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There is a french version of this document.
Here is a document on the different mono and multichannel broadcasting formats. Since there are a large number of them, many of which have been abandoned, we will focus on the main ones.
Happy reading!
Multichannel sound allows for two quite distinct things:
It is important to know that these formats are mostly intended for the world of cinema. Indeed, this implies the idea that a screen requires the listener to be fixed, facing it.
You will quickly see that I will express their names with a "dot" number. The first number indicates how many speaker channels (or satellites) there are, and the second indicates how many subwoofer channels (or "LFE", for Low-Frequency Effects) there are. For example, in "7.1", it is a system with 7 speakers around the listener + 1 subwoofer.
This does not prevent an installer from:
We distinguish different types of sound broadcasting:
Used in the field of music until the advent of stereophonic recording (in 1958), monophony is still widely used in telephony and children's toys.
The principle is to broadcast a single channel on one or more speakers.
Popularized with the first commercial release of the first stereophonic record in 1955.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast two channels:
With the introduction of the ".1", the subwoofer makes its entrance.
Be careful not to confuse it with a stereo system that would broadcast a mix of both speakers (left and right) to a subwoofer. Here, it is a true additional channel, intended only for the subwoofer. The audio file thus has a third channel.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast three channels:
Mainly used in music from the 1970s, it is the first truly multichannel format. It offers channels 1 and 2 at the front and channels 3 and 4 for two speakers placed behind the listener.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast four channels:
This format offers 3 front channels, a left, a right, and a center, one channel behind the listener + 1 subwoofer.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast five channels:
This format offers 3 front channels, a left, a right, and a center, two channels behind the listener + 1 subwoofer.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast six channels:
Like a 5.1, but with the addition of a surround speaker behind the listener. This format, rarely used, was developed in 1999 for Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
This format offers two front channels, a left, a right, and a center, two side channels, two channels behind the listener, a left and a right + 1 subwoofer.
In 2010, Toy Story 3 was the first film released in 7.1.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast eight channels:
It should be noted that this format then has 10 channels: 7+1 + 2 additional channels: the ninth is intended to be connected to a headset, with simplified audio, in mono and providing enhanced sound for hearing-impaired people, the tenth channel is intended for audio description in mono mainly for blind or visually impaired people. Personally, I often use audio description to "watch" a movie while working on something else.
This is when we start talking about immersive sound: meaning it provides height information with 4 speakers placed at height.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast twelve channels. Which I do not have the motivation to detail :D
Immersive sound is reinforced in height and a new level of speakers is placed on the ground. A second channel for the subwoofer is added.
The principle is to simultaneously broadcast 24 channels. Which I do not have the motivation to detail :D
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