• 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

Making MDA Popular Won’t Be Easy

April 2013 by Michael Karagosian

Multi Dimensional Audio (MDA) is an audio distribution format capable of carrying every known and yet-to-be-defined cinema audio format. It can carry channel-based audio, object-based audio, and any combination thereof. It was developed by SRS Labs, now owned by DTS. DTS says they will make the format available for industry use on a license-free basis.

The value of an open distribution format that supports both channel-based sound and object-based sound is enormous. It allows competitive makes of mastering systems to generate formatted sound tracks that can be understood by competitive downstream playback equipment. If the installed sound system does not have all of the channels of the mastered audio, it will have the opportunity to render the sound track in the best manner possible to the available speaker system. Similarly, if sound objects are included in the mix – which are sound tracks of limited duration accompanied by timing and panning instructions for the rendering engine – the playback rendering engine will do the best it can to recreate the mix on the available speaker system.

This may sound ideal, but it is not without flaws. If the speaker system that the rendering engine is tuned to is not the same as that used in the mixing room, then the sound heard by the audience may no longer be director-approved. That’s a big departure for mainstream cinema, although in the days of Lt/Rt soundtracks on film, many operators had a screen or two hidden away having sound systems that reproduced a lesser, un-approved version of the format. The value of an audio distribution format that can be read by MDA-compliant systems, regardless of speaker arrangement, is that exhibitors once again would be able to tailor their investments in sound systems with the knowledge that all distributions could still be played in their auditoriums.

For DTS, the promotion of MDA is a smart move. As an open distribution format, it solves a big problem created by Dolby Atmos. Cinema operators probably do not understand the path that Dolby is on. Atmos is its means to take over next-generation home audio distribution and keep competitor DTS out. It will achieve this by giving or discounting Atmos systems to exhibitors, establishing a sizeable footprint, and enticing directors to produce Atmos mixes. Dolby locks its Atmos mixes such that downstream versions of the mix, in Blu-ray or in downloaded media, are not available for remix to a competing format. This will force studios to use a consumer format licensed only by Dolby, even if the consumer version of the mix is reduced to fewer tracks than the cinema version.

MDA has a long road to travel, however, before achieving widespread use. It has to be redefined in a manner that can be including in the digital cinema distribution package. The details of how the format is played back using existing media blocks, and how audio is rendered, must be worked out. Most important of all, there must be movies mixed in the format. There is no incentive for Dolby to make MDA successful, making the task of convincing directors and sound mixers to create mixes that are compliant with MDA a most important one.

At CinemaCon, Wilfried van Baelen, inventor of Auro 3D, personally pulled out his laptop computer and demonstrated to your author the ability to generate an MDA mix using the Auro 3D plugin for the Pro Tools sound mixing platform. It was quite impressive, and exactly the start that MDA needs. For Auro to move down the MDA path in cinema, however, is a big departure from its current proprietary distributions (that are compatible with 5.1 and 7.1 audio tracks). It is not known as to the degree that Barco is onboard with this. And there are those many pieces that must be in place to make an Auro/MDA distribution format a success. Let’s hope they take the leap.

Filed Under: Sound Tagged With: Auro3D, MDA

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 - 2022 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