Dolby Encoding for Network TV

I posted this on the Post page but thought maybe some of you might know. I need to find a great PRO AUDIO dealer that sells DOLBY ENCODING/DECODING hardware and knows his stuff. Doing 13 episodes for Network TV in HDTV/5.1 surround and need to get some education. I'm pretty certain I'll need the DP569 and DP562. I also assume those PLUG-INS (Smart Code and SurroundTools) are pretty much for gaming. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'd appreciate all of your advice. Thanks!

There's nothing wrong with SCP from Universal Audio. That's a proper Dolby certified 5.1 encoder. Surround Tools is for doing matrixed surround, as in you feed in stereo and get faux four channels back - a'la Pro Logic. The Dolby boxes are obviously superior because they give you real time in and out along with tweaks on the fly. The SCP plug is an Audiosuite plug where you have to render your file out. The boxes cost a mint and the plug certainly doesn't. It might just be all you need.

Do the network specs require a Dolby encoded LT RT ??? Or do they just require a 5.1 to a D5??? If an LT RT is not required then you have no need for encoders!! Unless of course they require Dolby E encoding of the 5.1 into a 2 track bitstream!!! Get the delivery specs from the network before you invest in any equipment.

Thanks for responding. Yes. The network specs require a Dolby encoded LT RT. Can I achieve this with SCP from Universal Audio? And if so, what is the process once I create the file. Since it's not real-time, how is this file recorded to the HDCAM VTR while synced? Forgive me. It's back to school time on this stuff.

Yeah, that's the tricky part and I need to get somebody from NBC on the phone. Their specs call suggest both. I have them at the studio, but if memory serves they want PCM/AES matrixed surround (LR RT) on pair 1. Which they also call .ac3. I did read the info from Dolby's site. Aren't these different? Plus then they say they'll accept DOLBY E on pair2. It seems that this is not required, so I'm less worried about it. Thanks for your patience. Tim

One more note: If the HD cam has 8 tracks, the layout is 5.1 on the first 6 tracks, and LT/RT on tracks 7&8. If the HD cam has 4 tracks, the layout is usually Full mix LT/RT on 1&2 and M&E LR/RT on 3&4. For the second option feeding a 5.1 into a DP563 to form an LT/RT is viable, and realtime, but you dont have much control on the mixdown.

Yes PCM and AC3 are 2 different animals. The DP569 will AC3 stream to 2 channels of the HD cam in real time.

Just a couple things to add- You cannot use software encoders to record and AC3 stream onto a VTR. secondly, the Dolby 569 does not encode exactly in real time- there is a Latency involved (which varies depending on settings). If your client is NBC, then I'm pretty certain that they want a LtRt PCM Full Mix on Ch 1-2. If it says AC3, then that is probably a mistake, or incorect spec that you got sent. Here's the breakdown of how these deliverables get made A)-5.1 Audio Mix on stage. gets output as a 5.1 Mix to some kind of recorded media (Da-88, 35mm Mag, Protools, MMR-8 etc.) B)-5.1 created in step A gets "folded" down using Dolby 563, SEU-4, or Dolby Surround Tools to create a Left Total (Lt), Right Total (Rt). This is then output to VTR, or other recordable media on 2 Channels(tracks) of Audio. C)-Using 5.1 created in step A, 5.1 audio is input to a Dolby 569 AC3 encoder unit, which is then set to the appropriate settings. this output is sent to either 2channels of a VTR, or recorded by a Dolby recorder to reate an .AC3 fle (Used for DVD only).There is a Latency when going to a VTR, so offsetting audio (Advance) will be necessary for playback to be in sync with picture. If recording a file for DVD, Timecode packets are included, so no offset is required. Audio is decoded by a Dolby 562 Decoder. D)-Using 5.1 Mix created in step A, audio is sent into a Dolby DP 571 colby E encoder, which then output a Dolby E stream onto 2 channels of a VTR. There is a 2frame latency with Dolby E, so Audio must be advanced 2 fr. Audio is then decoded using a Dolby DP572 Dolby E Decoder. so you can see, that there are a bunch of deliveries that are Parrallel to each other... I would make sure you get the specs locked down before you begin..... good Luck, Hope this helps- Todd A.