
Tech Focus: Monitoring for Immersive Audio, Part 1 - Remote Production Gears Up Lighter weight, smaller sizes, speaker management mark the nascent category By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 10:03 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
Monitoring audio for the immersive environment is about as niche as you can get when it comes to a category of essential products. Out of hundreds of speaker brands and types, only a relative handful can work effectively in the strict confines of a remote-production environment, and, as with other pieces of critical equipment, a combination of technical quirks and personal preferences has reduced that array even further. Now, as broadcast tentatively enters the immersive-sound era, competition is heating up around which speakers might take advantage of this next disruption in the broadcast-audio market.
JBL's 7 Series speakers are deployed on NEP's Denali Yukon mobile unit.
With this many speakers in a small space and having to adhere to the Dolby [Atmos] spec of 80 dB with 20 dB of headroom, it's not for the faint of heart, observes Peter Chaikin, director, recording solutions, JBL brand, Harman Professional. JBL's 7 Series speaker, now in use in NEP's Denali Yukon mobile unit, was designed for that type of environment. The compact enclosure around a 5-in. driver in particular is well-suited to a high-SPL speaker in larger arrays, he notes, as is a waveguide that maintains imaging in a wide horizontal listening plane.
Genelec will continue to use self-powered speakers, in which the power amplifier is integrated into the same unit as the transducer, says U.S. Marketing Director Will Eggleston, adding that the brand is moving away from the heavy transformers used in amps and switching to very light amplifier circuits on PCB cards. It's part of a larger, company-wide reengineering effort, which is not specifically driven by the requirements of immersive sound but does acknowledge the ongoing need to reduce weight aboard production trucks.
It's a happy accident that lighter-weight speakers are coming around at the same time that immersive audio is moving into remote broadcast production, he says. But it also dovetails with the company's long-range strategy to provide products for whatever monitoring configurations the industry wants: We took a strong position with 5.1 and 7.1 [surround]. We'll keep an eye on how the demand for overhead speakers develops, but we have the lighter-weight speakers and the lower-profile mounts that will work for that.
A Strategic Opportunity
New approaches often produce new product categories or subcategories: the migration to 5.1 surround, for instance, made what had been the luxury of a separate subwoofer and crossover DSP a necessity. Now, with immersive audio's overhead-speaker array imminent, managing the menagerie of transducers throughout the cramped audio compartments in trucks becomes a new concern.
JBL's entry into this sweepstakes is its Intonato 24 monitor-management tuning system, which provides automated calibration and comprehensive control of professional monitoring systems, and can control up to 24 speakers configured as stereo, surround, or immersive audio systems.
Chaikin sees immersive sound's arrival as not only a progressive step in broadcast audio's evolution but also a strategic opportunity. It's not just about selling more speakers but rather about those speakers being a node on a networked system, along with the speakers' amplifiers and the Intonato 24, he says. It's about fitting these elements into a networked workflow for immersive [sound].
Genelec has had an automated calibration system available - a combination of its Genelec Loudspeaker Management system (GLM) and Auto-Cal software - for several years, and Eggleston says that those solutions are easily scalable to 5.1+4.
We don't have to change the algorithm to accommodate [immersive], he says. It might require some [GUI] changes to put the overhead speakers into the plan view, but otherwise it's ready for immersive.
Although much of the monitoring infrastructure for immersive audio in remote-production environments will use existing products and some with certain adaptations, speaker manufacturer Blue Sky is developing a completely new product line for immersive monitoring. It's still in the design stage, but Chris Fichera, VP, Group One Ltd., which markets Blue Sky, says the basic approach is modular, starting with a 2.1-level system using passive speakers powered by card-mounted, solid-state amplifiers; speaker arrays up to 5.1+4 (and, theoretically, beyond) are achieved with additional speaker pairs and amplifier cards. This approach, he explains, will vastly reduce the weight that four more ceiling-mounted, self-powered speakers, and their installation brackets would add to weight-sensitive production trucks. That approach's new technology would also supersede the Analog/Digital Audio Management Controller (AMC) that Blue Sky has been using as DSP to manage its existing 5.1 monitoring arrays.
The amplifiers are active and networked, so the speaker management would be done completely with software riding on an iPad, he explains. It limits the failure points: if a speaker fails, it's passive, so just replace it inexpensively; if an amp card fails, just insert a new card. It's a redundant and organic approach to monitoring, and it can grow as the truck needs to expand. Fichera says Blue Sky expects to market this system in 2019.
This activity around the actual monitors that will enable immersive sound in the remote-production environment is separate from where and how those speakers are installed in field units. Few production trucks have been fitted with overhead speakers so far. But given the level of eff
Most recent headlines
13/03/2025
Every time airborne law enforcement (ALE) teams fly, they expect their equipment to perform. Whether airborne units are conducting support for ground teams, bor...
13/03/2025
Sunday February 9 saw the annual return of the US' biggest television event, the Super Bowl LIX. Jamie McCombs, Fox Sports Audio Consultant / Sr. Audio capt...
13/03/2025
On Sunday March 2, stars across the film industry gathered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 97th Academy Awards. Production Sound Mixer Paul Sandweis...
13/03/2025
WUPPERTAL, Germany Riedel Communications will feature its new StageLink family of smart edge devices, Smart Audio and Mixing Engine (SAME) and Virtual Smart Pan...
13/03/2025
TAG Video Systems and Harmonic Partner to Deliver Enhanced Real-Time Monitoring ...
13/03/2025
DigitalGlue Invites NAB Visitors to Experience New Features in Managed Storage P...
13/03/2025
FOR-A America Theme - Connecting the Present, Building the Future - Comes to Lif...
