At ICES 2009, Dolby is demonstrating Dolby Pro Logic^(R) IIz, its newest matrix decoding technology designed to add new dimension and spaciousness to home entertainment systems. Dolby Pro Logic IIz utilizes front height channels to create three-dimensional effects for a 7.1 or a 9.1 channel listening experience and is backwards-compatible with Dolby Pro Logic IIx technology. Dolby is featuring a prototype Dolby Pro Logic IIz 7.1 AV receiver from ONKYO in its exhibit. Dolby is also showing Dolby TrueHD, a lossless compression technology developed for high-definition disc-based media and Dolby Digital Plus which delivers up to 7.1 channels of surround sound with better-than-DVD sound quality.

Dolby Digital Plus, recently adopted in France for high-definition television broadcasting, is featured in televisions from Grundig, Panasonic, Pioneer, and Sony, a set-top box from Humax, and Vudu's movie download service.

Nearly 70 home audio systems and 50 Blu-ray Disc players from 30 companies around the world use Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, or both.

Windows Media Player's users can now create high definition and surround music DVD discs, easily and affordably. Available as a plug-in, DVD-Audio Solo WMP features a streamlined user interface within Windows Media Player to burn playlists to DVD-Audio discs in as few as three clicks.DVD-Audio Solo WMP meets the increasing excitement and awareness for high definition media with support for audio tracks up to 24 bit/192 kHz, 5.1 channels, from a variety of audio file formats. As an option, still pictures can be associated to tracks. In a typical use case, DVD-Audio Solo WMP provides the last but not least step in a download to burn delivery chain from a high definition music download site.

Essential DVD-Audio Solo WMP Features:

• User interface in the "Now Playing" pane of the Windows Media Player
• Direct import of Windows Media Player's playlists, 1 to 9 playlists, 1 to 99 tracks per playlist, for a maximum total track count of 314.
• Gapless playback between tracks
• Input audio file formats supported: WAV, WMA (non DRM), FLAC, AIF, MP3 and OGG
• Sampling frequencies, sample sizes and channels supported: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz, 16 bit or 24 bit sample size, 1 to 6 channel (not all combinations permitted, 5.1 up to 16/96)
• Integrated DVD writing engine to write directly to DVD disc using a standard DVD writer. Disc types supported : DVD /-R/W and DVD R DL (Double Layer)
• Supported operating systems: Microsoft's Windows 2000, NT, 2003 server, XP, Vista

You’ve heard of plenty of all-in-one devices, so here’s an interesting all-in-one piece: the RHT-G900 A/V furniture coming from Sony Japan in May, designed for its Bravia line of TVs up to 46 inches.

If you don’t have room for a booming sound system with tower speakers and mega subwoofer, don’t fret. This baby comes with built-in left, center and right speaker channels and a subwoofer right in the rack. And there’s 5.1-channel virtual surround provided by the S-Force PRO technology.

The RHT-G900 also features HDMI inputs, digital audio inputs, digital media port, preset equalizers and a digital audio decoder that can do Dolby Digital, DTS, MPEG-2, AAC and PCM.

Dimensions for this 119-pound unit are roughly 44 by 16 by 19 inches. We’re taking the word from Hifi-ring.com, which hopefully translated Sony’s Japanese press release pretty well.

Sorry, no details of cost or shipment to the U.S.

U2 have confirmed details of the release of their much-anticipated 3D concert film, 'U2 3D'.

The Recording Academy San Francisco Chapter, in association with the Producers & Engineers Wing and JBL Professional, presents 5.1 Surround Sound Experience. Come visit the new Bay Area Sound Studios for a discussion and listening session with artist/producer Jerry Harrison and engineer Eric "ET" Thorngren (Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Talking Heads, O.A.R.). The discussion will be moderated by Joel Jaffe (Santana, David Gray, Wayne Shorter). Following the discussion, guests will experience demonstrations in stereo and surround on JBL's LSR Linear Spatial Reference studio monitors with Room Mode Correction that help turn any room into an accurate mixing environment. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, drinks and networking at this unique P&E Wing event.

No admission fee. Space is limited and RSVP is required. RSVP to sanfrancisco@grammy.com or call the San Francisco Chapter office at 415.749.0779 by Dec. 6.

Field 28 - Surround Sound
Category 95 - Best Surround Sound Album
(For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.)

• At War With The Mystics 5.1
  

The Flaming Lips & Dave Fridmann, surround mix engineers; The Flaming Lips &
Dave Fridmann, surround mastering engineers; The Flaming Lips & Dave Fridmann,
surround producers (The Flaming Lips)
[Warner Bros.]

• Fear Of A Blank Planet

Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer;
Porcupine Tree, surround producers (Porcupine Tree)
[Atlantic Records]

• Grechaninov: Passion Week

John Newton, surround mix engineer; Jonathan Cooper, surround mastering
engineer; Blanton Alspaugh, surround producer (Charles Bruffy, Kansas City
Chorale & Phoenix Bach Choir)
[Chandos Records]

• Love

Paul Hicks, surround mix engineer; Tim Young, surround mastering engineer;
George Martin & Giles Martin, surround producers (The Beatles)
[Apple/Capitol Records]

• Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5; Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis; Serenade To Music

Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering
engineer; Elaine Martone, surround producer (Robert Spano & Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra & Chamber Chorus)
[Telarc]