First -- this project DOES decode DolbyA encoded material in a superior way, but isn't *really* Dolby related (they said that they weren't interested in the market anymore -- surprise!!! So, the project is now complete -- source code has been protected and pretty much stashed away. It matches original HW or is actually better wrt various kinds of distortion. Frequency response is a bit deficient (+-0.35dB wrt a real unit.)
Got some information below:
We now have a compatible decoder that does a good job on DolbyA encoded material (we call it DHNRDS) that really excels -- with all of the anti-IMD work (similar to the Orban patent US6205225, but more encompassing -- the results are outstanding. I have some published material that is DolbyA encoded and have produced comparisons and open loop examples. Finally, the decoder has been tested against DolbyA HW, and also before/after on actual recordings. It tends to do much better on cymbals, multiple vocals and any time that there is a transient of some kind. The general modulation distortion is much less (listen to the ABBA examples, with the IMD veil on the DolbyA versions -- that is NOT a noise modulation -- it is IMD.)
*THIS THING IS REAL -- and now have a recording engineer working with me* The professional side of the project is moving forward, but I am the technical side, so discussing something actually real, with a license manager, etc. This will NOT be profit making -- it is for improving the quality the reaches the consumer (and for archives -- but that isn't operative in this discussion.)
Previous versions were 'interesting', but this version matches the actual DolbyA down to the smallesst attack/release -- except runs in the digital domain (no conversion) and for the DolbyA HW quality levels (actually a bit better) runs in about 5X faster than realtime. In the highest quality modes (like for MFSL) runs about 1.1-1.2X realtime for a 4core machine, and proportionally faster for more cores.
The comparisons are on the following sites (and might be the most informative). These include some 'undecoded' examples from commercial releases, some 'decoded' versions (with the decoded or DHNRDS designations) of the same material. These are to show the 'undecoded' state of the material and some improvement from the decoding. There are also some commercial decoded copies (in the case of the ABBA examples, Polar Music releases.) Also, there are a few vinyl examples.
All demo copies are commercially available -- nothing under-the-table. The consumer level DolbyA material IS real.
Note that the DA decoder (shorthand name) provides less 'hash' around signals/vocals, brings chorus vocals out more cleanly, and also transients (cymbals) are much more clear, and don't get blunted like a true DolbyA unit.) I apologize for the ..mp3s, but .flac doesn't play on Dropbox. If anyone wants more detail, I can provide flac examples -- they are definitely better in most cases. All examples are 'snippets' and not full recordings.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mduka8faqv1nva7/AAATBBBRIFDht8pVsDN5Dv7Aa?dl=0
Also, an isolated example for a recording from the 'Cars', showing the original 'undecoded' state, and the properly 'decoded' state using the DHNRDS. Note the improvement of the compressed/flat stereo image back to what it should be.
Undecoded:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8czwibps2chg1n/Cars-06. Moving in Stereo-undecoded.mp3?dl=0
Decoded:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfertqaeabt5dnd/Cars-06. Moving in Stereo-decoded.mp3?dl=0
Also, I put together decoded copies from the 'Cars' 'Complete Greatest Hits' which are apparently still DolbyA encoded without decoding. One might notice that there is a LOT more detail than the original -- I also have another 'Greatest Hits' type CD from the Cars -- the additional detail on these is very significant -- EVEN with the .mp3 versions. I also included .flac versions to provide significantly more detail.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vdq7vh9j7cy1usc/AAA6jiENb65J3c9eMrr-zAT5a?dl=0
I am hoping that the distributors might some day stop distributing undecoded versions. I am NEVER going to make money from the project (maybe a few $100, if that), but the goal is to improve the sound quality of music from between the late 1960s through the early 1990s'.
Got some information below:
We now have a compatible decoder that does a good job on DolbyA encoded material (we call it DHNRDS) that really excels -- with all of the anti-IMD work (similar to the Orban patent US6205225, but more encompassing -- the results are outstanding. I have some published material that is DolbyA encoded and have produced comparisons and open loop examples. Finally, the decoder has been tested against DolbyA HW, and also before/after on actual recordings. It tends to do much better on cymbals, multiple vocals and any time that there is a transient of some kind. The general modulation distortion is much less (listen to the ABBA examples, with the IMD veil on the DolbyA versions -- that is NOT a noise modulation -- it is IMD.)
*THIS THING IS REAL -- and now have a recording engineer working with me* The professional side of the project is moving forward, but I am the technical side, so discussing something actually real, with a license manager, etc. This will NOT be profit making -- it is for improving the quality the reaches the consumer (and for archives -- but that isn't operative in this discussion.)
Previous versions were 'interesting', but this version matches the actual DolbyA down to the smallesst attack/release -- except runs in the digital domain (no conversion) and for the DolbyA HW quality levels (actually a bit better) runs in about 5X faster than realtime. In the highest quality modes (like for MFSL) runs about 1.1-1.2X realtime for a 4core machine, and proportionally faster for more cores.
The comparisons are on the following sites (and might be the most informative). These include some 'undecoded' examples from commercial releases, some 'decoded' versions (with the decoded or DHNRDS designations) of the same material. These are to show the 'undecoded' state of the material and some improvement from the decoding. There are also some commercial decoded copies (in the case of the ABBA examples, Polar Music releases.) Also, there are a few vinyl examples.
All demo copies are commercially available -- nothing under-the-table. The consumer level DolbyA material IS real.
Note that the DA decoder (shorthand name) provides less 'hash' around signals/vocals, brings chorus vocals out more cleanly, and also transients (cymbals) are much more clear, and don't get blunted like a true DolbyA unit.) I apologize for the ..mp3s, but .flac doesn't play on Dropbox. If anyone wants more detail, I can provide flac examples -- they are definitely better in most cases. All examples are 'snippets' and not full recordings.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mduka8faqv1nva7/AAATBBBRIFDht8pVsDN5Dv7Aa?dl=0
Also, an isolated example for a recording from the 'Cars', showing the original 'undecoded' state, and the properly 'decoded' state using the DHNRDS. Note the improvement of the compressed/flat stereo image back to what it should be.
Undecoded:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y8czwibps2chg1n/Cars-06. Moving in Stereo-undecoded.mp3?dl=0
Decoded:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfertqaeabt5dnd/Cars-06. Moving in Stereo-decoded.mp3?dl=0
Also, I put together decoded copies from the 'Cars' 'Complete Greatest Hits' which are apparently still DolbyA encoded without decoding. One might notice that there is a LOT more detail than the original -- I also have another 'Greatest Hits' type CD from the Cars -- the additional detail on these is very significant -- EVEN with the .mp3 versions. I also included .flac versions to provide significantly more detail.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vdq7vh9j7cy1usc/AAA6jiENb65J3c9eMrr-zAT5a?dl=0
I am hoping that the distributors might some day stop distributing undecoded versions. I am NEVER going to make money from the project (maybe a few $100, if that), but the goal is to improve the sound quality of music from between the late 1960s through the early 1990s'.