BeSweet v1.4b12 & Dolby Surround II Matrix

[frank]

BeSweet 1.4b7 has a plugin that can downmix DS2 audio tracks. In newer versions this downmix is built-in. But the downmix has heavy bugs, centre channel C sounds 16 dB louder than L, R! I searched the internet for the right downmix matrix but no success.
In this thread I'll explain the technics and derive the right DS2 downmix matrix parameters. Basics of Dolby Pro Logic are published on http://www.dolby.com

Dolby Surround Pro Logic II (DS2)

Dolby:
In Pro Logic decoders the control circuit is looking at the relative level and phase between the input signals. This information is sent to the variable output matrix stage to adjust VCAs (voltage controlled amplifiers) controlling the level of antiphase signals. This is called a feed-forward system.
Pro Logic II looks at the same input signals and servos them to match their levels. These matched audio signals are sent directly to the matrix stages to derive the various output channels. Because the same audio signals that feed the output matrix are themselves used to control the servo loop, it is called a feedback-design.

Dolby says that DS2 is compliant to Pro Logic. The encoding matrix is simpler, the decoder has significant improvements.

Downmix matrix
In Pro Logic the rear channels Ls, Rs are stored as ONE mono surround signal S with symmetrical amounts into the stereo wave. In DS2 the rears Ls, Rs are stored with DIFFERENT amount of levels. That's the trick! The new feedback-design allows to steer the gain of Ls, Rs.

Pro Logic

Lt = 1.0*L + 0.707*C - 0.707*Ls - 0.707*Rs  left-total
Rt = 1.0*R + 0.707*C + 0.707*Ls + 0.707*Rs  right-total

The level amounts are stored symmetrically into the wav (Lt, Rt).

Pro Logic II
We set the amount of acoustic power of Rs in Lt equal to the half of Ls. Or, Rs has a level of -3 dB referred to Ls. Same to Ls in Rt. The total power sum of each channel L, R, C, Ls, Rs equals 1.
For acoustic power we must square!

a*a*Ls*Ls + 2*a*a*Rs*Rs = 1
max levels = 1
a*a + 2*a*a = 1
--> a*a = 1/3 = 0.3333 --> a = 0.5774
--> 2*a*a = 2/3 = 0.6666 = b*b --> b = 0.8165

Lt = 1.0*L + 0.707*C - 0.8165*Ls - 0.5774*Rs
Rt = 1.0*R + 0.707*C + 0.5774*Ls + 0.8165*Rs

Now it's possible to generate a rear directional steering signal with an operational amplifier, computing Lt+Rt but eliminating L, R, C. The output
(Lt+Rt)' = 0.2391*(Rs - Ls)
is fed to a polarity splitter which will control Ls, Rs outputs.
If amount of Rs < Ls then output will be negative for left directional dominance, and if Rs > Ls the output will be positive for right directional dominance.
So far to the principle of operation, in reality the Pro Logic II decoder is much more complicated.

The actual coefficients used must be scaled downwards to prevent arithmetic overflow.
The sum of unscaled coefficients is
1 + 0.707 + 0.8165 + 0.5774 = 3.101
All coefficients must be multiplied by 1/3.101 = 0.3225
Downwards scaling by -9.8 dB.

That means the DS2 downmix has an attenuation of -9.8 dB.
The probability of overflow is very small. You should start a 1-step decoding with a static gain of +9.8 dB. The resulting dialog level will be unchanged in this case.

Important: For downmix you ever have to use DRC because more acoustic power will be concentrated in less channels!

Pro Logic II with LFE (Not recommended by Dolby)

Lt = 1.0*L + 0.707*C + 0.707*LFE - 0.8165*Ls - 0.5774*Rs
Rt = 1.0*R + 0.707*C + 0.707*LFE + 0.5774*Ls + 0.8165*Rs

All coefficients must be multiplied by 1/3.808 = 0.2626
Downwards scaling by -11.6 dB.

Because of the small overflow probability and low LFE level it is sufficient to work with -9.8 dB scaling from above.

[frank]

Here comes the corrected DS2 BeeSweet plugin.
Please help compile, I don't have MS C++.
With Besweet 1.4b7 you can test the plugin. The following BeeSweet versions until b11 include the buggy version.

Debugged source BS_downmix.c from DSPGuru in the next thread.

Corrected downmix matrix:

{ // l,c,r,sl,sr,lfe
		buffer[j]   =buffer[i++]* 0.3225;    	// fl.	-> l.   
		buffer[j]  +=buffer[i]  * 0.2280;    	// c.	-3db -> l.
		buffer[j+1] =buffer[i++]* 0.2280;    	// c.	-3dB -> r.
		buffer[j+1]+=buffer[i++]* 0.3225;    	// fr.	-> r.
		buffer[j]  +=buffer[i]  *-0.2633;	// sl	-1.76dB -> l.
		buffer[j+1]+=buffer[i++]* 0.1862;	// sl	-4.77dB -> r.
		buffer[j]  +=buffer[i]  *-0.1862;	// sr	-4.77dB	-> l.
		buffer[j+1]+=buffer[i++]* 0.2633;	// sr	-1.76dB -> r.

[frank]

Here the debugged source to compile.

[DSPguru]

frank's matrix had been integrated into beta12.
didn't debug it.

post your comments.

[trg100]

Brilliant work frank It works great now. I had a quick look at the source myself but it would've taken me ages to figure it all out. Thanks.

