Dolby Stereo Inducted Into the TEC Hall of Fame

Dolby Stereo technology uses phase matrixing to store fourchannels of audio -- left, right, center, and surround -- on atwo-channel format. The company designed the technology to becompatible with installed cinema systems. Therefore, both an olderdrive-in theatre with a mono sound system and no Dolby playbackcapability and a theatre with Dolby cinema decoders and a four-channelplayback system could play a 35 mm film recorded in Dolby Stereo. Inaddition, Dolby Stereo added no appreciable cost to manufacturingstereo prints. After successfully improving the cinema experience,Dolby Stereo was introduced into homes as Dolby Surround in VHS tapes,DVDs, and television programs.

The first film released with a Dolby Stereo soundtrack was A Staris Born in 1976. By 1977, the success of blockbusters such as StarWars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind helped push exhibitorsinto upgrading to the new format.

"Dolby Stereo was a phenomenal improvement for cinema sound andremains highly effective today," Ioan Allen said. "Tens of thousandsof cinemas worldwide are equipped with Dolby Stereo processors. Formany years, every major title released has used Dolby Stereo. Eventoday, movie prints with digital soundtracks also have Dolby Stereosoundtracks. In addition to providing a backup format, the inclusionof the analog soundtrack ensures compatibility with all cinemas, as alarge number of theaters around the world still rely solely on analogplayback of film sound."

About the TECnology Hall of Fame

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, presenters of theTechnical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) awards, established TheTECnology Hall of Fame in 2004. The Hall of Fame recognizes productsand innovations that have made a significant, lasting contribution tothe advancement of audio technology. A panel of more than 50 audioexperts, including authors, educators, engineers, facility owners, andother professionals, chooses inductees. Products or innovations mustbe at least 10 years old to be eligible for induction.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) develops and delivers products andtechnologies that make the entertainment experience more realistic andimmersive. For four decades Dolby has been at the forefront ofdefining high-quality audio and surround sound in cinema, broadcast,home audio systems, cars, DVDs, headphones, games, televisions, andpersonal computers. Based in San Francisco with European headquartersin England, the company has entertainment industry liaison offices inNew York and Los Angeles, and licensing liaison offices in London,Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. For more information aboutDolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of DolbyLaboratories. S05/16714 DLB-G