got us surrounded

Even a low-end surround sound system greatly increases presence, an elusive quality perhaps best expressed by the current ad for Turner Classic Movies: the images on screen occupy the space beyond the frame. We watch and are immersed. For a quick guide to various surround decoders, see 5.1.com.

Examples of superior 5.1 mixes abound, discs where the possibilities of three-dimensional sound have been used imaginatively by the sound mixers. One is the opening sequence of Falling Down [1993], in which Michael Douglas's frustration while stuck in traffic on a hot day is expressed by sound effects and music swirling around the sound mix in a gradual crescendo. The soundtrack captures the moment his character snaps, which motivates the story that follows.

Music dvds normally spread the instruments out to all five directional channels, but with live performances, this creates the sonic impression of being on stage. OK for air guitar I s'pose, but I prefer the sound mix on U2: Rattle and Hum [1989], which uses the rear channels only for crowd and echo effects, keeping the music in the front of the soundfield, where it would be if you had seats front and center. Over the opening Paramount logo, Bono says "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We're stealing it back." Helter Skelter shows what a difference a great 5.1 mix can make.