10.2
Encyclopedia
10.2 is the surround sound
format developed by THX
creator Tomlinson Holman
of TMH Labs and University of Southern California
(schools of Cinematic Arts and Engineering). Developed along with Chris Kyriakakis of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering
, 10.2 refers to the format's slogan: "Twice as good as 5.1". However, there actually may be 14 discrete channels if the left and right point surround channels are included. 10.2 is considered by Holman to be "the next feasible step" in surround sound, but certainly not the end. He states that 5.1, a name which he himself came up with in 1987, was chosen as it was "the MINIMUM number of channels necessary to give a sense of spaciousness". Holman and others state that higher sampling rate
s, which is a recent trend in digital recording, does not have a significant perceivable effect and that the next frontier in sound engineering is to increase the number of discrete channels to meet human spatial sound perception.
systems simulate this with matrixed height channels, which are derived from ambient sounds from the left and right channels.
The ".2" in 10.2 refers to the fact that an additional Low Frequency Effects channel is added, not just a second subwoofer, to enhance the sense of envelopment. All bass from the left channels are directed to a left LFE channel while right channel bass is directed to the right LFE channel.
10.2 may also augment the LS (left surround) and RS (right surround) channels by two point surround channels that can more finely manipulate sound—allowing the mixer to shift sounds in a distinct 360° circle around the movie watcher. This would actually make it 12.2
The 14 discrete channels are:
The .2 of the 10.2 refers to the addition of a second subwoofer. The system is bass managed such that all the speakers on the left side use the left sub and all the speakers on the right use the right sub. The Center and Back Surround speaker are split among the two subs. The two subs also serve as two discrete LFE (Low Frequency Effects) channels.
and at Bjorn's Audio Video in San Antonio, Texas
.
New York University claims to have two 10.2 surround sound systems setup in their new state-of-the-art 6.5 million dollar music technology complex at Steinhardt School. One in a recording studio
and one in a screening room. Products are already being sold to accommodate 10.2 surround systems such as in-wall speaker jacks.
Currently, there is only a standard for 5.1 surround setups. 6.1 and 7.1 have no real standard, and add channels to the rear instead of the front, which can only be conceived as a marketing tool as sonically the front is where more channels are needed. Audyssey has stated that one fear of marketing 10.2 systems will be that ironically quality might be decreased instead of increased. This is because marketers will push to keep prices relatively the same and to do that with four additional speakers and two subwoofers will almost certainly cost quality.
There are some receivers that claim to be "10.2 channels" such as the Pioneer Elite SC-09TX but really they just have multiple 6, 7, or 8 channel decoders.
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
format developed by THX
THX
THX is a trade name of a high-fidelity audio/visual reproduction standard for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems. The current THX was created in 2001 when it spun off from Lucasfilm Ltd...
creator Tomlinson Holman
Tomlinson Holman
Tomlinson M. Holman is an American film theorist, audio engineer, and inventor of film technologies, notably the Lucasfilm THX sound system. He developed the world's first 10.2 sound system. Earlier, Holman developed what was known as the Holman Preamplifier, for the Apt Corporation. He holds a...
of TMH Labs and University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(schools of Cinematic Arts and Engineering). Developed along with Chris Kyriakakis of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Viterbi School of Engineering
The Viterbi School of Engineering is located at the University of Southern California in the United States. It was renamed following a $52 million donation by Andrew Viterbi...
, 10.2 refers to the format's slogan: "Twice as good as 5.1". However, there actually may be 14 discrete channels if the left and right point surround channels are included. 10.2 is considered by Holman to be "the next feasible step" in surround sound, but certainly not the end. He states that 5.1, a name which he himself came up with in 1987, was chosen as it was "the MINIMUM number of channels necessary to give a sense of spaciousness". Holman and others state that higher sampling rate
Sampling rate
The sampling rate, sample rate, or sampling frequency defines the number of samples per unit of time taken from a continuous signal to make a discrete signal. For time-domain signals, the unit for sampling rate is hertz , sometimes noted as Sa/s...
s, which is a recent trend in digital recording, does not have a significant perceivable effect and that the next frontier in sound engineering is to increase the number of discrete channels to meet human spatial sound perception.
