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Tech talk : Sennheiser ’ s AMBEO Technology
At BroadcastAsia2016 , global audio specialist Sennheiser is shaping the future of audio with the launch of its AMBEO programme , a ground-breaking technology that promises the ultimate in audio capture and reproduction .
As part of the company ’ s strategic focus on 3D immersive audio , which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year , AMBEO represents a truly immersive audio experience , encompassing the recording , mixing , processing and reproduction of sound . Sennheiser ’ s 3D audio platform will feature easyto-use recording and modelling tools , including a virtual reality ( VR ) microphone . All of the brand ’ s 3D immersive audio products and activities will bear the new AMBEO trademark .
360-degree audio is the new frontier of excellence , set to transform the listening experience for users across a broad range of applications , from VR gaming to audio recording and broadcasting . Sennheiser has been doing original 9.1 recordings since 2010 , and has promoted this immersive format ever since at numerous audio congresses , workshops and trade shows around the globe .
In the course of this work , a ‘ tonmeister-quality ’ upmix algorithm was developed to turn legacy stereo material into stunning 9.1 music . A key highlight in Sennheiser ’ s work with the format includes the design of two immersive audio installations for the internationally successful “ David Bowie is ” exhibition .
Sennheiser ’ s expertise in 3D audio technology has also been demonstrated through a collaboration with gaming specialist , Soulpix , which has drawn on the audio specialist ’ s long experience in the field for its VR game , EDEN . Through a proprietary Sennheiser algorithm , the sounds in the game are easily localisable and transport the listener to an imaginary yet utterly realistic soundscape .
The Sennheiser 3D sound rendering engine used in EDEN allows a smooth transition between real-life sounds and virtual audio sources , which will be the future of 3D sound in augmented reality applications .
A further highlight in the Sennheiser ’ s AMBEO 3D audio programme is the Venue Modelling software , which takes 3D audio into the DJ world . The Venue Modelling technology will be a milestone in virtual room acoustics replication of the future .
Unlike other reverb tools and plug-ins , this Virtual Studio Technology ( VST ) plug-in will allow ambitious DJs , PA artists and EM producers to experience their audio tracks in the location they want to perform in . The plug-in helps to tailor the audio to any desired room atmosphere , and a growing venue database connected to the plugin will offer DJs an ideal source to prepare for their show .
As 3D immersive audio is increasingly becoming a format of choice in professional recording , mixing and listening , Sennheiser will showcase and demonstrate its VR microphone — a key innovation within the AMBEO programme exclusively at its BroadcastAsia booth . Visitors to the Sennheiser
Sennheiser ’ s AMBEO programme is a ground-breaking technology that promises the ultimate in audio capture and reproduction .
The Sennheiser VR microphone has recently been featured in GoPro ’ s new Developer Programme , which provides third-party developers with toolkits to connect their products with GoPro cameras and develop integrated solutions .
booth will be able to go through a virtualreality experience recorded with Sennheiser ’ s AMBEO VR microphone , which will be available from December this year .
A typical VR video primarily comprises two significant elements : visuals and audio . As technology continues to advance , content creators today have realised that virtual reality is incomplete without immersive audio .
Sennheiser ’ s innovative and first-of-its-kind VR microphone has been developed in cooperation with VR producers and will able to record audio that moves along with video capture . Coupled with an exclusive postprocessing 3D audio algorithm , the combination of hardware and software means that Sennheiser ’ s AMBEO technology will truly be a platform for making VR more realistic by tapping into the audio specialist ’ s years of audio heritage and expertise .
The Sennheiser VR microphone has recently been featured in GoPro ’ s new Developer Programme , which provides third-party developers with toolkits to connect their products with GoPro cameras and develop integrated solutions . With users increasingly creating virtual reality content with their GoPro cameras , Sennheiser ’ s upcoming VR microphone will prove a perfect companion as a compact solution that captures high-quality audio in four quadrants .
The new VR microphone will seamlessly fit into the workflow of live action VR recording to bring a new dimension of realistic audio to VR environments and will be a staple tool in any live action VR production .
Visit Sennheiser at booth 5L7-01 to find out more about the AMBEO programme .
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