Edit filter log

'{{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Ray Dolby | image = RayDolby.jpeg | caption = Dolby (left) being inducted into the [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]] in 2004 | birth_name = Ray Milton Dolby | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|1|18}} | birth_place = [[Portland, Oregon]], United States | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|9|12|1933|1|18}} | death_place = [[San Francisco]], United States | home_town = [[Palo Alto, California]] | education = {{Plainlist| * [[San Jose State University]] 1951-1952, 1955 * [[Washington University, St. Louis]] 1953-1954 * [[Stanford University]], [[B.S.E.E.]], 1957 * [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]], [[Ph.D.]], 1961 }} | parents =Earl Milton (an inventor) and Esther Eufemia Dolby | spouse = Dagmar Baumert <small>(1966–2013; his death)<ref name="independent">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ray-dolby-obituary-inventor-whose-noisereduction-technology-transformed-sound-reproduction-8815543.html|title=Ray Dolby obituary: Inventor whose noise-reduction technology transformed sound reproduction|last=Williamson|first=Marcus|date=13 September 2013|work=The Independent|accessdate=14 September 2013}}</ref></small> | children = {{Plainlist| * [[Tom Dolby]] * David Dolby }} | module = {{ infobox engineering career | discipline = [[Electrical engineering]], [[physics]] | institutions = [[Dolby Laboratories]] | significant_projects = [[Dolby noise-reduction system|Dolby NR]] | significant_design = [[Surround sound]] | significant_awards = {{Plainlist| * [[National Medal of Technology and Innovation|National Medal of Technology]] (1997) * Honorary Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (1987) }} }} |module2={{Infobox military person |embed=yes | allegiance = | branch = U.S. Army | serviceyears = early 1950s | rank = | servicenumber = <!--Do not use data from primary sources such as service records.--> | unit = | commands = | battles = | battles_label = | awards = }} |footnotes=<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=C8 |date=September 15, 2013 |title=Ray Dolby, 80. Audio pioneer changed sound of music |first=Matt |last=Schudel <!-- |authorlink=Matt Schudel --> |accessdate= |url=}}</ref><ref> {{cite book |chapter=Ray Milton Dolby |title=Newsmakers |location=Detroit |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |year=1986 |accessdate= 2013-09-16 |format=fee, via [[Fairfax County Public Library]] |url=http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/bic1/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=BIC1&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CK1618001948&userGroupName=fairfax_main&jsid=275790892d9743a9d5b9a06b69c46272 |id=Gale Document Number: GALE<nowiki>|</nowiki>K1618001948}} Biography In Context. {{subscription required}}</ref> }} '''Ray Milton Dolby''', [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (January 18, 1933&nbsp;– September 12, 2013) was an [[Americans|American]] [[engineer]] and inventor of the [[Noise (electronics)|noise]] reduction system known as [[Dolby noise-reduction system|Dolby NR]]. He was also a co-inventor of [[Video tape recorder|video tape recording]] while at [[Ampex]]. He was the founder of [[Dolby Laboratories]]. He was also a billionaire and a member of the [[Forbes 400]] with an estimated net worth of US$2.9 billion in 2008<ref>{{cite news |title= The 400 Richest Americans: #144 Ray Dolby | date=September 17, 2008 |url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/54/400list08_Ray-Dolby_KQ30.html | work=Forbes |accessdate= June 16, 2013 }}</ref> although as of September 2012 it was estimated to have declined to $2.4 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/profile/ray-dolby/ |title=Ray Dolby |publisher=Forbes |date=2012-04-18 |accessdate=2013-09-15}}</ref> ==Biography== ===Career=== Dolby was born in [[Portland, Oregon]]. He was raised in [[San Francisco]] and attended [[Sequoia High School (Redwood City, California)|Sequoia High School]] (class of 1951) in [[Redwood City, California]]. As a teenager in the decade following World War II, he held part-time and [[summer]] [[Job (role)|jobs]] at [[Ampex]] in Redwood City, working with their first [[Sound recording and reproduction|audio]] tape recorder in 1949. While at [[San Jose State University|San Jose State College]] and later at [[Stanford University]] (interrupted by two years of [[United States Army|Army]] service),<ref name="racetovideo"/> he worked on early [[prototype]]s of [[video tape recorder]] technologies for [[Alexander M. Poniatoff]] and [[Charlie Ginsburg]]. As a non degree-holding "consultant",<ref name="racetovideo"/> Dolby played a key role in the effort that led Ampex to unveil their prototype [[Quadruplex videotape|Quadruplex]] videotape recorder in April 1956 which soon entered production.