Dolby Volume for volume control

Built into TVs, set-top boxes, and other home theater equipment, Dolby Volume controls the volume level on everything you watch.

Dolby Volume benefits

Volume control

Hear natural, clear, and consistent sound at any chosen volume when you use a TV, set-top box, A/V receiver, or other home theater component with Dolby® Volume.

Smooth transitions

The sudden shifts in volume level that can occur during commercials, or when you switch channels, or input sources, disappear with Dolby Volume.

Low-volume sensitivity

Dolby Volume ensures that the audio stays true to the original recording at any volume setting. Even at the lowest levels, you'll be able to hear softly spoken dialogue and background sounds.

Transparent operation

Without audible side effects such as distortion or the "pumping and breathing" associated with previous solutions, Dolby Volume operates transparently to enhance the listening experience.

Works with any channel configuration

Effective in surround sound, stereo, and even mono, Dolby Volume adjusts to any channel configuration you may be using.

If you've ever been startled by the sudden roar of a TV commercial or found it difficult to hear the dialogue when you're watching a movie at a low volume, you're not alone. These are among the most common complaints of viewers everywhere.

Dolby Volume is an advanced digital signal processing technology for controlling playback volume. It evens out the volume level and improves your listening experience. Once you choose the level, Dolby Volume takes care of the rest. No more unwelcome blasts from commercials, no dialogue suddenly too soft to hear, and no volume differences when you change channels or switch sources.

Dolby Volume goes well beyond providing a single, consistent volume level. It also maintains the original sonic balance of the mix, which is especially important when you're listening on a surround sound system. At any level you set, Dolby Volume makes sure you always hear the balance the content creator intended.

When incorporated into products like televisions and A/V receivers, or into a broadcast bitstream, Dolby Volume improves the listening experience.

Whether you're manufacturing TVs, A/V receivers, set-top boxes, or HTIB systems, Dolby Volume adds powerful volume-leveling capabilities to your products. It also compensates for the loss of richness and audio detail that occurs when content mixed for the full volume of a cinema is played back at normal home listening levels.

Dolby Volume works with any input signal (analog or digital) and with any service (cable, satellite, terrestrial, and IPTV).
The technologies behind Dolby Volume use advanced models of human hearing based on psychoacoustics. These make it possible to correct source and content level differences without the undesirable artifacts introduced by previous compression and expansion techniques.
Dolby Volume maintains playback volume at the same preferred level across all sources — from progressive programming and channel selections on a TV or set-top box or between connected sources such as CD, DVD, or Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio or videocassette players, MP3 players, or other devices.
Dolby Volume actively balances low, middle, and high frequencies in each channel to compensate for the ear's changing sensitivity as the playback level is raised or lowered. As a result, the nuances and impact of the original mix are maintained even at low playback levels.
Integrating Dolby Volume into products can be as simple as providing a variety of preset user selections, or you can choose to allow users to set their own preferred levels. Dolby Volume signal processing may also be assigned to individual inputs on an A/V receiver, based on user preference.

The metadata-based loudness control mechanisms in Dolby Volume provide a powerful framework for you to conform audio to the requirements specific to your region. Dolby Volume also simplifies the task of creating a consistent broadcast in line with consumer demands.

Dolby Volume answers viewer complaints about fluctuating volume levels across types of contents and playback devices, and fully complements Dolby's professional loudness tools.
The metadata's integrated control framework ensures compatibility with millions of receivers in the home.
Dolby Volume actively balances low, middle, and high frequencies in each channel to compensate for the ear's changing sensitivity as the playback level is raised or lowered. As a result, the nuances and impact of the original mix are maintained even at low playback levels.
Dolby's metadata framework incorporates information about the audio into the bitstream itself. Each frame of audio carries the required data that enables features such as downmixing, dynamic range control, and — most importantly — dialogue normalization.
Using a technique called auditory scene analysis, Dolby Volume detects when important auditory events occur (for example, when a word begins and when it ends). This allows Dolby Volume to distinguish background and foreground elements and maintain their perceptual balance.