The Rx Instrument with an Analyzer Module installed and PHRXM-DOLBY Dolby Analyzer Option can monitor the selected input audio and provide details of its Dolby E , Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus audio encoding.

Once the PHRXMDOLBY software option has been unlocked on the analyzer module the Dolby Meta-data window is accessed by clicking on an Analyzer slot on the monitor output task bar and selecting "Dolby MetaData". This will create a new window panel for the selected input. The Dolby Metadata window allows display of the Dolby metadata present in the selected audio stream.

This window also allows the correct timing of the Dolby E packets within the SDI signal to be checked at all stages in a broadcast chain. Checks can be made to see that the Dolby E has been created correctly and transferred transparently through the broadcast chain unaffected by routers/switchers, satellite links, etc.

Overview

Dolby E, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus digital audio standards can be transported as audio data over an SMPTE 337M AES carrier with a 48kHz sample rate.

These standards can be used to transport mono, stereo, 5.1 and 7.1 audio programmes:

Dolby 5.1 - involves five channels for normal-range speakers (20 Hz - 20,000 Hz) (right front, centre, left front, rear right, rear left) and one channel (20 Hz - 120 Hz allotted audio) for the subwoofer driven low-frequency effects.

Dolby E

Dolby E is a production audio encoding and decoding technology developed by Dolby Laboratories that allows up to 8 channels of audio (mono, stereo, 5.1 or 7.1) that for a primary programme (Programme 1) and optional ancillary programs. These 8 channels are compressed (low loss) into a digital stream that can be transferred between compatible devices and stored on a standard stereo pair of audio tracks.

This format is video frame based and allows switching a further processing/compression.

Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital (AC-3) is a 'perceptual audio' system for digital audio that allows the reduction of data needs to deliver high-quality sound. This system was developed primarily for DTV, DVD and HDTV. This format allow up to six channels of sound (mono, stereo or 5.1) in the form of a single 'program' that can be delivered at different bit rates. These 6 channels are compressed (lossy) into a digital stream that can be broadcast. The most elaborate mode in common use is Dolby 5.1 with uses all six channels to provide surround sound.

Dolby Digital Plus

Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) is a more advanced version of Dolby Digital that provides a more efficient encoding algorithm that provide enough bandwidth that allows up to 20 channels of audio (mono, stereo, 5.1, 7.1 up to 13.1) that for a primary programme (Programme 1) and optional ancillary programs that can be delivered at much lower bit rates than Dolby Digital. These 20 channels are compressed (lossy) into an independent digital data stream plus up to 8 dependent sub stream that can be transferred between compatible devices and stored on a standard stereo pair of audio tracks.