Dolby A: Difference between revisions

183 bytes added ,  1 May 2019
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====Production Date====
====Production Date====
[[File:DolbySR Remastered.JPG|right|thumb|250px|A new print of ''American Graffiti'' with a remastered Dolby track. Released in 1973, original prints would have been mono. ]]   
[[File:DolbySR Remastered.JPG|right|thumb|250px|A new print of ''American Graffiti'' with a remastered Dolby track. Released in 1973, original prints would have been mono. ]]   
*It's safe to say that any film made before 1975 will be a [[mono]] print. However there are many films released in mono ''after'' 1975, especially foreign titles or films made with smaller budgets.
*It's safe to say that any film made before 1975 will be a [[mono]] print. However there are many films released in mono ''after'' 1975, especially foreign titles or films made with smaller budgets.
**Exceptions: There are some cases where mono films were re-released later on with remastered Dolby tracks, but these usually are fairly well labeled and easy to identify.
**Exceptions: There are some cases where mono films were re-released later on with remastered Dolby tracks, but these usually are fairly well labeled and easy to identify.
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====Visual Inspection====
====Visual Inspection====
[[File:Soundtrack lab label.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Lab leader identifying a print as Dolby A. ]]
* First, make sure it's not a [[mono]] print with two [[variable area]] tracks. This is very common. Look at the two tracks closely, with mono prints they will be identical. With Dolby A or SR prints the tracks will be the same in some spots and different in others. You may need to check multiple spots along the soundtrack before you encounter one where they are different. Check areas that have music in them, the credits at the end of the film are often a good spot to do so.   
* First, make sure it's not a [[mono]] print with two [[variable area]] tracks. This is very common. Look at the two tracks closely, with mono prints they will be identical. With Dolby A or SR prints the tracks will be the same in some spots and different in others. You may need to check multiple spots along the soundtrack before you encounter one where they are different. Check areas that have music in them, the credits at the end of the film are often a good spot to do so.   
* Some (but not all) films with Dolby A tracks will display the word "Dolby" - or "Dolby Stereo" rather than "Dolby SR" - with the Dolby logo in the end credits. But be careful, just because you see one of these in the credits of the film does not guarantee that it is A Type or SR. Some films were released as both mono and stereo prints, or a film may have been re-mastered and released as SR but was originally mono. Seeing the logo in the credits is just another clue to be used with alongside other sources of information.
* Some (but not all) films with Dolby A tracks will display the word "Dolby" - or "Dolby Stereo" rather than "Dolby SR" - with the Dolby logo in the end credits. But be careful, just because you see one of these in the credits of the film does not guarantee that it is A Type or SR. Some films were released as both mono and stereo prints, or a film may have been re-mastered and released as SR but was originally mono. Seeing the logo in the credits is just another clue to be used with alongside other sources of information.
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* Some (but not all) films with Dolby A tracks will display the words "Stereo" on the edges of the film [[leader]].
* Some (but not all) films with Dolby A tracks will display the words "Stereo" on the edges of the film [[leader]].
* Some (but not all) films with Dolby SR tracks will display the words "Dolby SR" on the edges of the film [[leader]].
* Some (but not all) films with Dolby SR tracks will display the words "Dolby SR" on the edges of the film [[leader]].
** Note: If you use this information first make sure the leader is original to the film


====Listening====
====Listening====