Tech Focus: Immersive Audio, Part 1 - Waiting Out the Pandemic
04/12/2020
Thursday, December 3, 2020 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Immersive audio has become an integrated element in a range of high-profile broadcast-sports proof-of-concept projects, and the format has been increasingly finding its way out of an industry bubble so that more viewers can access it. For instance, NBC Sports has been providing Dolby Atmos immersive audio on its Notre Dame Football home games for the past three years, part of a package with 4K video. Most recently, this year's U.S. Open golf tourney was produced with an immersive 5.1.4 audio mix: surround sound (5.1) plus four height speakers (.4).
The productions followed such events as South Korean television and radio network SBS's live UHD coverage of selected World Cup matches over ATSC 3.0 in immersive and interactive audio using Fraunhofer's MPEG-H audio format (according to the broadcaster, the world's first regular broadcast of immersive and interactive audio powered by that format). The first live-produced Dolby Atmos event in the U.S. was the 2018 Winter Olympics available to Comcast and DirecTV subscribers. (It was planned for the now-delayed 2020 Summer Olympics as well.) Sky Sports and BT Sport are also using Atmos in the UK for Premier League and Championship League soccer on their 4K channels.
And the tools for immersive sound are now more widely available and increasingly affordable.
Although they are still more specialty items, we've found, as more [companies] enter the immersive market with different approaches, like the Studio Technologies 792/3 [an audio-over-IP-enabled multichannel monitoring system], and the Focusrite R1 [a Dante, Pro Tools, and Thunderbolt system-monitoring interface supporting up to eight channels], that this area is starting to be a more competitive landscape, says Joel Guilbert, technology development manager, Dale Pro Audio. The addition of those devices, all three having eight-plus-channel monitor-control capabilities, increases the amount of professional tools available by a third.
Microphones on Cameras Ren Moerch, product manager, DPA Microphones, has seen his company's 5100 Mobile Surround microphone used in a larger number of sports broadcasts in the past year, including for some NFL broadcasts. They are also showing up on cameras, though mainly as a way to add an LFE channel to handheld shots, and are in some cases replacing conventional shotgun microphones for Doppler shots in auto racing, where they can boost low-end sound by eliminating proximity-effect issues.
DPA Microphones' Ren Moerch sees growth in use of surround microphones used for sports broadcasts, including for some NFL broadcasts.
These types of microphones have also become standard for European soccer broadcasts; they can set up a soundstage for the lengthy wide shots of a soccer pitch common in those productions. In some cases, a surround mic is installed in a stadium, usually in the rafters and pointed downward, to create sonic surround baseline sound. That's rarely the case in the U.S., where most broadcasters bring their own, mostly conventional, microphone complements for remote broadcasts.
When a wide shot zooms in, Moerch explains, the baseline surround audio remains in the shot, giving it continuity.
Immersive sound is part of the Next Gen Audio initiative, part of the ATSC 3.0 portfolio, whose audio standards allow a full 7.1+4 implementation: seven channels of sound in a horizontal plane, one channel for a subwoofer, and four channels overhead.
The Sound Needs To Go Big Like 5.1 surround sound, though, Next Gen Audio is being propelled from within the industry, by its technical corps. However, according to Berny Carpenter, broadcast product specialist, Solid State Logic, which added an immersive-audio feature set to its System T broadcast desk as part of a software release in 2018, large and marquee broadcast events - World Cups, Super Bowls, even Eurovision Song Contests -will raise consumer awareness about immersive sound on television, which he believes will be necessary to move immersive further into the mainstream.
It will also require more products that incorporate immersive sound outside of the very high end, he says, citing the proliferation and declining costs of products like Atmos soundbars and Amazon's Echo Studio, a smart speaker that can deliver a 3D audio experience using Sony's 360 Reality Audio, Fraunhofer's MPEG-H audio decoder, and other immersive formats. The System T now also integrates with Sennheiser's AMBEO microphone, allowing it to directly decode the ambisonic signal to channel-based outputs, such as 5.1+4.