13/03/2025
CTIA, the wireless industry association, has named former FCC Chairman Aji Pai as its President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1. He replaces Mere...
13/03/2025
he National Association of Broadcasters is urging the FCC to end its investigation of that controversial CBS interview with Kamala Harris stating there is no ...
13/03/2025
MIAMI CBS News & Stations continues to expand its use of augmented and virtual reality technologies with the planned launch of an augmented reality/virtual real...
13/03/2025
Srividhya Srinivasan, co-founder and chief customer success & innovation Officer at Amagi, tells TVBEurope how staying ahead of the latest trends is essential f...
13/03/2025
WASHINGTON FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency has launched a massive, new deregulatory initiative that could potentially subject virtually all ...
13/03/2025
SUNNYVALE, Calif. SDVI has announced that it has integrated its Rally media supply chain management platform with the Spectra Vail multi-cloud data management s...
13/03/2025
ATLANTA Gray Media has announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a waiver of its local ownership rules to permit Gray Media to acqu...
13/03/2025
TV Tech: What do you anticipate will be the most significant technology trends at the 2025 NAB Show?...
13/03/2025
Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions.
...
13/03/2025
We asked the questions, analysed the answers and now we're excited to share the results of the fifth edition of the ICG Marketing Survey.
Our 2025 survey p...
13/03/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 13, 2025 Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced a breakthrough in video streaming innovation with the launch of new origin capabilitie...
13/03/2025
Haivision Showcases Mission-Critical Video Solutions at SOF Week 2025
Haivision's video wall systems, ISR technology, and DoDIN APL-certified video distri...
13/03/2025
Company Leads the Way with New Software-Based Production Platform, 12G Switcher,...
13/03/2025
A new Apple Immersive concert experience, Metallica, is coming to Apple Vision Pro this Friday, March 14. Filmed in Mexico City during the sold-out second-year ...
13/03/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
Shake your Shamrocks, Patrick Kielty will be...
13/03/2025
This St. Patrick's weekend, RT invites you to celebrate all things Irish, showcasing the very best of Irish sport, entertainment and live coverage from the...
13/03/2025
What's next in AI is at GTC 2025. Not only the technology, but the people and ideas that are pushing AI forward - creating new opportunities, novel solution...
13/03/2025
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
By combining T-Mobile's robust network, Thal...
13/03/2025
Bundle up - GeForce NOW is bringing a flurry of Blizzard titles to its ever-expanding library.
Prepare to weather epic gameplay in the cloud, tackling the genr...
13/03/2025
AI is leveling up the world's most beloved games, as the latest advancements...
13/03/2025
PC game modding is massive, with over 5 billion mods downloaded annually. Mods p...
12/03/2025
O Spotify acaba de lan ar o relat rio Loud & Clear deste ano, uma vis o transpar...
12/03/2025
Spotify acaba de presentar el informe Loud & Clear de este a o, una mirada trans...
12/03/2025
Ramadan, a period of profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide, is a time for fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Enrich your experience thi...
12/03/2025
Spotify has just unveiled this year's Loud & Clear report, a transparent loo...
12/03/2025
More than 70% of FAST programming has been produced since 2010, according to new Gracenote report
NEW YORK March 12, 2025 Gracenote, the content data busin...
12/03/2025
GEONA, Nev. Independent digital and linear advertising rep firm Viamedia will adopt cloud-based ShowSeeker Pilot as its primary ad campaign and order management...
12/03/2025
BRUSSELS Mediagenix has announced that Wael Yasin has joined the company as sales director Central Europe....
12/03/2025
LONDON A new study highlights opportunities for shoppable TV and the massive impact online consumer spending is having on the economy, with Omdia predicting tha...
12/03/2025
CUPERTINO, Calif. Interra Systems has announced that Comcast Technology Solutions has integrated recent updates to BATON Version 9 into its operations....
12/03/2025
Nevion announces new 400G addition to its eMerge SDN media fabric offering
Brie Clayton March 12, 2025
0 Comments
High-capacity switch enhances existi...
12/03/2025
DaVinci Resolve Studio Delivers Cinematic Sound for Adam Bol
Brie Clayton March 12, 2025
0 Comments
Feature film relies on DaVinci Resolve Studio for ...
12/03/2025
SVT Leverages Ateliere Live to Pioneer 100% Software-Defined Production at Rally...
12/03/2025
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits.
By
Madd...
12/03/2025
TVBEuropes Jenny Priestley sits down with new SMPTE president Richard Welsh to discuss his aims for the organisation going forward, its efforts to attract a you...
12/03/2025
The new process has significantly enhanced operational efficiencies, with automation freeing up creators to concentrate on higher value tasks
By Matthew Corrig...
12/03/2025
Jellyfish Pictures, which has offices in London and Sheffield, said it has been battling hard in the face of strong headwinds over the last 12 months
By Jenny ...
12/03/2025
Visit Booth #W2213 to Experience the Latest in AI-Driven Content Discovery and Workflow Automation
Bitcentral, a leader in media workflow solutions, is set to ...
12/03/2025
CHICAGO Jeff Lilly has been named WGN-TV director of technology effective March 17, 2025, according to Ric Harris, WGN-TV vice president and general manager....
12/03/2025
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. A new study from LG Ad Solutions indicates that consumers want more features that would allow them to shop for products on the connected T...
12/03/2025
BOTHELL, Wash. The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the Video Services Forum (VSF) will once again present...
12/03/2025
PHILADELPHIA Comcast announced that it has upgraded Xfinity Internet speeds for more than 20 million customers for no additional cost....
12/03/2025
Create with Maxon: Cinema 4D Fundamentals Workshop - March 12-14
Brie Clayton March 11, 2025
0 Comments
Makin' Waffles with Elly Wade
During Marc...