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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Corey,</div>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">I should not get started on this, but
I'll keep it brief. People don't care or sometimes prefer using
UNDECODED tracks that were Dolby A encoded in their re-releases.</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">While John Dyson, with some support
from me, has worked tirelessly on the software decoder for tapes
recorded with Dolby A, the feedback is it's not quite there yet. <br>
</div>
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</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Dolby made software decoders for Dolby
A and SR for one of their Cinema products, but have said to me "we
will never issue a software decoder plugin" and "it's impossible."</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">For many reasons I can understand those
statements, and I see why "good enough for Cinema projection"
isn't "good enough for master tapes."</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Also, I know people who prefer the 361
decoder over the 363 and vice-versa (I prefer the 363).</div>
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</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">It would even be difficult to
remanufacture hardware Dolby A decoders today because a few
specific components that affect the micro-timing of the
attack/release are no longer manufactured, and Dr. Dolby used some
of these components, it appears, precisely for their transfer
function at specific levels. This is very difficult to emulate in
software (generic diode and Zener diode models don't work) and may
be why it's well nigh impossible to do one.</div>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Cheers,</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Richard</div>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2021-04-23 5:32 p.m., Corey Bailey
Audio Engineering via ProAudio wrote:<br>
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<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:968d5929-7d99-abcd-a5f5-0fc171fa0fef@baileyzone.net">
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<p><font face="Arial">In 1987, I attended the unveiling of Dolby
Digital for 35mm film. The demonstration was very impressive
although one could tell when the sound was switched, back
& forth, between DD and the analog sound track which was
Dolby SR encoded. Afterwards, I pointed out (</font><font
face="Arial"><font face="Arial">at the time) to David Gray
& Tom Scott, </font>that there were less than a dozen
theaters equipped to play an SR encoded track....world wide.
This meant that the vast majority of theaters that installed
DD, would be playing an SR encoded soundtrack through a system
designed to play Dolby A.........UGH! <br>
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">David pointed out that Dolby had done
several focus groups &, much to his surprise, the
listeners couldn't tell the difference or, didn't care.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">My $0.02</font></p>
<br>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Richard L. Hess email: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:richard@richardhess.com">richard@richardhess.com</a>
Aurora, Ontario, Canada <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.richardhess.com/">http://www.richardhess.com/</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm">http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm</a>
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.</pre>
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