Does the PS2 have Dolby Digital Sound?

X · Dec 15, 2002

I have been searching around the net and some people say it does and others say it does not. What's the deal here. I know that the Gamecube does as I am always enjoyed Metroid Prime with beatiful sound. If it does can you name one game taht does.

SonGohan · Dec 15, 2002

I believe it has the logo on the ps2. Whether or not they're lying is another case.

X · Dec 15, 2002

I heared that its only when there is a cutscene or something like that. Can someone confirm this?

BlackSpy · Dec 15, 2002

Yeah, I think thats right, it can't generate it on the fly, only prescripted cut scenes have surround.

Metal Slug · Dec 15, 2002

Yeah, X is about right I think.
A friend of mine (Lets call him Mr Pro-Logic, cos its all he ever talks about)told me Sony claim it can do 5.1 in-game, but in fact it can only manage it for the cut scenes/intro's etc, due to the hardware limitations. He did bang on about it for a while but my eyes totally glazed over after the first 20 seconds.

Oh, he did say that Microsoft wont allow any games on the X-box that dont have it!
So even ports of Ps2 games have to have the sound beefed up.
(Allegedly, well thats what I was told, I'm sure someone will contradict me, and I cant swear to any of it)

naitram · Dec 15, 2002

I believe only the Japanese PS2 has a full DD5.1 processor, not the American system. I could be wrong though. <img src="graemlins/spock.gif" border="0" alt="[Spock]" />

Plisken · Dec 15, 2002

seeing as sony uses the cheapest parts possible for the PS2 i'd say no.

X · Dec 15, 2002

Originally posted by naitram:
I believe only the Japanese PS2 has a full DD5.1 processor, not the American system. I could be wrong though. <img src="graemlins/spock.gif" border="0" alt="[Spock]" /> <hr></blockquote>

How can that be possible?

Anyways this just proves to me that the PS2 is one crappy piece of hardware. Some good games but crappy hardware. How can you have Dolby in cutscenes but not in game. Cant the processor handle it? Emotion chip my but.

[ December 15, 2002: Message edited by: X ]

Verbatum · Dec 15, 2002

Originally posted by naitram:
I believe only the Japanese PS2 has a full DD5.1 processor, not the American system. I could be wrong though. <img src="graemlins/spock.gif" border="0" alt="[Spock]" /> <hr></blockquote>

That is correct. I have a JPN unit, and it does indeed support Dolby Digital 5.1.

JuBond · Dec 15, 2002

Based on an article from GameSpy, and my own findings, the PS2 does not internally support Dolby Digital. However, it does fully support DTS, which is Sony's technology and probably the reason why. I have my ps2 hooked up to a receiver that shows on screen exactly what signal is being sent to it whenever it changes, so I can watch the signal bump up to DD during cutscenes and then drop back down. The article link explains why the PS2 can still do limited DD, so I'll save space on that. I don't agree with the writer in the statement that DD is better than DTS. I believe a topic on this board, from not too long ago, also agreed with me.
<a href="http://www.planetps2.com/features/articles/2002_q2/ps2audiovideo/index2.shtml" target="_blank">Linky</a>

Piccolo_DBz · Dec 15, 2002

Are you sure Gamecube has Dolby Digital? I thought they used Dolby Pro-Logic II.

Earthquake · Dec 15, 2002

Every time I rent a game for my PS2 that says it supports "full DD/DTS 5.1 surround sound", my receiver only switches to 5.1 during cut scenes. Although there are some games I've played that support 4.1 during game play. To make a long story short, I think the PS2 can only output DD 5.1 during Cut scenes/FMV's and at the most DD 4.1 during game play.

naitram · Dec 15, 2002

Originally posted by JuBond:
However, it does fully support DTS, which is Sony's technology and probably the reason why.<hr></blockquote>

DTS (Digital Theater Systems) is not affiliated with Sony. Sony has their own surround-sound encoding technology called "SDDS" or Sony Dynamic Digital Sound.

I have no idea why Sony didn't use Dolby 5.1 processing in the American PS2, especially since it came out after the Japanese system did. Either a cost saving measure by SCEA, or a disagreement with Dolby Labs over money, I'm guessing.

And Piccolo_DBz is correct.

Devil_Gans · Dec 16, 2002

Certain PS2 games uses dolby digital sound.Its possible.EA's SSX and some of their other games uses it i believe(correct me if i am wrong).If EA could do it, why can't the other developers do it as well.All i know is that EA knows a few tricks to get it to work for their PS2 games.

PS2 sure as hell supports Pro logic II.Burnout 2 is one of those games to use this feature.