Channel Configurations
10.2 surround sound would add four more channels to the front listening area and only one surround channel. This is because human spatial perception of sound is much more precise in the front than in the back. In addition it adds depth to the sound field with two of the front channels being height channels, located above the listening area at 45 degrees relative to the listener. Lack of vertical information has long been considered one of the largest obstacles to truly realistic sound reproduction. Existing systems such as Dolby Pro Logic IIz and DSPDSP
- Computing :* Digital signal processing, the study and implementation of signals in digital computing and their processing methods* Digital signal processor, a specialized microprocessor designed specifically for digital signal processing...
systems simulate this with matrixed height channels, which are derived from ambient sounds from the left and right channels.
The ".2" in 10.2 refers to the fact that an additional Low Frequency Effects channel is added, not just a second subwoofer, to enhance the sense of envelopment. All bass from the left channels are directed to a left LFE channel while right channel bass is directed to the right LFE channel.
10.2
The 12 channels of 10.2:- Seven front channels: Left Wide, Left Height, Left, CenterCenter channelCenter channel refers to an audio channel common to many surround sound formats. It is the channel that is mostly, or fully, dedicated to the reproduction of the dialogue of an audiovisual program...
, Right, Right Height, Right Wide - Three surround channels: Left Surround, Back Surround, Right Surround
- Two LFE channels: LFE Left and LFE Right
10.2 may also augment the LS (left surround) and RS (right surround) channels by two point surround channels that can more finely manipulate sound—allowing the mixer to shift sounds in a distinct 360° circle around the movie watcher. This would actually make it 12.2
12.2
The only addition with 12.2 from 10.2 are the "point surround" or "diffuse surround" channels. These would be placed at the same angles as the standard surround speakers at +/-120 degrees, but would be diffuse radiators using dipole speakers. They would emit sound to reflect off the walls before arriving at the listening area.The 14 discrete channels are:
- Five front speakers: Left Wide, Left, Center, Right and Right Wide
- Five surround channels: Left Surround Diffuse, Left Surround Direct, Back Surround, Right Surround Diffuse and Right Surround Direct
- Two LFE channels: LFE Left, LFE Right
- Two Height channels: Left Height, Right Height
The .2 of the 10.2 refers to the addition of a second subwoofer. The system is bass managed such that all the speakers on the left side use the left sub and all the speakers on the right use the right sub. The Center and Back Surround speaker are split among the two subs. The two subs also serve as two discrete LFE (Low Frequency Effects) channels.
Installations
A 10.2 surround sound system was demonstrated at Audyssey in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and at Bjorn's Audio Video in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
New York University claims to have two 10.2 surround sound systems setup in their new state-of-the-art 6.5 million dollar music technology complex at Steinhardt School. One in a recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
and one in a screening room. Products are already being sold to accommodate 10.2 surround systems such as in-wall speaker jacks.
Currently, there is only a standard for 5.1 surround setups. 6.1 and 7.1 have no real standard, and add channels to the rear instead of the front, which can only be conceived as a marketing tool as sonically the front is where more channels are needed. Audyssey has stated that one fear of marketing 10.2 systems will be that ironically quality might be decreased instead of increased. This is because marketers will push to keep prices relatively the same and to do that with four additional speakers and two subwoofers will almost certainly cost quality.
Media
There is currently only one film available which uses this format, a 30-minute short called Seven Swans. The other 10.2 mixes were created live by Holman and others at the demonstrations.There are some receivers that claim to be "10.2 channels" such as the Pioneer Elite SC-09TX but really they just have multiple 6, 7, or 8 channel decoders.
External links
- TMH Labs
- Audio Video Revolution article
- Bjorn's, San Antonio, Texas 10.2 installation
- Audioholics Magazine 10.2 overview