Included in Master Audio Suite, the DTS–HD StreamPlayer™ is a standalone real–time decoder that provides confidence monitoring and playback of all DTS file types. Designed for audio quality control prior to disc authoring, the DTS–HD StreamPlayer™ is capable of emulating different consumer playback environments with settings such as DTS Core output, 7.1 Speaker Re–mapping, downmix to 5.1, and downmix to stereo. Interactive Sub and Secondary audio streams can also be mixed with Main and Primary audio streams, respectively, providing a real–world end–user audio representation.

Native to both Mac Intel and Windows XP operating systems, the DTS–HD StreamPlayer™ utilizes Core Audio compatible devices on the Mac and ASIO compatible devices on Windows XP for audio output. Lip sync checking can be performed using the QuickTime™ file–based video playback window, which has a selectable offset as well as window resize.

The DTS–HD StreamPlayer™ 1.5 is now available for both Intel Mac and Windows XP. Click to download.

NOTE: Previous releases of the Master Audio Suite included the SoundCode DTS-HD StreamPlayer plug-in for Pro Tools. This plug-in is now available direct from www.neyrinck.com and will also be updated in the near term for Mac-Intel compatibility and DTS Express playback

7.1 Speaker Remapping: Both the DTS–HD StreamPlayer and SoundCode DTS–HD StreamPlayer support a feature unique to DTS – 7.1 Channel Speaker Remapping. With the introduction of 7.1 channel systems to the consumer, an increasing number of speaker placements become possible. Consumer home theater systems are often set up with different speaker layouts, sometimes dictated by room dimensions or furniture placement. Rather than just support one speaker configuration as other audio coding schemes do and risk loosing the intended audio experience, DTS–HD extends its support to seven individual 7.1 configurations, allowing the creative community to realize their vision without having to compromise playback in the consumer’s home.

How does this work? Within the Master Audio Suite Encoder, the 7.1 channel layout used to mix the audio content is selected for the encoding. The 7.1 DTS-HD stream that gets authored onto a Blu–ray Disc or HD DVD is sent, along with the channel layout, to the decoder during playback. Within the DTS–HD StreamPlayer, as well as a DTS–HD enabled receiver, 7.1 Speaker Remapping repositions audio using a preconfigured algorithm to retain the intended audio image*. The DTS–HD StreamPlayer enables the user to preview the 7.1 Speaker Remapping speaker placements that differ from the encoded Channel layout. *Speaker Remapping is only enabled when the playback speaker configuration differs from the encoded channel layout.

Primary and Secondary Audio Mixing: Interactive Secondary audio streams can also be mixed with Primary audio streams, providing a real-world end–user audio representation. *Sub–Audio playback is supported, but not simultaneously with Primary Audio. Sub–Audio uses metadata created within the authoring system to provide volume level changes between Main and Sub audio.

Sync to Video: Lip sync checking can be performed using the QuickTime file–based video playback window, which has a selectable offset as well as window resize. For synchronization with a QuickTime movie and on screen timecode display, a CoreAudio/ASIO compatible multi–channel I/O device is required for analog surround out.