Pro Logic tracks on DVD?

[obobskivich]

ok so I was looking at some audio review online and the dude mentioned running a Pro Logic processor (older review) and it got me thinking about Pro Logic and the sources it runs, I know that Hi-Fi Stereo Surround VHS tapes can provide a Pro Logic/Dolby Surround track if you have the equipment to decode it, and I'm fairly sure some older LD's did too (not 100% on this, I know theres a lot of digital audio and AC-3 available on LD though)

so, my question is, a lot of DVD's have Dolby or DTS 5.1 tracks, but also list "Dolby 2.0" or "Stereo Surround" or "Dolby Stereo Surround" as their stereo track, its either AC-3 Stereo or its a Pro Logic track, but Dolby usually lists AC-3 as Digital Stereo or similar, so I'm wondering if I hooked my DVD player into an old pro logic reciever/processor i'd get the 4 channel track out (lol) (i'm curious mostly because I don't have a 5.1 reciever, love my 2 ch reciever, and prologic processor/amps are dirt cheap and will let me retain the features/quality of my 2ch setup)

so yeah, basically, is this the AC-3 Digital stereo track, or is this a pro logic matrix track, on DVDs labeled stereo surround (which oddly seems to be most of the DVDs on my shelf, so if this is really a Dolby Surround track that'd be a nice upgrade to my 2.0 system)

[gregorio]

Pro-Logic (or Dolby Surround or Dolby Stereo) are stereo matrixed formats. Four channels of audio (LCRS) are encoded down to two channels (LtRt) using mainly phase based techniques. If you have a decoder you will hear a pseudo surround mix, provided you have the 5 speakers required. If you don't have a decoder you will just hear the stereo mix, which will include the material which would otherwise go to the center and surround channels.

Bare in mind that Pro-Logic does not give anywhere near the experience of a 5.1 (DD or DTS) mix. The surround is mono, band limited and rarely used for anything other than ambiance. There is no LFE channel and panning and positioning is much more restrictive than with 5.1. In reality it's really more of an enhanced stereo rather than true surround sound.

Pretty much all DVD feature films (and actual film at the cinema) include a Pro-Logic (or dolby Surround/Stereo) mix to provide stereo compatibility. Bare in mind that Pro-Logic is an analogue format whereas Dolby Digital is obviously a digital format with a file extension of AC3.

[obobskivich]

thanks for some clarity, i was thinking that to be the answer, but honestly wasn't sure given that i couldn't find a concise answer