[ December 16, 2002: Message edited by: Devil_Gans ]

toy_brain · Dec 16, 2002

I'm not 100% sure on this but here goes anyway.

The PS2 can do 5.1 but only during DVD playback, or cutscenes (which could well be the same thing depending on what the game uses as its FMV decoding method).

As far as DTS/Dolby PL II goes, this has to be done at the expense of processing power.
EA's Sled Storm/SSX uses one of the PS2's vecor units to produce the DTS output for surround sound, so the processor hit is fairly minor.
I assume that Burnout 2's PL2 sound is similar (done at a small processing cost).
5.1 probably is possible, but uses a lot of data compression, making it the least sutable when it comes to minimising the processor 'hit' in producing surround sound. (Besides, the difference between PL2 and 5.1 is pretty small).

So basically, the PS2 CAN do dolby digital sound (and is the only console to have an optical connection as standard), but it has to be a software feature, it isn't part of the hardware.

Incedentally, an IGN interview with Factor 5 revealed that a Dolby PL2 output can be done at only a 1% hit to the processor of the Gamecube - which means that there should be very little sacrifice to any game that decides to use it for sound.

hope that helps,

naitram · Dec 16, 2002

Originally posted by toy_brain:
So basically, the PS2 CAN do dolby digital sound (and is the only console to have an optical connection as standard), but it has to be a software feature, it isn't part of the hardware.

Incedentally, an IGN interview with Factor 5 revealed that a Dolby PL2 output can be done at only a 1% hit to the processor of the Gamecube - which means that there should be very little sacrifice to any game that decides to use it for sound.<hr></blockquote>

Oh tits in a basket - I love these discussions so I can flex some testosterone.

Saying that the PS2 "can do Dolby Digital Sound" doesn't mean that it can do DD 5.1 sound. You can have Dolby Digital mono sound, or DD 2.0, or DD 4.0, and they aren't DD 5.1.

Something like Dolby Pro-Logic is a matrix-encoded analog format, whereby an external decoder can get 4-channels of sound out of a 2-channel source. 5.1 (AC-3)is not matrixed and has 5 distinct digitally encoded channels of sound (as well as a seperate LFE signal for low bass, the .1 as it were).

Everything is possible now because of computers, they are everywhere.

Dolby Pro-Logic II is still analog, but can now be separated digitally into 5-channels instead of 4. But you still have to have a receiver that can process DPL II sources to hear it.

Chubby.

BlackSpy · Dec 16, 2002

Originally posted by naitram:


Oh tits in a basket - I love these discussions so I can flex some testosterone.

Saying that the PS2 "can do Dolby Digital Sound" doesn't mean that it can do DD 5.1 sound. You can have Dolby Digital mono sound, or DD 2.0, or DD 4.0, and they aren't DD 5.1.

Something like Dolby Pro-Logic is a matrix-encoded analog format, whereby an external decoder can get 4-channels of sound out of a 2-channel source. 5.1 (AC-3)is not matrixed and has 5 distinct digitally encoded channels of sound (as well as a seperate LFE signal for low bass, the .1 as it were).

Everything is possible now because of computers, they are everywhere.

Dolby Pro-Logic II is still analog, but can now be separated digitally into 5-channels instead of 4. But you still have to have a receiver that can process DPL II sources to hear it.

Chubby.<hr></blockquote>

so...um...is that a yes or a no?

candycab · Dec 16, 2002

Originally posted by Piccolo_DBz:
Are you sure Gamecube has Dolby Digital? I thought they used Dolby Pro-Logic II.<hr></blockquote>

GameCube can only do dolby pro-logic and pro-logic II , which sounds pretty damn good on a pro-logic II amp , it is fairly close to DD sound but not quite there but a huge improvment over regular pro-logic.

Bishamon · Dec 16, 2002

Originally posted by Piccolo_DBz:
Are you sure Gamecube has Dolby Digital? I thought they used Dolby Pro-Logic II.<hr></blockquote>

That's correct.

Only the XBox has full DD 5.1 support in-game.

GC supports Pro-Logic and PS2 supports DD 5.1 only when playing back DVDs or during cut-scenes and FMV.

Verbatum · Dec 16, 2002

Dude! The Arari 2600 has some MAD mono sound man!!! <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" /> <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" /> <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" />

naitram · Dec 16, 2002

Originally posted by Verbatum:
Arari 2600<hr></blockquote>

The Arari?

Ri ruv rou too, Shaggy! <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" />

Does the PS2 have Dolby Digital Sound?

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