Licensing Cost for Dolby 5.1, 80k?

[Troy Smith]

Hi there,

I was recently told that the licensing fee
to use Dolby 5.1 for bluray release is 80k
Is that correct? Sure sounds alot.

I'm looking into it further, just thought I'd post here
to see if anyone has experience with releasing bluray with dolby.

Thanks

 

[Alex Donkle]

I don't but I would recommend asking here...

http://duc.digidesign.com/forumdisplay.php?f=8

 

[Ben Holmes]

I regularly produce Blu-Ray (limited BD-R) with 5.1 using FCP, Encore and the excellent soundtrack pro. Making AC-3 audio mixes for a Blu-Ray image is easy and free for FCP users.

Of course, that's very different from replicated Blu-Ray disks requiring licensing from Sony - I'm just pointing out that for duplicated releases, making a 5.1 soundtrack does not require this expense (in case anyone thought it did from the above).

 

[L. Langer]

http://www.dolby.com/professional/technology/licensing/motion-picture-agreement.html

 

[Jack Cooper]

Looks like they have several tiers and categories...not much unlike in the old days of stock photos...

http://www.dolby.com/professional/technology/licensing/getting-licensed.html

 

[Marti D. Humphrey CAS]

Hi there,

I was recently told that the licensing fee
to use Dolby 5.1 for bluray release is 80k
Is that correct? Sure sounds alot.

I'm looking into it further, just thought I'd post here
to see if anyone has experience with releasing bluray with dolby.

Thanks

Troy,
Whomever told you that doesn't know what he/she is talking about.
Even for a Feature Film releasing in Theaters it's only around $10,000.00
For Blu Ray to my understanding there is no or low cost. You do have to have a license agreement with Dolby.
Call Dolby on LA and ask then . Their number is (818) 823-2800
Please repost with your findings.

 

[Robert McGee]

My guess is you pay a licensing fee to use the .ac3 codec on either DVD or Blu-Ray on your encoding software to make your DVD and Blu-Ray masters and a smaller fee for every unit that's sold. Now unless your releasing Hollywood films and not small indie films, it shouldn't be 80K, it should only be a 2 year 50K license and that is the entire software package.

Take my advice, use LPCM for your Blu-Ray releases. That sound format has been around since the LP days and it's improved quite alot, it's also used on DV tape. You can get 5.1 and 7.1 lossless sound, and it's on all Blu-Ray players old and new.

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Make sure you check out DOLBY MEDIA PRODUCER & ENCODER software at NAB. Very well done.

http://www.dolby.com/professional/products/pro-audio/mastering-dvd-hd/dolby-media-producer.html

http://www.dolby.com/professional/products/pro-audio/mastering-dvd-hd/dolby-media-encoder.html