Announcing Dolby Audio for high performance audio in Microsoft Edge

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    Announcing Dolby Audio for high performance audio in Microsoft Edge

    Announcing Dolby Audio for high performance audio in Microsoft Edge


    Posted: 26 May 2015

    Web browser media experiences have advanced significantly in recent years, from the first releases of HTML5 media, through the subsequent additions of Media Source Extensions for adaptive streaming and Encrypted Media Extensions for content protection. And formats have been similarly advanced by the development of MPEG DASH and Common Encryption (CENC). These important specifications offered the potential for interoperable, plug-in free web video. We referred to the resulting experience as Professional Quality Video when we first shipped support for these specs in Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 8.1.

    Advancement in media experiences continues in Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge. Today, we are announcing that Microsoft Edge includes HTML5, MSE and EME support for a new audio format: Dolby Audio™. It allows websites to match the compelling visuals of H.264 video with equally compelling multi-channel audio. It works well with AVC/H.264 video and also with our previously announced HLS and MPEG DASH Type 1 streaming features, which both support integrated playback of an HLS or DASH manifest.



    High Performance Media Experiences

    We added Dolby Audio to Microsoft Edge so that web apps and sites can deliver the richest and most compelling media experiences with Windows 10. In particular, we wanted Microsoft Edge to support the most demanding requirements from media websites. Supporting Dolby Audio fits with this goal.

    Dolby Audio
    Dolby Audio supports the multi-channel Dolby Digital Plus™ audio format that provides crisp, clear audio in a broad range of channel configurations. Microsoft Edge is the first browser to include support for Dolby Digital Plus. Websites will now be able to selectively support Dolby Audio as a premium sound experience, and use HTML5, MSE and EME capability checks to fall back to other supported formats on browsers other than Microsoft Edge.

    Windows 10 includes support for the Dolby Digital Plus Portable Mode, which is a dynamic range control setting that is optimized for playback over built-in speakers and headphones. Dolby content will play back louder and clearer with a dynamic range more appropriate for portable devices. This improves the experience from Windows 8 where content could occasionally render softly over built-in speakers and headphones, and the advantages will apply equally to websites running in Microsoft Edge.

    Dolby Audio is compatible with current DASH (MP4) and HLS (M2TS) file formats, and so can be included with progressive download HTML5 content, adaptive streaming HLS or MSE/EME MP4 content.

    Usage Guidance
    There are two adaptive streaming approaches for websites to take advantage of these new formats:

    1. Use either DASH Type 1 streaming (where the DASH manifest (.mpd) or HLS manifest (.m3u8) is set as the src for an HTML 5 media element). Using our DASH Type 1 implementation, it’s important to use the DASH live profile with MPD Type=”static”.
    2. Build a custom adaptive streaming solution using MSE APIs directly. This is more work, but provides the most control over streaming details.

    Both the DASH Type 1 and full custom MSE approaches may be combined with Encrypted Media Extensions apply DRM protection. In Microsoft Edge, this would require supporting PlayReady DRM.

    Capabilities
    Dolby Audio offers superior performance, but isn’t currently supported by other browsers. Websites that use it should feature detect on the format and be prepared to stream alternative audio formats on systems that don’t support Dolby Audio. Javascript examples to check for format support are listed below.

    For HTML5:

    • Dolby EC-3: test = myvideo.canPlayType(‘audio/mp4; codecs=”ec-3″‘);
    • Dolby AC-3: test = myvideo.canPlayType(‘audio/mp4; codecs=”ac-3″‘);
    • 264(AVC1): test = myvideo.canPlayType(‘video/mp4; codecs=”avc1.42E01E”‘);
    • 264(AVC3): test = myvideo.canPlayType(‘video/mp4; codecs=”avc3”’);

    For MSE:

    • Dolby EC-3: test = MediaSource.isTypeSupported (‘audio/mp4; codecs=”ec-3″‘);
    • Dolby AC-3: test = MediaSource.isTypeSupported (‘audio/mp4; codecs=”ac-3″‘);
    • 264(AVC1): test = MediaSource.isTypeSupported (‘video/mp4; codecs=”avc1.42E01E”‘);
    • 264(AVC3): test = MediaSource.isTypeSupported (‘video/mp4; codecs=”avc3″‘);

    For EME:

