DTS made a splash today at the Games Developer Conference in San Francisco by unveiling a new surround sound format catered specifically to all modern console gaming platforms.
DTS Neural Surround has been designed to convert a native 5.1 surround sound signal into 7.1 channels of discrete audio. Most of today’s a/v receivers support 7.1 audio but you’ll need those extra two surround speakers to take full advantage of the technology.
The former Director of Games at THX and current Director of Business Development, Interactive Media at DTS added, “You’ve come to expect this level of sound quality with your Blu-Ray movies, why not games? With DTS Neural Surround Audio, youll experience the game’s audio exa’ctly the way the designers intend. When a rocket flies over your head and explodes over your left shoulder, or a ten foot tall Demon with a chainsaw creeps up just behind your back… you’ll hear it exactly like that—in incredible, location specific detail.”
Activision’s June 16 release of Prototype for Xbox 360 will be the first game out of the gate with DTS Neural Surround. No mention of whether the PS3 or PC version of Prototype are being considered for Neural Surround. Future yet-to-be-revealed games for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and the PC are already in development to support the new format.
Lossless audio in videogames is still at the top of our want list, but DTS Neural Surround should bridge the gap between audio in Blu-ray Disc movies and games. We’ll report back with full impressions of Prototype running in 7.1 audio via DTS Neural Surround in the coming months.
