# Quadrophonic software? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418 "2006-02-21T02:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/1 "2006-02-21T02:19:35Z")
I have a CD by ELO that features several early cuts in Quadrophonic sound. I haven’t seen a Quad stereo system in decades. Is there some way to create Quad sound with my computer using software (and four speakers, of course)? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/2 "2006-02-21T02:40:21Z")
Uh, make that Quadraphonic… ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/3 "2006-02-21T02:41:12Z")
You might be able to do it with a sound card that supports surround sound. Does your sound card do that? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/4 "2006-02-21T02:50:41Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > You might be able to do it with a sound card that supports surround sound. Does your sound card do that? Well, apparently it does. There’s a setting for Quad speakers. Now, how do I hook them up? I have a pair of small speakers w/a subwoofer that came with the system (Dell 8300). Would a “home theater” speaker package do it? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/5 "2006-02-21T02:56:49Z")
My Panasonic home theater system could play in a Dolby four-speaker arrangement. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/6 "2006-02-21T02:57:32Z")
How is quad sound encoded on a CD? Is is part of the [whatever colour book] standard? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/7 "2006-02-21T03:05:48Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > How is quad sound encoded on a CD? Is is part of the [whatever colour book] standard? The CD booklet doesn’t say. The original recordings were made in 1971. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/8 "2006-02-21T03:18:30Z")
Back in 1971, there were different encoding methods for Quad, not unlike the later VHS/Beta wars. As I recall, RM, SQL, Discrete, and CD-4 were the formats that Lafayette and some other receivers of that era would support, but you’d need to have the appropriate tape deck, turntable with quad cartridge, or tune to a radio station transmitting in a quad format to get the right effect. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/9 "2006-02-21T03:24:07Z")
I found a site that says this about the Quad tracks: First Movement (Jumping Biz) (Discreet Quad mixdown) From The Sun To The World (Boogie No.1) (Quad SQ mix) Mr. Radio (Quad SQ mix) Manhattan Rumble (Discreet Quad mixdown) In Old England Town (Boogie No.2) take 1 (Quad SQ mix) Whisper In The Night (Discreet Quad mixdown) 10538 Overture (Quad mix) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quadrophonic-software/345418/10 "2006-02-21T16:39:11Z")
My gut level feeling is that if this is on a CD it has probably been converted from the original quad tapes to Dolby Surround, which would be compatible with most modern stereo systems. IIRC, most of the quad recording systems in the early days used separate tracks on magnetic tape and required special playback equipment.