dbx, BTSC, and THAT Corporation

dbx-tv's roots trace back to the early 1980s at dbx Inc., then a wellspring for a wide range of innovative, award-winning audio designs and products. Some of dbx Inc.'s creations, including dbx compressors (as exemplified by the famous dbx 160 and its variants), are prized and sought after to this day. dbx compressor/limiters are used throughout recording studios and in live performances.

One of dbx Inc.'s many noteworthy inventions was their Emmy® award-winning noise-reduction system, designed to be an integral part of the BTSC (Broadcast Television Standard Committee) transmission system. BTSC became the standard for analog TV-audio broadcasts in North America in 1984, with many other countries adopting BTSC variations shortly thereafter. This single invention allowed hundreds of millions of consumers to experience TV in stereo with high fidelity and no loss of coverage in fringe areas.

In 1989, dbx Inc. was divided into several parts, three of which remain today. The first part to spin off was THAT Corporation. Three engineers from dbx Inc. formed THAT to design and sell circuit board level implementations of dbx Inc.'s technology as well as sophisticated analog ICs to perform audio functions. THAT's first products included circuit boards to implement the dbx BTSC noise-reduction system for professional broadcast equipment makers, and voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) and rms-level detector ICs for pro audio equipment makers. Twenty years later, those same three engineers remain the principal owners and managers of THAT.

Shortly after THAT spun off, the professional products division of dbx Inc. was sold to AKG, which was subsequently purchased by Harman International. Along with brands like AKG, JBL, and Soundcraft/Studer, dbx Professional Audio Productss is a prominent part of Harman's professional audio business.

In 1994, the dbx-tv licensing program was purchased by THAT Corporation, reuniting some of the original engineers involved in its development with the business that came from this technology.

To trace the history of the dbx-tv licensing program from these formative years to its present state, please read on (Early Licensing, Digital Licensing, and Total Volume).