There are gobs of content out there. Even on a good day it’s hard to tell the difference between one gob of content and another gob.
So how do you set your content apart?
If you buy the theory that the major streaming services offer pretty much the same spectra of stories, narrative skills, and production values, then you can distinguish your content from others’ by streaming yours in a much better quality.
How do you do that? With special formats and codecs.
One particular codec that’s made a name for itself, and the company that puts it out, is DTS.
It likely won’t come as a shock that, for years, Unified Streaming has integrated support for DTS into its software. (Otherwise this blog wouldn’t exist. Let’s be honest, right?)
DTS integration with Unified Streaming helps deliver superior audio experiences to people all over the world.
Let’s explore. Specifically, let’s explore what DTS audio means, how Unified Streaming integrates DTS audio, why DTS audio is crucial, and which benefits the unique combo of Unified and DTS gives to customers.
So what’s DTS, anyway?
No longer an acronym, today DTS just stands for excellent audio. The company’s codecs are a series of multichannel audio technologies known for their ability to deliver premium audio experiences for film and video.
Founded in Calabasas, California (just northwest of Los Angeles), DTS first won acclaim in 1993 when director Steven Spielberg chose the company to supply audio tech for the film Jurassic Park.
In 2016 DTS was acquired by Tessera Technologies. When the acquisition was complete, the parent company emerged in 2017 as multinational Xperi Inc., headquartered in Silicon Valley. The DTS branding was preserved.
Thanks to its clarity, depth, and immersive quality, DTS audio is a must-have in cinemas and home theaters. You’ve probably seen the DTS logo on AV equipment, TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, and cineplexes.
Today the DTS audio codec supports various formats, including DTS:X (for 3D soundscapes) and DTS-HD Master Audio (for lossless audio compression). The audio codec and its formats ensure that the sound quality of the content comes as close to the artists’ original recording as possible. Unified supports both DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Why DTS matters
DTS sound makes a difference for many reasons.
DTS offers high-fidelity audio, meaning the sound quality closely replicates the original source. Hi-fi’s not just for audiophiles and pros who demand the best in audio — it’s for the rest of us, too. (Why should experts have all the fun?)
The latest iteration of the codec, called DTS:X, can produce 3D sound, which gives listeners an immersive experience. 3D sound is great for movies, gaming, and VR content, where directional audio approximates the experience of real-life, real-time sound.
DTS:X for streaming, also known as Profile 2 or P2, is a high-efficiency, low bitrate version of the immersive audio codec specifically optimized for streaming. Able to deliver up to 5.1.4 channels, DTS:X for streaming also adds advanced loudness and dynamic range compression (DRC) capabilities, as well as unique support for transmitting immersive IMAX signature sound to IMAX Enhanced audio devices.
Featured recently on Queen Rock Montréal and other IMAX Enhanced titles on Disney+, DTS:X for streaming delivers a highly dynamic, fully immersive experience. Plus, the DTS:X for streaming decoder in the source device ensures downstream compatibility with sink devices, meaning downstream legacy DTS audio equipment will work just fine.
DTS and DTS:X are widely supported across various devices, including home theater systems, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. This compatibility ensures that users can enjoy high-quality audio, regardless of platform.
DTS codecs, and DTS:X for streaming in particular, are also designed to be scalable, allowing them to adapt to different levels of audio quality and compression needs. This flexibility is essential for diverse end users whose network conditions and device capabilities vary.
What’s DTS’s history with Unified tech?
Unified Streaming and DTS go way back.
At NAB Show 2013, Unified Streaming and DTS announced their first collaboration involving DTS-HD Layered Audio, specifically for MPEG-DASH.
Also in 2013, Unified Streaming collaborated with DTS, Nowtilus, and castLabs to present a market-ready solution for converting a broadcast signal, just-in-time packaging it to DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP), for use in end users’ mobile devices, featuring DTS’s Headphone:X technology.
In April 2014, Unified and DTS announced that real-time DTS Layered Audio Stream Reconstruction would support HLS and Microsoft Smooth Streaming. So DTS’s adaptive bit-rate solution could be applied to all three of the most widely-used streaming protocols (DASH, HLS, and Smooth).
Unified Streaming implemented support for DTS:X Profile 2 in November 2019, specifically for DASH output from both Unified Origin and Unified Packager.
It’s 2024 now, and the collaboration continues. Since its first foray into DTS sound eleven years ago, Unified has upgraded, fixed, and refined its software to stay current with the storied audio tech company’s specifications.
Brief note on Unified Streaming integration with DTS audio
Unified Streaming’s integration of DTS audio pretty much involves incorporating DTS codecs into its solutions. This process includes providing codec support; packaging; enabling ABR (adaptive bitrate streaming); and protecting content with integration of DRM (digital rights management).
Benefits of Unified Streaming with DTS for customers
The integration of DTS audio with Unified Streaming offers numerous benefits for customers.
⁂ Enhanced audio quality
Customers can enjoy superior audio quality with DTS-enabled content, experiencing richer, more detailed soundscapes whether they’re watching movies, playing games, or listening to music.
⁂ Consistent experience across devices
With DTS’s broad compatibility and Unified Streaming’s adaptive bitrate streaming, users can experience consistent high-quality audio across different devices and network conditions.
⁂ Seamless integration
Content providers can easily integrate DTS audio into their existing workflows with Unified Streaming’s comprehensive support for DTS codecs and packaging standards. This simplifies the process of delivering high-quality audio content to audiences.
⁂ Security and compliance
Unified Streaming ensures that DTS audio content is protected with robust DRM solutions, giving content providers peace of mind regarding content security and compliance with licensing requirements.
⁂ Future-proofing
By adopting DTS audio, content providers future-proof their offerings. As consumers increasingly demand higher-quality audio experiences, having DTS support ensures that providers are prepared to meet these evolving expectations.
Let’s fade out
DTS audio codec technologies plus Unified Streaming delivers excellent streaming experiences.
By combining the sound prowess of DTS with the leading streaming tech capabilities of Unified Streaming, content providers can offer elite audio experiences. Count on it: customers’ demands will be met.
What’s your bag? Streaming classic cinema and hearing crisp rapid-fire dialogue? Watching police procedurals with immersive 3D sound? Listening to soundtracks with lossless compression? DTS with Unified can do it all.
[Wanna know more about how our support of great codecs can help you? Contact us here. We’re always up for a chat.]