On Tue, Oct 16, 2001 at 04:46:33PM +0300, Juhana Sadeharju wrote: > >From: Steve Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >DTS OTOH is patented, but I've a feeling the the line format is just the > >2 stereo channels plus Sr, Sl and LFE, uncompressed on the data channels, > >so its hard to imagine that thats covered by the patents.
> What is left is that people could make surround sound for their > own fun or use it in student works, for example. But if a step > to commercial business (DVD, exhibitions etc.) is made, they > have to pay lisence. Of course, DTS company would set the final > rules. Would this be worth of asking? I don't see why not. Dolby have been asked in the past, but DTS is produced by another company. I don't know what thier opinion is. I'm not quite clear on IP laws, but I think that in the US if they aren't willing to give you the format there is no legal way of implementing it. > Is the MPEG 5.1 surround patent free? We could use it if no other > system is available in commercial amplifiers besides those three. I expect it is based on MPEG1-L3 so its a bit open to interpretation, but as with AC3 you're going to need a serious processor to encode that in realtime. Also, I think MPEG 5.1 amps are only easily available in Europe, and becoming less common. > In extreme, people would have to design a new free surround format > and offer the decoder to amplifier manufacturers. What about ambisonics? I think the decoder hardware is expensive but aren't there some LADSPA plugins that can encode it? It's technologically superior to the 5.1 and 6.1 formats anyway IMHO. Though I asuming that the point is to produce something that can be played back on generic domestic equipment. - Steve
