Surround sound is a technology that creates an immersive audio experience by using multiple speakers placed around a room to envelop the listener with sound from all directions. It enhances the sense of realism and immersion in movies (what it was initially created for), music, and games.
One of the earliest examples of surround sound in film is the “Fantasound” system developed by Disney for their 1940 animated feature film, “Fantasia.” Fantasound used multiple audio channels to create a more immersive listening experience, although it was only shown at a few cinemas in major cities in the UK, as most of them weren’t equipped to handle this advanced modern technology.
Dolby Laboratories played a significant role in the development of surround sound technology. Dolby Stereo, introduced in 1976, was one of the earliest systems that provided multi-channel audio for movies. It used four channels: left, centre, right, and a mono surround channel, making the system quadraphonic. One of the iconic films utilising this system was “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. In 1982, Dolby introduced Dolby Surround, which expanded upon Dolby Stereo by adding a rear channel for a more immersive experience. This technology became the foundation for modern surround sound systems. “Star Wars came back to the cinemas in 1983 introducing surround sound to the audiences. The success of the film series helped popularise Dolby, leading to its widespread adoption in cinemas around the world.
Surround sound was first implemented into music in the late 1960s and early 1970s, primarily through experimental recordings and specialised playback systems. With the release of albums mixed in quadraphonic sound and the introduction of home surround sound systems, popular albums like Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” embraced this new mixing technology.
Surround sound is now widely used in various forms of entertainment, including movies, gaming, and home audio systems, offering increasingly immersive experiences with advancements like Dolby Atmos.
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Greenwald, Will. “What Is Surround Sound? 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos, and More Explained.” PCMag UK, 3 Mar. 2022, uk.pcmag.com/speakers/139029/what-is-surround-sound-51-71-dolby-atmos-and-more-explained. Accessed 3 May 2024.
“How Dolby Atmos in Cinemas Works the History of Dolby Surround Sound | How Dolby Atmos in Cinemas Works the History of Dolby Surround Sound | by Tom S. Ray Audio MasteringFacebook.” Www.facebook.com, www.facebook.com/watch/?v=811768992319235. Accessed 3 May 2024.
published, Jonathan Evans. “We Look Back at Home Cinema History and the Birth of Dolby Surround Sound.” Whathifi, 23 June 2023, www.whathifi.com/features/we-look-back-at-home-cinema-history-and-the-birth-of-dolby-surround-sound. Accessed 3 May 2024.