The types of sounds you need to know today are an important part of how we experience and appreciate the music and entertainment around us. Sound is more than just what we hear; it reflects emotions, conveys messages, and creates unforgettable experiences. This article will help you explore the seven main types of sounds in the modern world.

Types of sounds today that you need to know

Stereo Sound

Stereo sound is one of the most popular forms of sound today. It not only creates liveliness but also gives the listener the feeling of being in the middle of a real performance. The concept of stereo sound originates from the distribution of sound sources from multiple directions, left and right, creating a wider listening space.

One of the most striking features of stereo sound is the way it simulates spatial dimensions. When you listen to a song in stereo, the dispersion of sound from two speakers allows you to feel the depth of the music. For example, if an instrument is placed on the left, you can feel it is at a certain distance from another instrument or vocal on the right. This feeling helps the listener not only enjoy the music but also immerse themselves in the living space of the art.

Stereo sound provides a rich and immersive listening experience. However, to get the most out of the sound quality, it is important to set up a sound system properly. This involves not only owning high-end equipment but also the way the speakers are positioned in the space, creating harmony and balance between the sound sources.

Four-channel discrete and Quadraphonic audio

In the late 60s and early 70s, there were two developments in audio that attempted to overcome the limitations of stereo. These were discrete four-channel and quadraphonic. The difficulties with discrete four-channel.

In a four-channel discrete system, four identical amplifiers were needed, and that was very expensive. These were the days of Tubes and Transistors, not ICs like today.

Mono Sound

Mono sound, also known as single-channel sound, offers a completely different experience. Instead of distributing sound from multiple directions, Mono sound focuses it all on a single channel. This doesn’t mean that Mono sound is of any lower quality, in fact, it provides a clearer and more focused feel.

When a person listens to Mono sound, they often feel as if all the instruments and vocals are coming from one specific point. This creates a unique listening experience where every detail becomes easier to recognize. One interesting thing about Mono sound is that although it seems simple, it is very suitable for many genres of music, especially classical music and works that only use certain instruments.

Dolby Pro Logic

Dolby Pro Logic overcomes the limitations of conventional Dolby Surround by adding hardware and software to the decoder IC by emphasizing important directional cues in the movie’s sound. In other words, the decoder emphasizes the location of sounds by increasing the amplitude of these sounds in the respective channels.

This process, although not essential in music recording, is very effective in film. It makes sound effects such as bomb explosions, planes flying overhead, etc. more clearly expressed. The sound has clear separation between channels. In addition, Dolby Prologic extracts a dedicated channel called the Center, which is used to place dialogue in the middle.

Dolby Surround  Sound

The Dolby surround sound method involves encoding four channels of information – Front Left, Center, Front Right, and Rear channels into two signal channels. A decoder IC then transfers this signal to the appropriate places such as the left channel, right channel, rear channel, and center channel. (The center channel is the result of integrating the left and right channels).

The effect of Dolby Surround is a balanced listening environment, where the main sounds come from the left and right channels. Vocals or dialogue come from the center channel, and the atmosphere of the music comes from behind the listener.

Dolby Digital

With Dolby Digital, you have six separate channels, one for each speaker. Dolby Digital supports up to five independent full-range channels (center, front left and right, left and right surround speakers) and a sixth low-frequency channel for the subwoofer. Because there are five independent channels and a subwoofer, Dolby Digital is called a 5.1 system.

 

​

Of course, not all audio recorded in Dolby Digital is 5.1, some may be less (maybe 2.0 or 5.0…), but this format supports up to 5.1 channels.

See also: Sound Concepts You Should Know

Conclude

In a world full of sounds around us, understanding the types of sounds that you need to know today will help us enjoy and feel life more perfectly. From vivid Stereo sound to sophisticated Mono sound, or from the top Surround system to advanced Dolby technology, each type of sound has its own characteristics and values.

In addition to learning about each type of sound, knowing how to utilize them in daily life is also the key to optimizing the experience of listening to music and watching movies. Whether you are a professional music listener or simply a music lover, this knowledge will help you have more memorable moments in every hustle and bustle of life.

Always be open to experiencing and feeling a variety of rich sounds, because sound is not only a part of art but also an indispensable part of life.