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Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. specializes in audio noise reduction and audio encoding/ compression. The company was founded in Britain and is based in USA. It is often shortened to Dolby Labs.

Founding

Dolby Laboratories was founded by Ray Dolby in 1965. Founded in Britain, the company was moved to the United States (San Francisco, California) in 1976.

Ever since it came into existence, the company has been revolutionizing the audio industry with the introduction of innumerable technologies for a stunning audio experience. Type A Dolby Noise Reduction, a compander, was the first product that was marketed to record companies. Dolby B, a consumer version of the noise reduction compander, was later introduced in 1968.

Technologies

Dolby Laboratories specialize in various technologies that include several systems supporting different parameters. The major technologies developed by the company include:

  1. Analog audio noise reduction – The technology includes systems like Dolby A/B/C/S-Type NR, Dolby SR (Spectral Recording), Dolby FM and Dolby HX Pro.
  2. Audio encoding/compression – The formats include Dolby Digital, Dolby E, Dolby Stereo, Dolby TrueHD, AAC, aacPlus and Dolby Pulse.
  3. Audio processing – This includes Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Pro Logic series, Audistry, Dolby Volume and Dolby Mobile.
  4. Video processing – This includes Dolby Contrast and Dolby Vision.
  5. Digital Cinema – Dolby Digital Cinema and Dolby 3D are the components of this technology.
  6. Live Sound – Dolby Lake Processor is included in this type.

Pioneers

A Clockwork Orange (1971) was the first film to use Dolby noise reduction on all pre-mixes and masters. Dolby-encoded optical soundtrack was first used in Callan (1974). Lisztomania (1975) was the first film with a Dolby-encoded stereo optical soundtrack. A Star Is Born (1976) saw the encoding of first true LCRS soundtrack. Batman Returns (1992) featured the Dolby Stereo Digital for the first time.

Accomplishments

Dolby Laboratories have revolutionized the industry with around 6,000 cinemas worldwide equipped to use Dolby Stereo sound in less than ten years. The domestic equivalents to the theatrical Dolby Stereo have taken the entertainment industry to an all-time high. They celebrated forty years of enhancing entertainment on March 15, 2005.