• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

mkpeReport

top analysis covering digital cinema, 3-D, HFR, and laser illumination

  • Reports
  • About
  • mkpe.com
  • cinepedia.com

The Interest in Object-Based Audio is Growing

February 2013 by Michael Karagosian

A prediction made a few years ago in this publication is that this would be the decade for sound in cinema. It wasn’t that hard of a prediction, given that the prior decade was focused on picture, and after picture, there’s…well… sound. What wasn’t easy to predict as digital cinema was being developed was the acceptance of rendered soundfields, versus traditional channel-based sound that requires no rendering. The technology is so new that 10 years of open standards work on digital cinema completely missed it, opening the door for proprietary distributions. And we may be premature in saying that rendered soundfields have been “accepted.”

Two organizations took steps this month to address the issue of distribution of emerging sound formats, one viewing it as a problem, the other as an opportunity. Neither hit the mark.

The National Association of Theatre Owners, the exhibition trade body in the US, along with the Union Internationale des Cinémas, the umbrella organization of national exhibition trade bodies in Europe, jointly issued a document titled “Immersive Sound Requirements.” It’s an odd document, dictating the principle that “It is critical that there not be multiple proprietary solutions for theaters.” It then offers two acceptable distribution schemes, the first of which bundles many formats into a single distribution. If taken literally, the proposal is contrary to how the digital Composition works. But demonstrating even less understanding, the concept is already embodied in the combo 5.1 / Auro3D / Atmos distributions that are possible today.

The second scheme outlines a solution where sound is rendered in the cinema. Rendered sound, however, violates the principal of no “multiple proprietary solutions.” Rendering engines go hand-in-hand with particular speaker arrays – think of these as a matched pair. In a marketplace of rendering engines, there will be those that render to smaller, lower cost, arrays of speaker, and those that render to large, very expensive, speaker arrays, each “matched pair” of rendering engine and speaker array a proprietary system.

It would have made more sense for NATO to say that exhibitors are choosing to invest in sound systems of different design, and the industry would like the best possible sound to be delivered to all systems, as frequently as possible. This, certainly, is the white elephant in the room, and the problem that exhibition should be complaining about. It is a very difficult problem, as it points to the need to efficiently mix soundtracks for multiple systems – not a simple feat. But flaws aside, the document serves as a clear statement that exhibitors are frustrated with the current situation in new cinema sound.

MPEG, a subgroup of ISO Joint Technical Committee JTC1, always looking ahead, sees lots of opportunity to define yet another MPEG delivery format to consumer equipment. The group issued a Call for Proposals, with a wish list that only a committee could make up, including support for NHK’s 22.2 sound format, and object-based sound. The fascinating part is that they require a response in a matter of months, and expect to move forward with a solution this summer. Insiders say the solution is already 80-90% complete, and that the Call for Proposal was issued out of recognition that the format is of no use without content. MPEG has its hits and misses. Not every standard MPEG produces takes off in the marketplace. But the core message in MPEG’s Call for Proposals is that commercial interests, other than Dolby, are interested in bringing more sound to the home. Cinema owners, take note.

Filed Under: Sound Tagged With: object-based sound

Primary Sidebar

Search

Topics

  • 3-D
  • Accessibility
  • Alt Content & Advertising
  • Anti-Piracy
  • Color
  • Communications
  • Deployment Entities
  • Distributors
  • Exhibitors
  • Fulfillment
  • High Dynamic Range
  • Higher Frame Rates
  • Installations
  • Patents
  • Projectors
  • Servers and IMBs
  • Sound
  • Technical Bodies
  • Theatre Management Systems
  • Trade Organizations and Shows

Full Archives

a publication of
MKPE Consulting LLC

Footer

Important Stuff

  • About
  • Privacy Policy

Archives

  • Category & Monthly Archives
Archives date back to 2008.

MKPE

mkpeReport is a publication of MKPE, a world-class consultancy building business at the crossroads of cinema and technology.
Learn more about MKPE.

copyright © 2008 - 2023 mkpe consulting llc

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo