'There's no realistic chance all of that content will get remastered from scratch': Dolby Vision 2 will come to more titles than you might expect, thanks to an automated process — but there will be two key creative-led features that aren't automated

Dolby Vision 2 is an upgraded version of the existing Dolby Vision HDR standard that can be automatically applied to existing media using an automated process based on existing mastering information. This means that more titles than initially expected may receive Dolby Vision 2 support, thanks to the relatively low-effort nature of the automated process. However, two key creative-led features, Authentic Motion and Precision Black, cannot be automatically added as they require human judgment to achieve the desired results.

Jonas Klittmark, Director of Business Strategy at Dolby Laboratories, explained that existing Dolby Vision masters can be adapted to utilize many of Dolby Vision 2's features without the need for reworking. Around 33,000 movies and TV show episodes are currently available in Dolby Vision, and Klittmark estimates that remastering all this content from scratch would be astronomically expensive. Instead, Dolby has developed a semi-automated method to add the necessary metadata to make the most of Dolby Vision 2.

Two exceptions to the automated upgrade are Authentic Motion, which allows creators to control the strength of their TV's motion processing, and Precision Black, which addresses dark scenes that look great in the creators' mastering suite but appear too dark on TVs. Klittmark noted that Authentic Motion is too sensitive and requires manual authoring due to its polarized debate among creators.

Precision Black cannot be automated either, as it requires knowledge of the creator's environment, such as ambient light levels and reference monitors, which cannot be speculated or generated.

Dolby Vision 2 will be available on TVs this month, and Klittmark emphasized that the firm's approach ensures simplicity for consumers. All content will simply be labeled as Dolby Vision, with no "Dolby Vision 2" or "Dolby Vision 2 Max" content. Consumers can expect the best experience with the available Dolby Vision features, as indicated by the Dolby Vision logo on their TVs or streaming platforms.