm metadata parameter in Dolby E and Dolby Digital bitstreams, and provides intelligent and automatic speech-based loudness normalization for both PCM and MPEG-1 LII audio files. Additionally, the DP600–C offers faster-than-real-time file-based encoding, decoding, and transcoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby E bitstreams and MPEG-1 LII audio files. It also offers a unique high-quality, single-step Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus transcoder that preserves the metadata and minimizes tandem coding losses. The system supports most common broadcast media file formats and audio types in use today.

The Dolby DP600 Program Optimizer base configuration provides automatic file-based loudness analysis and correction for cable, satellite, IPTV, and terrestrial broadcasters. It analyzes and corrects the dialnorm metadata parameter in Dolby E and Dolby Digital bitstreams, and provides intelligent and automatic speech-based loudness normalization for both PCM and MPEG-1 LII audio files. The system supports most common broadcast media file formats and audio types in use today.

The Dolby DP600 Program Optimizer is an innovative tool designed specifically for cable, satellite, IPTV, terrestrial TV, and postproduction facilities that employ a file-based infrastructure and work flow. The DP600 includes the world's first intelligent audio analysis and automated loudness normalization engine for many of the most common broadcast media file and audio formats in use today. In addition, it offers Dolby E, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus encoding, decoding, and transcoding, all in an open architecture.

Automatic Loudness Correction and Metadata Configuration

Using the DP600, content producers and broadcasters can provide viewers with a consistent audio experience and reduce loudness complaints across all of their programs, channels, and/or networks. Expanding upon the unique Dialogue Intelligence technology developed for the Dolby LM100 Broadcast Loudness Meter, the DP600 normalizes the loudness of audio programs with no impact on their original dynamic range. The DP600 automates previously lengthy quality-control processes, and performs them in faster than real time. The DP600 automatically analyzes the loudness of audio bitstreams coded in Dolby E, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus, for any channel configuration and loudness level. It intelligently and automatically sets, validates, and corrects the dialnorm audio metadata parameter without the need for decoding and reencoding—ensuring a properly encoded bitstream. The DP600 also provides intelligent and automatic speech-based loudness normalization for both PCM audio and MPEG-1 LII audio.

File-Based Audio Encoding/Decoding and Cross-Conversion

The DP600-C version adds faster-than-real-time file-based encoding and decoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and the first file-based implementation of Dolby E. Additionally, this version enables multichannel audio transcoding of Dolby E to Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus formats. It also offers a unique high-quality, single-step Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus transcoder that preserves the metadata and minimizes tandem coding losses. This allows the audio from existing media archives to be converted to next-generation broadcast formats. Dolby Pro Logic II encoding provides two-channel matrix-encoded content derived from multichannel source files.

Upmixing Functionality

A software upgrade, available optionally, adds intelligent file-based upmixing functionality. The upmixer is based on a new proprietary algorithm developed by Dolby, and is not based on the Dolby Pro Logic II decoder. It allows users to output a 5.1-channel program from a two-channel source file, and the process can be integrated into a DP600 work-flow profile along with loudness correction, encoding, transcoding, or decoding.

Work-Flow Flexibility and Ease of Use

The Dolby DP600 platform suits several types of applications, including archiving, automated QC, content conversion, and media asset management, and it offers considerable potential for integration with third-party systems through an open Web services–based API. In recognition that not all users will require a high level of integration, the DP600 also features a hot folder ingest process that is simple to set up and use. In this mode, users can define specific work-order profiles, and all media files moved to the hot folder will be automatically processed based on the profile, and delivered to a user-defined folder upon completion.

Ready for the Future

The Dolby DP600 system has been designed with future functionality in mind, and upcoming Dolby innovations can be added when available.

In very rare cases involving extreme loudness corrections that require gain, soft limiting will occur only during program peak levels that would exceed clipping after applying this type of loudness correction.

Applications

The Dolby DP600 platform has many applications in terrestrial, satellite, cable, IPTV broadcasting, and postproduction. Download overview documents on how the DP600 Program Optimizer can be utilized in broadcast and ad insertion, cable, and postproduction applications.