    • Dolby EC-3: test = MSMediaKeys.isTypeSupported (‘com.microsoft.playready’, ‘audio/mp4; codecs=”ec-3″‘);
    • Dolby AC-3: test = MSMediaKeys.isTypeSupported (‘com.microsoft.playready’, ‘audio/mp4; codecs=”ac-3″‘);
    • 264(AVC1): test = MSMediaKeys.isTypeSupported (‘com.microsoft.playready’, ‘video/mp4; codecs=”avc1.42E01E”‘);
    • 264(AVC3): test = MSMediaKeys.isTypeSupported (‘com.microsoft.playready’, ‘video/mp4; codecs=”avc3″‘);

    Dolby Audio Experience Demo
    Dolby has created a Dolby Audio Experience demo using WebGL to provide an interactive environment where users can explore and play content on a variety of media devices (a media PC, desktop, laptop and tablet). Each device demonstrates Dolby Audio with a different streaming video, either MPEG DASH H.264 or HLS. The demo currently requires Microsoft Edge, since it is the first browser to include native support for Dolby Audio.

    Conclusion
    The addition of Dolby Audio to Microsoft Edge is intended to open new opportunities for website media experiences. It is supported only in Microsoft Edge now, but fallback strategies are possible that allow sites to provide the highest quality media experience when supported.

    We look forward to your feedback, and hope to see websites using Dolby Audio soon!

    – Jerry Smith, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Edge

    Source: http://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2...icrosoft-edge/
    Brink's Avatar Posted By: Brink
    26 May 2015


  1. Posts : 18
    Windows 10
       #1

    Dosent actually seem to work. when playing the dolby demo in edge, windows just outputs pcm instead of dolby, same with windows media player etc, But media player classic does output dolby fine.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 238
    Windows 10 Home x64
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 171
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    Probably explains why Windows kept (until I turned updates off) removing the drivers for my audio device, which has built-in Dolby 5.1, and installing a driver which my Dolby wouldn't work with.

    Not impressed, especially since I do not like and won't be using Edge.


    Wenda.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
       #4

    Cant wait to try this out on my 7.1 sound system, just bought a new subwoofer, I've had to tone it down a bit with movies, it scares me, but should sound good with jazz.

    Loving 10 more every day.

    Forgot to add, loving Groove Music.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18
    Windows 10
       #5

    good luck, it seems windows is decoding the signal, not your amp
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 173
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    I hope Firefox and Chrome jumps into the bandwagon, my notebook has Dolby Digital Home Theater and Plus in web browsers would really compliment it well; if not then I still have Home Theater and DFX.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #7

    Hi there

    could be good but almost ANY computer sound system is an ANATHEMA to genuine audiophiles -- what do you play on these systems.

    compressed mp3 files, poorly mixed movies / disco /night club thump thump type dreary repetitive music. Games too have annoying horrible sound effects usually as well.

    Decent SACD or FLAC UNCOMPRESSED music of decent source quality played on 1000 USD plus top range reference speakers is IMO the best way to listen to high quality music if you can't go to a live gig,-

    Most Movies these days don't sound that great really on ANY sort sound system (vocals / spoken parts too soft and effects too loud -- I rarely go to the cinema any more for that very reason).

    Good luck to Dolby Labs --but it's the SOURCE music that needs to improve IMO.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 480
    Windows 10
       #8

    jimbo45 said:
    Hi there

    could be good but almost ANY computer sound system is an ANATHEMA to genuine audiophiles -- what do you play on these systems.

    compressed mp3 files, poorly mixed movies / disco /night club thump thump type dreary repetitive music. Games too have annoying horrible sound effects usually as well.

    Decent SACD or FLAC UNCOMPRESSED music of decent source quality played on 1000 USD plus top range reference speakers is IMO the best way to listen to high quality music if you can't go to a live gig,-

    Most Movies these days don't sound that great really on ANY sort sound system (vocals / spoken parts too soft and effects too loud -- I rarely go to the cinema any more for that very reason).

    Good luck to Dolby Labs --but it's the SOURCE music that needs to improve IMO.

    Cheers
    jimbo
    While I agree with a lot of what you say, if you have a good sound system even mp3s can made to be sound good, Flac is better, but not everything is available in Flac.
    As far as movies go, that's another story, but again, you need a very good sound system with a receiver capable of manual adjustments so you can bring the Centre speaker to the front.
    Two good movies to test your sound system are Need for Speed and Jurassic Park, if you don't feel like you're there you need a new sound system.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #9

    It might be worth getting Windows 10 audio to work OOTB before announcing an enhancement to it.

    I might as well be deaf for all the audio experience of Windows 8 to 10 has given me.
      My Computers


 

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