Intel High Definition Audio Exposed

In another announcement, Dolby Laboratories and Intel jointly launched the Dolby PC Entertainment Experience Initiative that includes a new Integrated Audio Codec Licensing Program and a PC Logo Program featuring world-class Dolby Surround Sound technology. Basically, the former program is designed to help codec companies (like Analog Devices or C-Media) develop solutions to work with the Intel High Definition Audio (codenamed Azalia) technology that comes integrated into future chipsets like Grantsdale and Alderwood.

Look out for the Dolby Master Studio logo to ensure that your PC is equipped with Dolby Pro Logic IIx.

For users, the PC Logo program will make it easy for anyone to choose an entertainment PC with the kind of Dolby technologies they need. There are three offerings :-

Dolby Sound Room – It includes Dolby Digital, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker and Dolby Pro Logic II technologies that enable users to enjoy surround audio without a complete 5.1 speaker system.

Dolby Home Theater – This is for those who wants to enjoy true 5.1 surround experience in addition to having the flexibility to create DVDs with Dolby Digital technology. It includes Dolby Digital, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Pro Logic II and Dolby Digital Stereo Creator technologies.

Dolby Master Studio – Includes the ultimate set of capabilities which gives you up to 7.1 channels of surround sound from normal stereo, 5.1 or true 7.1 channel audio sources. This logo includes Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Pro Logic IIx and Dolby Digital encoding technologies.

Together with Dolby Laboratories, Burns demonstrated the capabilities of Dolby Pro Logic IIx generating an impressive 7.1 channel surround experience using just a simple stereo audio source. This technology would give users the experience regardless of whether they have true 7.1 channel audio programs - making this a perfect companion for games and movie lovers.

Louis Burns, the VP and GM of Intel's Desktop Platforms Group.

The Dolby Pro Logic IIx technology also includes a separate Music mode to help reproduce a surround audio from conventional stereo sources. There are three controls for fine-tuning the soundfield to get the best natural effect :-

Dolby Center Width – this lets you spread the center channel sound gradually into the front left and right speakers so that a more spacious sound or a better blend of the front image could be reproduced.

Dolby Panorama – wraps sound from the front channels around you for an exciting perspective.

Dolby Dimension – lets you fine-tune the front/back balance to your preference.

Besides that, gamers can look forward to a dedicated Game mode which is exclusive only to Dolby Pro Logic IIx. With this mode, gamers can route low-frequency surround effects signals to the subwoofer for maximum gaming impact. It would be exciting to see how this technology could change the gaming experience, especially how it competes against Creative Technology’s Audigy series.