Cable and IPTV Applications

• Automated VOD file analysis and loudness correction
• Automated VOD file transcoding:
  - MPEG-1 LII to Dolby Digital (AC-3)
  - Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3)
• Automated digital program insertion (DPI) file analysis and loudness correction
• Automated broadcast media file (GXF and others) audio transcoding:
  - Dolby E to Dolby Digital
  - Dolby E to Dolby Digital Plus
  - Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus
• Automated broadcast media file QC and loudness correction

Satellite Applications

• Automated broadcast media file (GXF and others) audio transcoding:
  - Dolby E to Dolby Digital
  - Dolby E to Dolby Digital Plus
  - Dolby Digital to Dolby Digital Plus
• Automated broadcast media file QC and loudness correction
• Pay-per-view (PPV) file analysis and loudness correction
• PPV file audio transcoding

Terrestrial Broadcast Applications

(Networks/Affiliates/Independent Stations)

• Automated broadcast media file QC and loudness correction
• Automated broadcast media file transcoding

Postproduction Applications

• Automated loudness analysis, setting and correction of dialnorm metadata of programming destined for broadcast
• Automated normalization of content without metadata—to meet your customers' delivery specifications
• Faster-than-real-time encoding, decoding, and transcoding of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby E, and MPEG-1 LII bitstreams into any of the supported audio format types

Main Status Display
Touch screen, 6.4-inch diagonal VGA (640 × 480 dpi)

System Status LEDs
Power, alarm, temperature, drive activity

USB 2.0 Port
Type A; for software upgrades and license updates

Removable Panel
For access to hard drives

Power Supplies
Dual-redundant power supplies

PS/2 Ports
Two, for keyboard and mouse

USB 2.0 Ports
Four Type A

15-Pin SVGA Port
For a local video monitor

Ethernet Ports
Two 10/100/1000Base-T with auto-detection

General Specifications

Media File Formats Supported
GXF (SMPTE 360M), MPEG-2 program stream, single-program MPEG-2 transport stream

Linear Audio Types Supported
WAV, Broadcast WAV, and multichannel WAV files with or without a Dolby audio metadata WAV chunk

16-, 20-, and 24-bit PCM (within any of the listed media file formats above)

Coded Audio Types Supported
Dolby E, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), MPEG-1 LII

Additional Processing Engines Supported
Dolby Pro Logic II encoding

Proprietary two-channel to 5.1-channel upmixing

Loudness Estimation/Correction Algorithm(s)
Dialogue Intelligence, patent pending

Proprietary loudness analysis and coded audio correction algorithm, patent pending

System Components
Two Dual-Core Xeon CPUs, 2 GB system memory

Operating System
Linux

File System Protocols
FTP, SAMBA/CIFS, and SFTP

Third-Party API
Provided as a Web service utilizing SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) over HTTP

Power Requirements
100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz, 300 W; incorporates dual-redundant power supplies

Dimensions and Weight
3-U rackmount: 638.5 x 483 x 133 mm

Net: 18 kg (39.7 lb)

Regulatory Notices
UL, FCC, CE, and RoHS compliant

Warranty
One-year limited, parts and labor; see disclaimer. Specifications subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer of Warranties
Equipment manufactured by Dolby Laboratories is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. There are no other express and implied warranties and no warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, or of noninfringement of third-party rights (including, but not limited to, copyright and patent rights).

Limitation of Liability
It is understood and agreed that Dolby Laboratories' liability, whether in contract, in tort, under any warranty, in negligence, or otherwise, shall not exceed the cost of repair or replacement of the defective components or accused infringing devices, and under no circumstances shall Dolby Laboratories be liable for incidental, special, direct, indirect, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, damage to software or recorded audio or visual material), cost of defense, or loss of use, revenue, or profit, even if Dolby Laboratories or its agents have been advised, orally or in writing, of the possibility of such damages.