Need to change the way sound surrounds us?
I feel that the current trend of research towards developing encode/ decode equipments with more channels is wrong. Neither is it a step close towards REALISM nor are we achieving it through less signal processing. (The best solution should always be simple)
From the consumer angle, with the increase in complexity, hardware, cost and floor space are all increasing.
If we take a look at the ladder from Mono to 5.1or may be 7.1, we have never tried to correct the degradation that tool place when making a transition from Stereo to 3-Ch sound. We lost all the magic (Realism, warmth and for that matter life) of Stereo by introduction of centre ch to correct problem of keeping the dialogues anchored in the centre.
Then it was simply addition of channels in an attempt for better results.
The missed trick according to me was: Getting centre from Lt and Rt from a stereo signal and having a rear ch. for effects, realism, missing dimension...etc.
So the system consisting of only Centre and Surround should do all the necessary things we are running after...realism, width, depth height. All this through 2 channels (i.e. Stereo processed to get centre, surround). In phase signals come from the Centre, Out of phase signals come from the Surround and the random ones envelope us from both the front and rear. (Rear speakers can be more in number to create an envelope). And that's it! There isn't any other signal left to play with. The rechordists will love playing with phase (only) to get the desired effects for realism. We will all agree that this configuration will give best and realistic separation (front to back) without having to do much processing.(and lose the original signal)
I would like to go a step further (against the trend) and say that if this is achieved in analog domain, We are keeping even the purists happy.
This is a very controversial topic just like the surround channel. But thank goodness, my suggested configuration does have surround channel.
I would love interaction with forum members from the world over on this topic.
Thanks for your time.
bimbla.
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