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Workstation Tools for Dolby E, Broadcast Wave Files, and Dolby Metadata
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| Introducing SoundCode For Dolby E |
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SoundCode For Dolby E is a set of software tools to manage audio and Dolby metadata using Dolby E encoding and decoding and multichannel broadcast wave (MBWF) files with embedded Dolby metadata. Now Dolby E streams can be encoded at your workstation faster-than-realtime to a stereo WAV file. Now a Dolby E layback can be confidence monitored directly in Pro Tools. Now a Dolby E encode can be delivered to a video facility as a file. Now Dolby metadata can be embedded in a WAV file, where it belongs. Now file-based workflows can be implemented that carry Dolby metadata with the audio. Now Pro Tools can import and export SMPTE ordered files larger than 4 GB. Now multiple programs can be combined into a single audio file. Now audio can go to and from the Dolby DP600 for faster-than-realtime Dolby E encoding, Dolby Digital encoding, Pro Logic 2 encoding, and loudness correction.
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| The SoundCode For Broadcast System |
| SoundCode For Dolby E operates as part of the SoundCode For Broadcast system. Once SoundCode For Dolby E is installed, SoundCode For Broadcast displays the Dolby E logo and features menu selections and controls that allow direct Dolby E encoding and decoding in your workstation. |
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| Broadcast Encoder Tool |
| The heart of SoundCode For Broadcast is the Broadcast Encoder tool. It operates as a Pro Tools plug-in or as a standalone application, depending upon your application or preferred workflow. Use it to combine audio and Dolby metadata into a Dolby E stream or MBWF file. For example, you can encode a 5.1 and stereo mix as a Dolby E stream stereo WAV file which can then be recorded to a video tape. Another example is to prepare a 5.1 and stereo mix to send to the Dolby DP600 for processing such as loudness correction. As a standalone application, you can batch process using XML text files that describe multiple encode operations. |
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Broadcast Monitor Tool
Confidence Monitoring, Decoding, Dolby Metadata Display |
| The SoundCode Broadcast Monitor Tool lets you confidence monitor Dolby E streams, play back Dolby E and MBWF files, and display Dolby E metadata of files and Dolby E streams. Dolby E or MBWF audio can be imported into Pro Tools in two ways. First, the Audiosuite version lets you import the audio directly to the timeline and will use the time code information to spot it sample-accurate. Or, the RTAS plug-in can be used to used to decode a Dolby E stream or play back a MBWF file into the Pro Tools mixer in realtime for easy quality control testing. Direct File Decode lets you simply point to the file, press play, and listen to it straight from disk. Both the standalone application and the Pro Tools plug-in allow you to examine Dolby E metadata in Dolby E streams or MBWF files. |
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| Larger then 2 GB Files / SMPTE Ordered |
| Pro Tools handles files no larger than 2 GB and interleaves audio in film order. The SoundCode For Broadcast plug-in eliminates those limitations by reading and writing files larger than 2 GB using the RIFF64 chunk standard and interleaves audio using the SMPTE standard. Now you can import and export audio in Pro Tools to be compatible with almost any audio system. |
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| Dolby DP600 Compatible |
| SoundCode For Broadcast is designed so facilities can easily use the powerful Dolby DP600 for faster-than-realtime, file-based processing with audio and video workstations. The Dolby DP600 features Dolby E encoding / decoding, Dolby Digital encoding / decoding, loudness analysis and correction, and more. The DP600 connects to your computer network and operates using audio files. SoundCode acts as a bridge between the workstation and the Dolby DP600 by writing and reading MBWF files that contain Dolby metadata. Just use the Broadcast Encoder tool to create a file and send it off to the DP600 for processing |
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| Pro Tools Integration |
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SoundCode For Broadcast is designed to smoothly integrate with Pro Tools HD and LE. The Broadcast Encoder Audiosuite plug-in automatically extracts timecode information from the timeline selection and the session setup. The Broadcast Monitor Audiosuite plug-in will import and spot audio into the timeline with sample accuracy. The Broadcast Monitor RTAS plug-in follows Pro Tools MIDI time code to play back a WAV file in realtime, sample accurate. Just point it to a file, press play, and you hear the Dolby E stream or MBWF file. And the Broadcast Monitor RTAS plug-in works well with Pro Tools LE by levarging auxiliary output stems and outputting up to eight channels for complete surround monitoring and layback.