But sports remains a focus for proponents of immersive sound.
We have reached the point where sports broadcasters are familiar with what immersive audio offers and what it can add to a broadcast, observes Carpenter. There is also the understanding that different content will require mixing in different ways. For instance, the listening experience of stadium sports traditionally viewed from the sideline can be enhanced with additional ambience signals in the height channels. This works especially well with arena sports, such as ice hockey, basketball, and boxing. Sports broadcasts that include first-person content, such as motorsports, offer the chance to use the height channels for more localized content.
Consoles Are Ready Audio consoles have been working toward accommodating immersive sound for some time. For instance, Calrec's Impulse Core, the next-generation audio-processing platform for its Apollo and Artemis control surfaces, can accommodate 5.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.4, 7.1, 7.1.2, and 7.1.4 formats in term
LINK: | https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/12/03/tech-focus-immersive-audio-part... |
See more stories from svg |
Most recent headlines
09/12/2024
Dalet Named an IDC Innovator in Media and Entertainment
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced that it has been named an IDC Innovator in the IDC Innovators: ...
09/11/2024
Dalet Expands Leadership Team to Fuel Next Stage of Growth
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced three new members of its executive team. Tara Bryant joins as Chi...
17/10/2024
Exhibiting Forgiveness: An Exercise in Healing, On and Off the Set
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Jaime Ray Newman, Andr Holland, Andra Day, Titus Kaphar, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and John Earl Jelks attend the 2024 Sundance...
17/10/2024
It's Never Too Early To Spread Festive Cheer, Our Spotify Holiday Singles Are Here
The air is turning crisp, and it won't be long until everyone is walking aro...
17/10/2024
Coldplay Unites With Spotify and FC Barcelona To Release a Special El Clsico Shirt, Merch Collection, and Matchday Playlist
Spotify is once again collaborating with record-breaking legends from the worlds...
17/10/2024
Gold Medal Gymnast Rebeca Andrade Gives Us a Peek at Her Spotify
Rebeca Andrade knows her way around the gym floor . . . and vault, and uneven bars, and balance beam. The 25-year-old is the most decorated Latin American gymna...
17/10/2024
Your Exclusive Look Inside Our Charli xcx and Troye Sivan SWEAT Tour Afterparty
Since Charli xcx and Troye Sivan kicked off SWEAT, their joint tour of North America, in September, the live shows have become part of the cultural canon. Toget...
17/10/2024
Last Cut Media Increases EditShare Footprint to Streamline Production
Last Cut Media Increases EditShare Footprint to Streamline Production Adds capacity, AI indexing and sharing technologies Boston, MA, 17 October 2024 - EditS...
17/10/2024
BLAM vs BOLT: what's in a name?
Since its launch in 2020, Blue Lucy's flagship product, BLAM, has also been the company's only product. BLAM is a sophisticated workflow orchestration, ...
17/10/2024
Noticias Telemundo AHORA Launches on Samsung TV Plus
MIAMI Noticias Telemundo, the news division of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, has expanded the distribution of its FAST channel Noticias Telemundo AHORA to...
17/10/2024
Tegna, Dallas Mavericks Add 8 More Local Stations to TV Lineup
TYSONS, Va. and DALLAS Tegna and the Dallas Mavericks have announced that eight more stations in Texas, Louisana and Oklahoma will join six Tegna-owned outlets ...
17/10/2024
NAB Tells FCC Its Plan for Political AI Disclosure Can't Stand
The National Association of Broadcasters says the FCC will face legal obstacles if it goes ahead with its plan to address political deepfakes....
17/10/2024
Dish Launches New TV Offer That Includes Netflix
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Dish Network has announced that new subscribers will get Netflix included with Dish TV subscriptions at no additional cost for two years....