For completeness' sake here is a shot of my test file downmixed with your new matrix. (It is zoomed not normalised )

I have written to cyberlink asking why DS2 encoded wav/mp3 files don't work in PoerDVD but AC3 files do. Am not holding my breath though!

[frank]

Thanks for the quick help DSPGuru, trg100. I'm very pleased.

trg100,
your tests show an issue on BeSweet's LFE level.
I'm missing the -3 dB attenuation to each track. The LFE level must be equal to the centre. Did you set Azid's LFE downmix parameters right? (-3db into L,R)
Or, is there another issue in BeSweet? BeSweet does the LFE downmix prior the matrix.
Please verify.

[trg100]

You're quite right frank. I had specified -L 0db. I had rerun the test with -L -3db and updated the picture. The LFE channel is now equal in voume to the centre channel

To be honest I wasn't exactly sure why the -3db was necessary but I notice HeadAC3he does it automatically.

I've added another picture (8) which shows that the transitions are not perfectly smooth. I wonder if this is due to the Dolby Digital compression.

[frank]

Yeah! Now I can sleep well.
The constant signal power for all reproduced channels is maintained now.

C and LFE are splitted in two parts with half of the power. Means -3 db level attenuation if you don't want any power change. The decoder sums the two parts back into ONE channel!

LFE is a small bandwith low bass channel. Greater signal raising time and delaying. I think these artifacts come from Dolby compression and aren't audible at this low frequencies.

For downmixing is no need to mix the LFE if the AC-3 tracks are right mastered - Dolby says. 5ch into 2ch mix is a consumer adaption. And which consumer has a separated active subwoofer (30 cm loudspeakers)? Very expensive technics, needed by THX systems only. But this HiFi fans normally use 5.1 audio.

[kxy]

trg100,

Your picture #4 and #7 are identical, at least I dont see a difference. Does it mean HeadAC3he and BeSweet now produces the identical ds2 downmix?

[frank]

In principle YES.


Here a DS2 file to test the surround channels (speaking voice).

[frank]

I compared transcoding to WAVs (no floating point).

1) DS2 downmix is fully compliant to DS . Sounds equal on my DS receiver if the rear filter was disabled on DS (less muffled sound in the rears).

2) Now DS2 downmix has additional -4...-5 dB attenuation compared with DS and old versions!
I've tested with +11.7 dB static gain to DS and 9.8 dB to DS2. There should be same results.
I think that comes from Azid's different operating modes (2/0 vs. 3/2) and the implementation in BeSweet.
More tests are running to this issue.

Regards
frank

[frank]

Latest test results of transcoding AC-3 5.1 49 min
-27 dB dialog level, DRC normal

Gain to maintain dialog level
(compensation of downmix attenuation)

BeSweet 1.4B12
DS +11.7 dB
DS2 +14.5 dB (6+8.5, LFE included )

headAC3he
+10 dB

[DSPguru]

Originally posted by frank
BeSweet 1.4B12
DS +11.7 dB
DS2 +14.5 dB (6+8.5)

good work frank! please post logfiles.

[fiorettoe]

Frank, I had tried to play your mp3 file with PowerDVD4 (with Dolby Pro Logic2 enabled).

It works, I hear the sound in the rear speakers.
But how can I play the same file in DS2 in OGG format? PowerDVD4 doesn't accept OGG file format.

[frank]

Convert mp3 with WinAmp's Diskwriter into WAVs, and encode what ever you want.

[fiorettoe]

If I open a OGG file with PowerDVD4 doesn't work....why???

[frank]

Hey, since when is OGG a DVD/VCD/SVCD/AUDIO standard??
PowerDVD knows: PCM, AC3, mp2, DTS...

[fiorettoe]

So which player must I use for OGG?

If I use Windows Media Player, it doesn't support the multi-speaker.

[frank]

Compensation of downmix attenuation
BeSweet 1.4B12
DS +11.7 dB
DS2 +14.5 dB (6+8.5)

Sorry, no log file
But the commandline I used at DS2 was

"d:\DVD\AudioTools\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe"
-core( -input "i:\test\kiss1 AC3 T01 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 0ms.ac3"
-output "i:\test\test-ds2.wav" -2ch )
-azid( -s surround2 -c normal -g 6db -L -3db )
-ota( -g 8.5db )
-ssrc( --rate 44100 )

The tests included LFE.

Following tests without splitted gain and without LFE brought the expected results.
LFE ( -L -3 dB ) reduced the sound level about -4.4 dB!! That's wrong, in Azid's 2/0 downmix matrix that reduction is only -1.78 dB.

DS2 +10 dB setting as ota gain compensates the matrix attenuation (equal to the theory). Same results as headAC3he.
...
-output "i:\test\test-ds2.wav" -2ch )
-azid( -s surround2 -c normal ) <<<<< or -L 0 (not 0db!)
-ota( -g 10db )
...

BeSweet has ~6dB lower bit noise at lowest sound levels than headAC3he. Measured with CEpro2.

[trg100]

fiorettoe: What sounds card/speaker setup are you using to play back frank's file? Does the DS2 channel mapping works correctly with powerDVD? On my 4 channel SBlive it is messed up unless I reencode to a 2.0 AC3. PowerDVD and WinDVD 4 are the only payers with DPL2 I know of so there's nothing that can playback DS2 oggs as far as I know.