Dolby Sound Choice ?

[Maurice Leakey]

I have just ordered a DVD of the famous film by Leni Riefenstahl of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
For the English sound there is a choice of:-
Dolby Digital 2
Unqualified Dolby Digital 1.0
What is different between the two, and is there any advice for my choice. It will be running through my plasma TV which has stereo speakers.

[Steve Lee]

Hi Maurice.
The dolby 2 is basically split mono, so it will play our of both stereo speakers on your television in mono. The Dolby Digital 1.0 is a discrete channel, so if you had a multi channel setup, this would only play out of the centre channel only.
Steve.

[Maurice Leakey]

Thank you, Steve.
So, it's Dolby Digital 2.

[Ricky Daniels]

Hi Maurice,

Strictly speaking it is described as Dolby Digital 2.0, i.e. 2 main channels, 0 subwoofer,
(or maybe it’s 2.1, i.e. 2 main channels, 1 subwoofer?).

Unfortunately this simplified system of describing the available audio still doesn’t actually tell us if the 2. is split mono OR Stereo!

Basically the first number describes the number of discreet channels and the ._ is the subwoofer channel, if available.

BUT in my experience some of the cheapo DVD production houses really don’t know what they have (Mono, Split Mono, Stereo!) or even describe it incorrectly on the label, etc!

Technical standards are all well and good provided the end users know how to apply them!

Best,
Rick

[Mitchell Dvoskin]

The film was made mono. If you are running the sound thru a stereo processor (pro-logic or 5.1), depending upon how they mastered the 2.0, you may get mono from both speakers, or you may get mono from only the center channel.

[Brian Fretwell]

Some amplifiers have settings that allow you to select mono from both speakers.

[Maurice Leakey]

DVD now arrived.
Disappointed that the ad was misleading, there is no method of choosing the sound. It's only German. No mention of Dolby. However it does have a choice of sub-titles in Dutch, English and French.
I must admit that the sub-titles are very good with outlined print making them easy to read.
It is said that Leni only used 3% of what was shot to make the 203 minutes two-parter. If she had used less film perhaps they could have afforded Agfacolor.