17/10/2024
Opinion: The transformative impact of remote production and cloud migration on the media industry
John Wastcoat, SVP business development and marketing at Zixi, highlights how me...
17/10/2024
How cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos captured the colour of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Zambarloukos details the cameras and lenses he used to capture Tim Burtons spook...
17/10/2024
EMG/Gravity Media names Eamonn Curtin as chief commercial officer
He takes up the role immediately, having spent the past 10 years as global client director at EMG/Gravity Media By Jenny Priestley Published: October 17, 202...
17/10/2024
Council pulls plug on Mo-Sys Plumstead Power Station deal
Mo-Sys planned to refurbish the Grade II listed site, opening eight studio stages By Matthew Corrigan Published: October 17, 2024 Mo-Sys planned to refurb...
17/10/2024
Sony Expands Sports Data Business With KinaTrax Acquisition
TOKYO and BASINGSTOKE, U.K. Sony has acquired KinaTrax, a provider of markerless motion-capture technology for sports that collects in-game biomechanical perfor...
17/10/2024
Warner Bros. Discovery Plans To Launch Max in 7 New Markets
SINGAPORE Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that its streaming service Max will launch on Nov. 19 in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thai...
17/10/2024
Philo Launches on LG TVs
Philo has announced that its entire lineup of live and on-demand TV is now available on LG Smart TVs....
17/10/2024
Cox Media Group Provides Nearly $1 Million for Hurricane Relief
ATLANTA In addition to providing critical information about hurricanes Helene and Milton in its ongoing news coverage, Cox Media Group (CMG) has announced that ...
17/10/2024
NAB Reiterates Opposition to FCC Blackout Reporting Plan
The National Association of Broadcasters has reiterated its opposition to an FCC proposal to require pay TV providers to notify the regulator when TV stations a...
17/10/2024
On-the-Go Lighting Gets a Powerful Boost with the Launch...
amaran, pioneer of lighting tools for creators, has just announced the launch of the amaran Ace 25x and 25c, brand-new bi-color and full-color compact LED light...
17/10/2024
Sonnet Announces Value-Priced Seven-Port USB PCIe Card
Sonnet Announces Value-Priced Seven-Port USB PCIe Card Brie Clayton October 16, 2024 0 Comments Allegro 7-Port USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A PCIe Card Adds Six...
17/10/2024
Blackmagic Design Used on 2024 Summer and Blockbuster Season Films
Blackmagic Design Used on 2024 Summer and Blockbuster Season Films Brie Clayton October 16, 2024 0 Comments Global hits such as Abigail, Alien: Rom...
17/10/2024
PROVYS Introduces Sphere, a Scalable Broadcast Channel Management System
PROVYS Introduces Sphere, a Scalable Broadcast Channel Management System Brie Clayton October 16, 2024 0 Comments Accompanying image shows members of ...
17/10/2024
Autodesk Media & Entertainment brings new capabilities to enhance creativity and efficiency
Autodesk Media & Entertainment brings new capabilities to enhance creativity and...
17/10/2024
VEON Files its 2023 Form 20-F
17 Oct 2024 VEON Files its 2023 Form 20-F Amsterdam, 17 October 2024, 20:45: VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON, Euronext Amsterdam: VEON), a global digital operator ( VE...
17/10/2024
SVG Remote Production Forum 2024: All Sessions Now Available To Watch on SVG PLAY
SVG Remote Production Forum 2024: All Sessions Now Available To Watch on SVG PLA...
17/10/2024
DUNE: PROPHECY coming exclusively to Sky and NOW on November 18, as official trailer released
DUNE: PROPHECY coming exclusively to Sky and NOW on November 18, as official tra...
17/10/2024
Rohde & Schwarz achieves full coverage of Skylos test plan for NB-NTN devices, enabling SMS services
Rohde & Schwarz achieves full coverage of Skylos test plan for NB-NTN devices, e...