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Powerful Standalone Application
XML Settings, Batch Processing |
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SoundCode For Broadcast includes a standalone application that lets you select audio files and edit metadata to encode to a Dolby E stream or export to a MBWF file with Dolby metadata. It also allows you to edit the Dolby metadata in an existing BWF file. The standalone application allows audio and video workstations such as Avid, Final Cut, and Nuendo to add Dolby metadata to audio files and integrate with file-based workflows and use the Dolby DP600.
SoundCode For Broadcast supports XML files that specify all apsects of an encoding or exporting process. You can use a single XML file or multiple XML files to specify sets of processing operations that can be processed sequentially.
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| Simple iLok Licensing |
| SoundCode For Broadcast software uses iLok USB key licensing for simplicity and flexibility. A single iLok key can be used to authorize the standalone application and Pro Tools plug-in on any computer system with SoundCode installed. If you need to use SoundCode on one system one day and another system the next, just move the iLok USB key. |
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| Specifications And Cost |
- Pro Tools RTAS Broadcast Monitor plug-ins - Stereo, 5.1 (HD or Complete Production Toolkit required)
- Pro Tools AudioSuite plug-ins - Broadcast Encoder, Broadcast Monitor
- Standalone Application - Broadcast Encoder, Broadcast Monitor
- Sample Rates - 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz (Dolby E operates at 48 kHz only)
- Pro Tools 7.0 or later required
- Mac OS X ( Windows XP / Vista Coming Soon )
- $4495 MSRP
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| About Dolby E |
| Dolby E was developed by Dolby Laboratories to carry eight channels of audio and metadata on digital videotapes or AES cables using two channels of PCM audio. If you listen to a Dolby E stream, you will hear loud bursts of noise that can damage your hearing or speakers if listened to at loud volume. A Dolby E decoder must be used to process the Dolby E stream and output the original encoded audio and metadata. Dolby E is often used to deliver audio and metadata on a digital videotape for television broadcasting. The audio being delivered (a 5.1 surround mix and a stereo mix, for example) is first Dolby E encoded to a Dolby E stream and recorded to two audio channels of the tape. The tape is played back by a broadcaster and fed to a Dolby E decoder. The Dolby E decoder will output the 5.1 surround mix, the stereo mix, and the metadata. Often, the decoded audio and metadata is connected to a Dolby Digital encoder used in ATSC and digital cable television brodcasting. Dolby E is also being used to deliver audio in file-based workflows. |
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| Dolby Metadata |
| Digital television broadcasting uses Dolby Digital to deliver high-quality sound to consumers. But for it to work right, the broadcaster's encoding hardware needs to know information about the audio such as loudness and how it should be downmixed. That information is called Dolby metadata. SoundCode For Broadcast allows audio professionals to embed Dolby metadata in the audio using Dolby E or MBWF files. Now programs can be delivered as a file of audio and metadata for use by broadcasters, Dolby E encoding facilities, video layback facilities, distribution networks, or anyone downstream in the broadcast chain. |
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| MBWF Files |
| An MBWF file is a type of WAV file that has up to eight channels of audio and Dolby metadata in it. Dolby metadata contains important information for broadcasting such as how loud the audio is, how it should be down mixed to stereo, and what the audio channel layout is. Because a single MBWF file holds the audio and metadata, it is a very convenient format for delivering and receiving audio between workstations and facilities. For example, a mixing engineer can make a 5.1 mix and stereo LtRt mix for a television program. Then, the engineer can package the two mixes and the Dolby metadata into a single file and send it to a facility for Dolby E encoding. MBWF files contain a Dolby metadata “chunk” that specifies the metadata. The metadata chunk applies to the entire file. MBWF files are not capable of having metadata that changes over time. Other applications are delivery to a DVD authoring facility, delivery to a broadcast playback server, or processing by a Dolby DP600, |
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