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[Finaika]

Some games (PS2) u can choose between Mono, Stereo or Dolby Pro Logic II in the in-game sound options. I understand that PLII takes stereo sources and converts it into 5.1 sound. So does choosing the stereo option yields the same result as choosing PLII because its basically a stereo source anyway and u have to turn on the PLII mode on the receiver itself anyway to hear the game in surround? Isn't the stereo and PLII options are actually the same in this regard? Does choosing PLII from the in-game options produce "more surround" sound or something?

 

[mr_sockochris]

DPLII can create surround sound from a stereo source, but a game with a DPLII option will give you a better DPLII sound both in crispness and clarity.

 

[teh_pwn]

While it takes a stereo signal, aren't the 5.1 channels multiplexed into 2 channels?

In other words, just because it takes a stereo signal doesn't mean magically that positional audio is going to work for a signal that was created as standard stereo. Something has to be specifically designed for it to make real 5.1, whereas a standard stereo signal is "enhanced" by simply using all 5 channels for a stereo signal.

 

[Kleegamefan]

No, stereo and DPL2 are not the same...

Stereo sound is full bandwidth (20Hz-20Khz) sound from left and right speakers..

In addition to the full bandwidth stereo channels (called Left Total and Right Total), DPL2 also adds matrixed (as in derived from L/R Total), but full bandwith, center and Left and Right surround channels as well as a limited bandwidth .1 LFE (low frequency effects) channel...

It is often said that compared to our eyes, our ears are stupid....this might be why some people don't find a radical difference between *matrixed* surround sound( like Dolby Surround, Logic 7, DPL2, Meridian Trifield, Neo:6, etc) and *discrete* surround sound (dts, dts-ES, dts 24/96, dts-HD, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus) and perhaps even stereo, so your milage may vary...

Stereo and DPL2 will sound pretty much the same with only 2 speakers so perhaps this is the problem you are getting...

 

[Finaika]

No, stereo and DPL2 are not the same...
Stereo and DPL2 will sound pretty much the same with only 2 speakers so perhaps this is the problem you are getting...

No I have 5.1 speakers and a DPLII receiver...

What my question is, let me give an example of a game say Star Ocean 3. I switch on the DPLII mode on my receiver. In the game itself I choose the option "DPLII"; others being "Stereo" and "Mono" too. So now I have DPLII surround sound from the game rite? Then let's say I choose the option "Stereo" in the game itself. My receiver is still on DPLII mode. So by doing this way is the game still in DPLII surround sound mode because DPLII takes the "stereo" source from the game and the receiver is still in DPLII mode? I say this because I couldn't hear any difference between choosing Stereo or DPLII in the game itself as my receiver is still in DPLII mode; I could still hear surround sounds from Stereo.

Uh to make the question short is there any difference in choosing "Stereo" or "DPLII" in the game itself while my receiver is still in DPLII mode? And why do game developers include a "DPLII" mode along with "Stereo" and "Mono" in the sound options in games encoded in DPLII as we can turn on the surround sound simply on the receiver itself and choosing "Stereo" in the game sound options? Sorry for the really confusing question

 

[golem]

i would think that DPL mode in the game would have extra encoding to matrix the surround effects... of course, if the game does not make good use of the effects it wouldnt matter anyways because you wouldnt notice.

 

[AtomicShroom]

Uh to make the question short is there any difference in choosing "Stereo" or "DPLII" in the game itself while my receiver is still in DPLII mode? Sorry for the confusing question

Yes there is. If you select Stereo, you will hear 2-channel audio that is being outputted through 5 speakers. If you select DPLII, you will hear 5.1-channel audio that is being outputted through 5 speakers. The difference should be perceivable.

 

[acidviper]

It isn't really perceptible because there are few games that use the rear channels effectively. The only game I actually have heard someone coming from the rear left to the rear right is Metal Gear Solid 3. That's mainly because it is a quiet game a lot of the time and you can hear enemies talking from certain positions around you.

 

[Daigoro]

And why do game developers include a "DPLII" mode along with "Stereo" and "Mono" in the sound options in games encoded in DPLII as we can turn on the surround sound simply on the receiver itself and choosing "Stereo" in the game sound options?

they include them because you can't.

It isn't really perceptible because there are few games that use the rear channels effectively. The only game I actually have heard someone coming from the rear left to the rear right is Metal Gear Solid 3. That's mainly because it is a quiet game a lot of the time and you can hear enemies talking from certain positions around you.

2 other examples i can think of are Halo 1 and PSO EP1/2 for GC. both had decent surround sound that would shift sounds perception based on where your character was facing.

good surround is a beautifull thing. more games need to make good use of it.

 

[Trojan X]

Here is my input, take notes guys:

(With Surround Sound option turned on in-game)

Stereo input to stereo receiver - 2 channel stereo sound; sound source directly in-front of listener.

Stereo input to a stereo receiver with aledge surround option (mostly featured on TVs) - You will receive 2 channel stereo sound which wraps around 180' in front of you. Another name for this is Q-Sound/Wide-Stereo.

Stereo input to a 5.1 receiver - You will receive 3 channel surround sound; two front stereo with rear mono, Dolby Prologic.

Stereo input to a DPII receiver - You will receive 4 channel sound sound; two front stereo with two rear stereo providing the game delivers Dolby Prologic II sound. Clarity will not be great on rear channels. Achieve by back-signals in both left and right stereo input channels.

Optical input to a 5.1 receiver - You will receive full 5.1 channel surround sound or, in most cases, 4 channel surround sound; depends on the console, system or whatever - great clarity!

 

[Naked Snake]

I have a question: In Devil May Cry 3 (Japanese version at least), there is a "Dolby Pro Logic II" option, AND a "Dolby Digital Pro Logic II" one... What's the difference? I noticed that the "Dolby Digital" logo lit up on the receiver's LED during the opening FMV, so I'm guessing the "Dolby Digital Pro Logic II" option gives you discrete 5.1 sound in certain cutscenes like MGS2 if you are using the optical cable... I didn't bother to check if the DD logo came up during other cutscenes or gameplay.

 

[Trojan X]

Hmm.... Dolby Digital Pro-Logic 2 and Dolby Pro-Logic 2 - I'll research on that unless someone can post the differences between the two here.

 

[Finaika]

I have a question: In Devil May Cry 3 (Japanese version at least), there is a "Dolby Pro Logic II" option, AND a "Dolby Digital Pro Logic II" one... What's the difference? I noticed that the "Dolby Digital" logo lit up on the receiver's LED during the opening FMV, so I'm guessing the "Dolby Digital Pro Logic II" option gives you discrete 5.1 sound in certain cutscenes like MGS2 if you are using the optical cable... I didn't bother to check if the DD logo came up during other cutscenes or gameplay.

Yup you're right "Dolby Digital Pro Logic II" games have discrete 5.1 channels in movies & DPLII in gameplay (mostly PS2 games have this). "Dolby Pro Logic II" outputs DPLII in both movies & gameplay. Although I have no idea why ppl would wanna choose the "Dolby Pro Logic II" option as I think all DPLII receivers have DD5.1...

And thanks for the answers guys

 

[BigGreenMat]

The way Dolby Pro Logic II works in games is that they encode a mix SPECIFICALLY for DPLII. Therefore they get a true full range surround sound mix. The signal is not discrete and therefore not quite as clean as DD, but it does a damn fine job. DPLII mixed well is a huge step up from stereo.