Essential Install | Smart Thinking : Living Sound
Will Living Sound Revolutionise Music ?
AV veteran Martin Hogbin says he has created a new way to record and listen to music , delivering as big a change as the transition from mono to stereo .
Martin argues the new format would enable makers to produce high-end kit and content systems to deliver ‘ Living Sound ’
Many people will know Martin due to his long service in the AV industry launching the Living Control brand in 1998 and as a serial inventor . Meeting at his home in in Surrey , Martin explained that he had the idea for Living Sound ( a working title ) years ago , but only now had found the time to develop it .
Marin explained : “ Living Sound is a new recording and reproduction method that will revolutionise music . It offers a realistic reproduction of music , delivering a new medium for artists and engineers to express themselves and a completely new way for listeners to enjoy music .”
Martin explained that whilst current approaches seek to move the sound of the studio to where the listener is , Living Sound delivers the musicians to the space the listener is in , making the audio sound like it is being produced live in the same space .
OK , so all sorts of massive issues , technical , marketing , industry politics have to be got around before something like this ever gets off the ground . Martin is entirely aware of this and knows there is a mountain to climb , but before we get too cynical , what does it actually sound like ?
Martin has made several recordings using the new technique ( of course he won ’ t reveal any details of how it is done at this point ) but by his own admission the recordings are not of the highest quality and are just meant to be a proof of concept . The recordings consist of a brass jazz band , a string quartet , two violins , a guitar and a solo violin .
It has to be said that the sound is really quite remarkable , different to anything else you will have heard . With this technique it really does feel like the musicians are in the room producing the sound live as you experience it , you can hear absolutely everything .
It has to be said , that some people might find the effect a little jarring , a little too ‘ real ’ perhaps , but with the refinement work that Martin accepts needs to happen , this technology really does have the potential to be market changing , that of course does not mean that it will !
So how does Martin see a route to market ? “ At first I see it as a high-end format for people really interested in quality music , distributed in the first instance via physical media , but it could be streamed as well .
“ With the revival of vinyl and continued popularity of valve amps and the growth of high-res music files , you can see the audiophile audience is reaching out for something real , Living Sound can really give them that .”
Martin also argues the technology would enable manufacturers and music companies to produce high-end products that would give people a unique experience and build margin back into two markets which need it .
Martin also says that if the approach can catch on , it will , over the years , trickle down into the more affordable end of the market as stereo and surround sound did .
So what are the barriers that Living Sound would have to overcome to get a break ? Well , for a start recording studios would need new equipment to record in the format ; the technology also requires lots of data to work ( around 50GB per hour ) and the biggest challenge of all is to get industry acceptance or backing from a major company .
Martin says a company like Sony could really benefit from a technology like this , one that has the power to not only record in the format , distribute it , but also make the kit to play it back on .
Martin also says that remastering opportunities are on the table , he admits it won ’ t sound as good as if recorded natively in the new format , but some benefits will be there .
Another advantage is that right from the off , any physical product produced to deliver the new format can be copyright protected .
So where does the format go from here ? Martin admits that at this point he has taken the technology about as far as he can without help and is asking the audio industry to get involved , listen to the technology and see what opportunities present themselves .
There are a number of UK patent applications covering the technology and Martin says the next logical steps are to make some commercial recordings , produce prototype playback hardware and media and confirm size of target market .
If this sounds interesting , do contact Martin and go and have a listen , if nothing else , it really is like nothing else you will have heard before .
More Information : Martin can be contacted by emailing martin001 @ hogbin . org
22 | September 2016