[opendtv] Re: New Philips HDD/DVD recorder

Mark Schubin wrote:

> A 5.1-channel audio package might take 384 kbps (I prefer 448).
> Mono audio might be 64 kbps.
>
> So, a 5.1-channel VI package (audio for the visually impaired) takes
> 384 kbps, and a 5.1-channel undescribed CM (complete mix)
> package takes 384 kbps. Together, they take 768 kbps out of the
> channel. On the other hand, a mono description (VI) added to a
> 5.1-channel complete mix (CM) is just 448 kbps, a savings of 320
> kbps.

I would think your second choice is how descriptive service would be 
transmitted. No sense duplicating all of the dialogue and background music, no? 
(And this applies to each subchannel.)

> Now consider other viewers. A 5.1-channel music & effects package
> (ME) might take 384 kbps, which, combined with a 64 kbps
> English-language dialogue (D) channel comes to 448 kbps, worse
> than just the CM. But add Spanish 5.1, and the two CMs would
> take 768 kbps; 2D+ME is just 512 kbps.

The only problem is that now all dialogue is mono. And, I gather, this isn't 
backward compatible with current receivers.

> But broadcasters cannot do it, even though it's perfectly okay in
> the standard, because (unless things have changed recently) not a
> single dual-stream audio decoder has been sold.

In short, multilingual service in full 5.1 for each language is the real issue 
here. Because broadcasters can't transmit this efficiently, given that separate 
dialogue-only channels would be incompatible with existing receivers.

Here's a thought.

For multilingual 5.1 to be compatible with existing single-audio-decoder 
receivers, one could sell stand-alone audio receivers that take in the standard 
English 5.1, store it briefly, mix in a replica of the English dialogue 
precisely 180 degrees out of phase, then add in the separate foreign language D 
channel(s) as required. This subtracts the English dialogue without affecting 
the music and effects. And costs 64 Kb/s for each foreign language.

Or just offer a mono sound track for all foreign languages, as I believe is 
done with analog SAP.

Bert

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