(Twitter)
Ray Dolby, famously known as the founder and engineer behind Dolby Laboratories and pioneered noise-reducing and surround-sound technology, has died at the age of 80.
Today, Dolby Laboratories' founder and namesake, Ray Dolby, died in his home in San Francisco, at the age of 80. http://t.co/nRKehpOTSk
— Dolby Laboratories (@Dolby) September 12, 2013
Here are five fast facts you need to know about Ray Dolby...
1. Ray Dolby Founded Dolby Laboratories
Ray Dolby and his brother Dale at the first Dolby Labs office in London, 1965 pic.twitter.com/KTiixFYnnD
— Whathifi (@whathifi) August 2, 2013
Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories in 1965 in the UK. The same year as the company's creation, Dolby invented Dolby Sound System, but he didn't patent it until 1969. The environment he created within the company, according to the Financial Post, was one where scientists and engineers could continue the pursuit of engaging audio and visuals through state of the art inventing.
Some of the company's early inventions include the professional and consumer noise reduction systems for tapes, cassettes, FM transmission and broadcast, as well as digital audio encoding and compression formats.
The company also branched out into physical audio mediums, including top of the line headphones, speakers, and mobile sound systems.
2. Dolby Pioneered Noise-Reducing and Surround-Sound Technologies
Today we lose visionary sound pioneer Ray Dolby, inventor of #Dolby Noise Reduction. #MomentOfSilence
— Moog Music Inc. (@moogmusicinc) September 12, 2013
Dolby's company is most known for its work in noise-reducing and surround-sound technologies. The technologies were so good that they became standard use in movie theater and Hollywood movie audio production. In less than 10 years, 6,000 movie theaters had adopted and equipted the technologies.
The first film to utilize Dolby's sound advancement was the in 1971 classic, A Clockwork Orange. The production team used the laboratory's noise reduction on all of the film's audio pre-mixes and masters.
In 1977, Dolby received acclaim with the use of Dolby Stereo technology in Star Wars.
3. He Was A Billionaire, And On The Forbes 400
More on Ray #Dolby: He won an #Oscar, a #Grammy and several #Emmys. Dead at age 80.
— John Corrigan (@jtcorrigan) September 12, 2013
Ray Dolby has left a multi-billion dollar fortune in his wake. According to Forbes, he sits at #221 richest in the United States, #464 richest in 2012, and #190 on the Forbes 400.
4. Dolby Had A B.S. & Ph. D.
Ray Dolby may have been a techie, but the branding of his ingredient technology was genius. Without it, no "Intel Inside."
— Harry McCracken (@harrymccracken) September 12, 2013
According to Forbes, Dolby had a successful and impressive education. He first received a B.S. from Stanford University. Dolby later went on to complete a Ph. D. in physics at the University of Cambridge, where he was a Research Fellow at Pembroke College, according to his bio.
5. He Is The Former Technical Adviser To The U.N. In India
Just heard Ray Dolby died. Star audio engineer. Life would have been fuzzier without him.
— Philip Painter (@f8vnz) September 12, 2013
According to Dolby's bio on his company's website, he held the position of technical adviser to the U.N. in India for a two year period. He took the position after receiving his doctorate, and held it until 1965, when he moved to Britain to start Dolby Laboratories.
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