THX
From Open Encyclopedia
- This article is about the sound system produced by Lucasfilm. "Thx" is also a common abbreviation for "thank you" or "thanks", mostly in text messaging.
Image:Thx.png Image:THX formation.JPG THX is the trade name of a high-fidelity sound reproduction system for theatrical movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, and car audio systems. THX was developed by George Lucas's company Lucasfilm in 1983 to ensure that the soundtrack for the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, would be accurately reproduced in the best venues.
For Superior Sound & Picture Quality
The THX system is not a recording technology, and it does not specify a sound recording format; all digital (Dolby Digital, SDDS) and all analog sound formats (Dolby SR, Ultra-Stereo) can be "shown in THX." THX is mainly a quality assurance system. If a producer has their film mixed in THX, it merely means that when the film is shown in theaters, the soundtrack will sound exactly as it did when it was mixed, provided that the theaters in question are THX-certified theaters. THX also provides certified theaters with special equipment (a special crossover) required for compliance with the standard. Theaters become certified by meeting certain acoustic and technical requirements. Some of the room requirements include a floating floor, baffled and acoustically treated walls, no parallel walls (to reduce standing waves), a perforated screen (to allow center channel continuity), and NC30 noise rated components.
Applications
THX Ltd. uses its Theater Alignment Program to assure that theaters are maintained at the required standard of quality, mainly by soliciting audience comment by phone or web survey.
According to Tomlinson Holman, the inventor of the THX system, the name of the technology was deliberately chosen because it contained both a reference to his name, and to Lucas's early film, THX 1138. The original name was "Tom Holman's Crossover" (crossover sometimes referred to by the letter X), but was later changed to mean "Tomlinson Holman's eXperiment".
THX Ltd. started a licensing program for home theatres in 2004, which requires standards similar in concept, though not in detail, to its cinema certification program; before this happened, there was a very small number of (very expensive) home theatres which were actually constructed to THX Cinema standards, most notably that of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy.
THX Ltd., the company that licenses THX and the associated technology, is based in San Rafael, California.
The distinctive crescendo used in the THX trailer is known as the "Deep Note." In one episode of The Simpsons the powerful noise was seen as blowing out windows and causing a man's head to explode before the whole crowd leapt up and cheered. THX is mostly seen as a seal of approval, setting the standard for high quality sound and image.
