Cinema Audio Society Plans Tribute to Ray Dolby at 50th CAS Awards

The Cinema Audio Society will present a special tribute to honor the late, Ray Dolby, an American inventor recognized around the world for developing groundbreaking audio technologies at the upcoming 50th Annual CAS Awards. Dolby was the founder of Dolby Laboratories, an environment where scientists and engineers continue to advance the science of sight and sound to make entertainment and communications more engaging.

His pioneering work in noise reduction and surround sound led to the development of many state-of-the-art technologies, for which he holds more than 50 U.S. patents. He previously worked at Ampex Corporation and was the chief designer of all electronic aspects of the first practical videotape recording system.

Today, Dolby Laboratories' technologies are an essential part of the creative process for recording artists and filmmakers, who continue to use Dolby tools to bring their visions to life. In the nearly 50 years since Ray Dolby founded Dolby Laboratories, the company has transformed the entertainment experience from the cinema to the living room to mobile entertainment.

Tens of thousands of films and billions of products and devices with Dolby technologies have made their way to theaters, homes and consumers' hands around the world. The industry has awarded Dolby Laboratories with 10 Academy Awards and 13 Emmy Awards for its groundbreaking achievements throughout the years. Dolby Atmos was awarded the CAS Technical Achievement Award for Post-Production in 2013.

"Within a year of each other, both the Cinema Audio Society, and Dolby Laboratories were born. The mixers who formed the CAS and Dolby's founder, Ray Dolby, had the same ideals--a commitment to the excellence of sound," said Cinema Audio Society President David Fluhr. "It seems fitting in the 50th year of the CAS, that as we award the latest in Technical Achievements for production and post-production sound, we pause and remember Ray Dolby, a true pioneer of the sound community."

The tribute will include rare video footage of Ray Dolby accepting the CAS Life Achievement Award at the 1989 CAS Awards.

The 50th CAS Awards will be held on February 22nd in the Crystal Ballroom of the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Besides Technical Achievement Awards for Production and Post-production, awards for Outstanding Achievements in Sound Mixing in six categories: Motion Pictures, Animated Motion Pictures, Television Movies and Mini- Series, Television Series-One Hour, Television Series-Half Hour, Television-Non-Fiction, Variety or Music Series or Specials will be presented. During the Awards special honors will go to Andy Nelson as the CAS Career Achievement Honoree and the CAS Filmmaker Award will be presented to Edward Zwick.