title=<font size="12" face="arial" color="#000000"><b>Four-Channel Speaker Systems and Subwoofers </b></font>
&daTextBox=<font size="11" face="arial" color="#000000">All three front speakers should be able to play at the same maximum level and have the same bandwidth. The frequency response of the Surround channel rolls off at 7 kHz, so speakers which perform comparably to the front speakers in this range should be adequate. The simplest way to ensure that the speakers are matched is to make sure they're all the same model!
The Center speaker should be straight ahead. The Left and Right should be 30 degrees from Center. The Surrounds should be 110 degrees from Center.
All three front high frequency drivers, or tweeters, should be in a straight horizontal line. Surround speakers should be placed directly facing each other on the side walls about two feet behind the engineer's seating position and at least two feet above the engineer's head.
All main channels (not speakers) should be calibrated to the same level, using an SPL meter set to "C-weighted slow." The SPL meter should be positioned at the listening station, pointing upward and slightly forward. The reference mixing level for small rooms is 79 dB per channel. Refer to your Dolby Decoder manual for instructions on calibrating your system.
A subwoofer is not required for Dolby Surround mixing. If you use one, it should be calibrated by ear while playing pink noise through the sub and the main channel against a main channel with pink noise by ear, and then dropped around 5 dB. Subwoofer calibration is an area of controversy. Make sure to verify Subwoofer calibration by listening to familiar movies in Dolby Surround.
If you are going to be mixing for both Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround in the same studio, configure the studio as recommended for Dolby Digital. The main speakers should be calibrated at equal volume using a pink noise generator from your console or a Dolby DP562. When calibrating a Dolby Digital studio for Dolby Surround, make sure you adjust the output volume from the decoder to calibrate the mono surround channel, if possible, rather than readjusting the gain on the speakers themselves.
<b><u><a target="_blank" href="http://www.radioshack.com">Radio Shack</a></u> Sound Level Meter</b><br>This is a great, inexpensive SPL meter. Analog and digital display models are available. We like the analog one - it's easy to use and it's cheaper!</font>