<ref name="racetovideo">Wolpin, Stewart. "[http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/1994/2/1994_2_52.shtml The Race to Video]". ''Invention & Technology'', Fall 1994.</ref> In 1957, Dolby received his [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in [[electrical engineering]] from Stanford. He subsequently won a [[Marshall Scholarship]] for a Ph.D. (1961) in [[physics]] from [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]], where he was a Research Fellow at [[Pembroke College, Cambridge|Pembroke College]]. After Cambridge, Dolby acted as a technical advisor to the [[United Nations]] in India, until 1965, when he returned to England, where he founded [[Dolby Laboratories]] in London with a staff of four. In that same year, 1965, he officially invented the Dolby Sound System, a form of electronic filter, although his first U.S. patent was not filed until 1969, four years later. The filter was first used by [[Decca Records]] in the UK.<ref name="independent"/> Dolby was a [[Fellow (society)|Fellow]] and past president of the [[Audio Engineering Society]]. ===Personal life=== Dolby died of [[leukemia]] on September 12, 2013, at his home in San Francisco at the age of 80.<ref>{{cite web | title = Founder and Director Emeritus of Dolby Laboratories Dies at Age 80| publisher = [[Dolby Laboratories]] | date = September 12, 2013 | url = http://investor.dolby.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=790493}}</ref> Dolby was survived by his wife Dagmar, two sons, [[Tom Dolby|Tom]] and David, and four grandchildren.<ref name=indy>{{cite news |title=A minute's silence: audio pioneer Ray Dolby dies aged 80 | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/a-minutes-silence-audio-pioneer-ray-dolby-dies-aged-80-8814025.html | work = [[The Independent]] | accessdate = September 13, 2013 | date = September 12, 2013 | first = James | last = Vincent}}</ref> Kevin Yeaman, president and chief executive of Dolby Laboratories, said "Today we lost a friend, mentor and true visionary".<ref name=indy/> [[Neil Portnow]], president of the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]], said Dolby had "changed the way we listen to music and movies for nearly 50 years" and that Dolby's "technologies have become an essential part of the creative process for recording artists and filmmakers, ensuring his remarkable legacy for generations to come."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24075429 | title = Audio pioneer Ray Dolby dies aged 80 | publisher = BBC News | accessdate = September 13, 2013 | date = September 13, 2013}}</ref> ==Dolby noise reduction== {{Main|Dolby noise-reduction system}} The analog [[Dolby noise-reduction system]] works by increasing the volume of low-level high-frequency sounds during recording and correspondingly reducing them during playback. This reduction in high-frequency volume reduces the [[psychoacoustics|audible]] level of tape hiss.<ref name="independent"/> ==Awards and honors== *1971&nbsp;&mdash; [[Audio Engineering Society|AES]] Silver Medal<ref name="aes">{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.aes.org/info/awards.cfm |title=AES Awards |publisher=Aes.org |date= |accessdate=2013-09-15}}</ref> *1979&nbsp;&mdash; [[51st Academy Awards]]&nbsp;&mdash; [[Academy Award, Scientific or Technical]] (Scientific and Engineering Award) [plaque]<ref name="Academy_Awards">{{cite web|url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearch?action=searchLink&displayType=6&BSNomineeID=63828 |title=Academy Awards Database Academy &#124; Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences |publisher=Awardsdatabase.oscars.org |date= |accessdate=2013-09-15}}</ref> *1983&nbsp;&mdash; [[SMPTE]] Progress Medal ''For his contributions to theater sound and his continuing work in noise reduction and quality improvements in audio and video systems and as a prime inventor of the videotape recorder''<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=2013-09-16 |url=http://www.smpte.org/about/awards_program/progress_winners |title=SMPTE Progress Medal Past Recipients |publisher=[[Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers]] |archivedate=2011-07-19 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110719175425/http://www.smpte.org/about/awards_program/progress_winners}}</ref> *1985&nbsp;&mdash; [[SMPTE]] [[Alexander M. Poniatoff]] Gold Medal *1986&nbsp;&mdash; honorary Officer of the [[Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) *1988&nbsp;&mdash; [[Eduard Rhein Ring of Honor]] from the German [[Eduard Rhein Foundation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eduard-rhein-stiftung.de/html/Ehrenring_e.html |title=The Eduard Rhein Ring of Honor Recipients |publisher=[[Eduard Rhein Foundation]] |accessdate={{Start date|2011|2|5}}}}</ref> *1989&nbsp;&mdash; [[61st Academy Awards]]&nbsp;&mdash; [[Academy Award, Scientific or Technical]] (Academy Award of Merit) [statuette]<ref name="Academy_Awards" /> *1989&nbsp;&mdash; [[Emmy Award]] by the [[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]] (NATAS) *1992&nbsp;&mdash; [[Audio Engineering Society|AES]] Gold Medal<ref name="aes"/> *1995&nbsp;&mdash; Special Merit/[[Technical Grammy Award]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/producers-and-engineers/awards |title=Technical GRAMMY Award |publisher=GRAMMY.org |date= |accessdate=2013-09-15}}</ref> *1997&nbsp;&mdash; U.S. [[National Medal of Technology]] *1997&nbsp;&mdash; [[IEEE Masaru Ibuka Consumer Electronics Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ieee.org/portal/pages/about/awards/pr/ibukapr.html |title=Medals, Technical Field Awards, and Recognitions |publisher=IEEE |date= |accessdate=2013-09-15}}</ref> *1999&nbsp;&mdash; honorary Doctor degree by the [[University of York]] *2000&nbsp;&mdash; honorary Doctor of Science degree from [[Cambridge University]] *2003&nbsp;&mdash; [[Charles Francis Jenkins|Charles F. Jenkins]] Lifetime Achievement Award by the [[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://216.92.188.169/primetime/2003/awards/2003lifetime.php|title= Ray Dolby Receives Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award|publisher=216.92.188.169|accessdate=2013-09-16}}</ref> *2004&nbsp;&mdash; inducted into the [[National Inventors Hall of Fame]] and the [[Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame]] *2010&nbsp;&mdash; [[IEEE Edison Medal]] *2014&nbsp;&mdash; Star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/Tupac-Shakur--Phil-Hartman-to-receive-Walk-of-Fame-stars---see-list/9146432 |title=Tupac Shakur, Phil Hartman to receive Walk of Fame stars - see list - 06/20/2013 &#124; Entertainment News from |publisher=OnTheRedCarpet.com |date=2013-06-20 |accessdate=2013-09-15}}</ref> ==US patents== *{{US patent|3,631,365}}, Signal compressor, filed 1969. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{IMDB name|nm2591246}} *[http://www.dolby.com/about/who_we_are/dolby_bio.html Ray Dolby bio] *[http://aes.org/technical/112Heyser.cfm Dolby, R. (2002-05-11). Some Musings on Progress in Audio. Heyser lecture at [[Audio Engineering Society]]] *[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/03/29/BUG8F5S0TN1.DTL&type=business 2004 Interview With Dolby] *[http://www.labguysworld.com/VTR-People.htm Group photo of the Ampex VTR team including Ray Dolby] {{IEEE Edison Medal Laureates 2001-2025}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> | NAME = Dolby, Ray Milton | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Ray Dolby | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American electrical engineer | DATE OF BIRTH = 1933-01-18 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Portland, Oregon, United States | DATE OF DEATH = 2013-09-12 | PLACE OF DEATH = San Francisco, California, United States }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dolby, Ray}} [[Category:1933 births]] [[Category:2013 deaths]] [[Category:American audio engineers]] [[Category:American billionaires]] [[Category:American electronics engineers]] [[Category:American inventors]] [[Category:Analog electronics engineers]] [[Category:Cancer deaths in California]] [[Category:CAS Career Achievement Award honorees]] [[Category:Deaths from leukemia]] [[Category:Dolby Laboratories]] [[Category:Emmy Award winners]] [[Category:Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge]] [[Category:Honorary Officers of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:Marshall Scholars]] [[Category:National Medal of Technology recipients]] [[Category:People from Portland, Oregon]] [[Category:Stanford University alumni]] [[Category:People with Alzheimer's disease]]'