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'''Sound formats''' are technologies that allow recorded sound to be synchronized to (or otherwise accompany) a film. Sound formats also encompass more advanced technologies like '''noise reduction''' and '''sound processing'''. Before the advent of sound formats, all films were [[silent film|silent]].
'''Sound formats''' are technologies that allow recorded sound to be synchronized to (or otherwise accompany) a film. Sound formats also encompass more advanced technologies like '''noise reduction''' and '''sound processing'''. Before the advent of sound formats, all films were [[silent film|silent]].


* magnetic track, optical track, DTS
* [[magnetic soundtrack]], [[optical soundtrack]], digital sound/sound on disc
* magenta vs. cyan vs. black/silver/gray for optical tracks
* magenta vs. cyan vs. black/silver/gray for optical tracks
* Determining sound formats (esp. optical formats)
* Determining sound formats (esp. optical formats)
* Determining sound levels - best practices
* Determining sound levels - best practices
* Sound on disc
* optical vs. digital vs. mag
* Amplifiers?
* Amplifiers?
* Sound processors
* Sound processors

Revision as of 17:52, 30 March 2017

A 35mm print with both variable area and variable density mono tracks.
Example of a 35mm print with SDDS, Dolby digital, optical SR, and DTS.

Sound formats are technologies that allow recorded sound to be synchronized to (or otherwise accompany) a film. Sound formats also encompass more advanced technologies like noise reduction and sound processing. Before the advent of sound formats, all films were silent.

  • magnetic soundtrack, optical soundtrack, digital sound/sound on disc
  • magenta vs. cyan vs. black/silver/gray for optical tracks
  • Determining sound formats (esp. optical formats)
  • Determining sound levels - best practices
  • Amplifiers?
  • Sound processors
  • Speakers


Sound format Type 70mm? 35mm? 16mm? 8mm? Super8? Other gauges? Notes
Mono Optical x x variable density vs. variable area
Stereo Optical x
Dolby SR (35mm) Optical x
Dolby A (35mm) Optical x
Dolby Digital Digital x Also called Dolby SR-D
DTS Digital x x x
SDDS Digital x
Dolby SR (70mm) Magnetic x
Dolby A (70mm) Magnetic x
Magnetic Magnetic x x x x x