TABLE OF CONTENTS Digital signal processing (DSP), as applied to audio, is the modification of an audio input or output signal to achieve a desired goal or effect. While this processing could take place in a separate DSP chip or in dedicated hardware, most processing of PC audio takes place on the host CPU in the personal computer.
Surround sound enhances the listener's experience beyond that provided by a conventional high quality stereo system by adding capability to recreate the localization experience that was present during the original performance. The surround sound technique goes beyond traditional 2-channel stereo implementation to define 6, 7, or 8 discrete channels with a specific speaker placement in the listening environment. These arrangements allow the listener to experience spatial position of musicians, the action events in movies, and the feeling of being immersed in the musical performance or action.
Surround sound techniques add additional side and sometimes rear speakers. The technique also adds a low-frequency speaker or sub-woofer and redistributes spectral energy to optimize the frequency response requirements of other speakers. When a movie portrays a fighter jet shooting past the center of the action from the behind the listener then veering off into the horizon at the right front, the sound of the jet actually follows this path. Even with eyes closed, the listener hears and senses this motion. Similarly, a large symphony orchestra seems to have surrounded the listener, as if one were standing next to the conductor where one could...
