Dolby Digital Professional SDK
The Dolby Digital Professional SDK supports Dolby's surround sound technology that delivers high-quality digital audio for up to 5.1 discrete channels (L/C/R/LS/RS/LFE). It offers the same features base than the Dolby Digital Consumer SDK, but offers a wider range of parameters for optimizing AC-3 streams, such as more coding modes and a wider range of supported bitrates. It is the sound for DVDs worldwide, found in DVD players, broadcasted HDTV channels, IPTV solutions, etc. The AC-3 standard is based on the ATSC A52 Revision B specification.
For Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, the codec SDK (Software Development Kit) consists of a Low Level API as well as DirectShow filters for decoding and encoding AC-3 streams. The decoder filter can be used by any DirectShow® application (e.g. Windows® Media Player).
Dolby Digital Professional is available as 32-bit and 64-bit for Windows and Linux. A Mac OS X version is currently only available as 32-bit version (64-bit will follow soon).
Please note that you have to be a Dolby licensee, i.e. you have to be registered at Dolby, in order to evaluate the MainConcept Dolby® Digital Consumer SDK. Otherwise, we cannot provide you with an SDK for evaluation.
| Dolby Digital Consumer | Dolby Digital Pro | Dolby Digital Plus Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output bitrates | 64 to 640 kbit | 64 to 640 kbit | 32 kbit to 6 Mbit |
| Sample rates (Hz) | 48000 | 32000, 44100 or 48000 | 32000, 44100 or 48000 |
| Channels | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 (7.1) |
| Discrete channel support | No | No | Yes |
| Core Plus extension | No | No | Yes |
| Metadata support | No | No | Yes |
| Usage areas | DVD, IPTV, HDTV channels, etc. | DVD, Blu-ray, IPTV, HDTV channels, etc. | Blu-ray, Bonus View, BD-Live, IPTV, HDTV channels, etc. |
| Encoder Control | Basic | Full-Control | Full Control |
| Algorithm Complexity (CPU, MIPS, Memory) requirements | Low/Medium | High | High |
| Advanced volume control leveling | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flexibility and control of Bandwidth | Limited | Wider range | Wider range |
| Flexibility and control of Audio reproduction | No | Yes | Yes |
- Encodes PCM audio streams to AC-3 audio streams.
- Supports output bit rates from 64 to 640 kilobits per second.
- Support for 32000, 44100 or 48000 Hz sample rate.
- Supports up to six audio channels.
- Enhanced encoding features in comparison to the Dolby Digital Consumer SDK.
- Dolby Digital Professional Encoder
- Dolby Digital Professional Decoder
- Windows XP or Vista, Windows 7 32-/64-bit, SSE2 and higher
- Apple Mac OSX 10.4 or higher (Mac/Intel), 32-bit
- Linux 32-/64-bit - Ubuntu 7.0.4 (libstdc6), Centos 4.6
(Please contact your local sales representative if the SDK is also available for your Linux distribution)