17/10/2024
Netflix Unveils the First Images of 'The Snow Girl 2: El juego del alma'
Back to All News Netflix Unveils the First Images of The Snow Girl 2: El juego del alma Entertainment 17 October 2024 GlobalSpain Link copied to clipboard ...
17/10/2024
'Turn of the Tide' Will Have a Third Season
Back to All News Turn of the Tide Will Have a Third Season Entertainment 17 October 2024 GlobalPortugal Link copied to clipboard Netflix announced today t...
17/10/2024
'The Lost Children,' the Documentary, Arrives on November 14
Back to All News The Lost Children, the Documentary, Arrives on November 14Play Video Play Video Entertainment 17 October 2024 GlobalColombia Link copied ...
17/10/2024
FOR-A powers new 12G truck for Production Crew
Native 12G-SDI for simple and immediate Ultra HD architectue...
17/10/2024
RNZ Selects Dalet for New Editorial System
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced that RNZ has partnered with Dalet to transform its editorial syst...
17/10/2024
Blancco Launches Free ROI Calculator to Help Enterprises Quantify Financial and ESG Benefits of Data Erasure
Home News & Press Press Release Blancco Launches Free ROI Calculator to He...
17/10/2024
2024-10-16
For the first time, businesses of all sizes around the world - even those without a brick-and-mortar presence - can manage the way they appear to over 1 billion...
17/10/2024
Thales makes first shipment of 300 night vision goggles for French Army under Bi-NYX contract
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn French forces have received the first 300 Thales...
17/10/2024
Sustainable Manufacturing and Design: How Digital Twins Are Driving Efficiency and Cutting Emissions
Improving the sustainability of manufacturing involves optimizing entire product...
17/10/2024
Genelec opens new Seoul Experience Centre
Genelec opens new Seoul Experience Centre posted: 17/10/2024 Seoul, South Korea, October 2024....Genelec has added Seoul to its growing global network of ...
17/10/2024
Joe Duffy returns with the 18th season of The Meaning of Life'
Guests include Sin ad Burke, Bryan Dobson, Sonia O'Sullivan, Ricky Tomlinson, David Norris, Catherine Joyce Collins, Ronan Tynan, Olwen Fou r , Fintan O'...
17/10/2024
Hollywood actors Colin Farrell, Rupert Everett and Aidan Quinn among guests on this Friday's Late Late Show
Hollywood actors Colin Farrell, Rupert Everett and Aidan Quinn among guests on t...
17/10/2024
Get Ready to Slay: Dragon Age: The Veilguard' to Soar Into GeForce NOW at Launch
Bundle up this fall with GeForce NOW and Dragon Age: The Veilguard with a specia...
16/10/2024
New role at Thomson for Federica Varalda
We are pleased to announce that Federica Varalda has been appointed as Managing Director - Development for the Thomson Group. She will be leading project develo...
16/10/2024
It's Never Too Early To Spread Festive Cheer-Our Spotify Holiday Singles Are Here
The air is turning crisp, and it won't be long until everyone is walking aro...
16/10/2024
Setting Dynamic DNS (DDNS) On A Siretta Router
Applicable Products Part number Description QUARTZ-22-LTE (EU) Dual Port Dual SIM LTE Router (EU) QUARTZ-22-UMTS (EU) Dual Port Dual SIM UMTS Rout...
16/10/2024
Chayse Irvin, ASC, CSC on Travis Scott's Mo City Flexologist
Director Kahlil Joseph's name is just as likely to appear in world-renowned art exhibitions as it is atop the credits for lauded music videos. In the latter...
16/10/2024
L3Harris Appoints Trane Technologies Chair and CEO Dave Regnery to Board of Directors
MELBOURNE, Fla., Oct. 15, 2024 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) today announc...
16/10/2024
Kunstmin Theater in Dordrecht Chooses Clear-Com Arcadia for Communication Revolution
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...