Essential Guide: Immersive Audio Pt 3 - Immersive Audio Objects

July 24th 2019 - 01:00 PM
Paul MacDonald, Writer, Professional Broadcast Audio

Immersive audio transforms the listening environment to deliver a mesmerizing and captivating experience for a wide range of audiences and expansive group of genres.

Part 3 in our immersive Audio series examines object audio and the core technology that empowers producers and sound engineers to deliver compelling auditory experiences.

We start with defining the key differences between traditional channel-based mixing and object programming. Spatially defined objects must be described using meta-data to allow us to fully create the immersive experience and how we record and express these must be understood. We investigate the methods available for this.

Using the blockbuster film Gravity as an example, we analyze and uncover the object methods used within the production context. Listener orientation is a key component in creating an effective mix and the psychological impact is further considered.

In their case study, Sennheiser provide an outstanding description of how to deliver location recording and mixing for production. They discuss the specialist microphones needed to truly enhance the immersive experience by recording the most optimal object audio possible.

With an in-depth description of object reproduction, Genelec Senior Technologist Thomas Lund uncovers the best strategies and requirements for loudspeaker placement to deliver accurate immersive audio. He digs deep into the standards and answers the age-old question “can I monitor using headphones?”

Lawo’s Christian Scheck discusses the functions available for immersive audio production. He looks at advances in technology and what we should expect for the future. Scheck goes on to discuss new methods of the user interface and how object monitoring solutions are being designed to deliver the best immersive sound possible.

This Essential Guide, part 3 of the series, continues our journey through immersive audio and object sound, and its applications in broadcast television.

Download this Essential Guide now to better understand immersive audio and object sound.

Part of a series supported by

You might also like...

The Changing Face Of Live Sports: Part 1 - The Rise Of Nimble Production

Live sports broadcasting has always been the preserve of big leagues and big broadcasters with the infrastructure, the clout and the resources to match. But it is no longer the only game in town.

Virtual Production For Broadcast: The Magic Of Subframe Technology

Subframe technology solves a fundamental challenge in virtual production, enabling LED video walls to display different images to multiple cameras at the same time. This allows each camera in a multi-camera setup to see its own perspective-correct background on a…

Standards: Audio - High Efficiency Audio Codecs (HE-AAC)

HE-AAC builds on the foundations of AAC to deliver near CD-quality audio at bitrates as low as 32 kbps, making it the codec of choice for mobile TV, digital radio and low-bandwidth streaming. This guide unpacks the key technologies behind its…

IP Security For Broadcasters 2026 – The Psychology Of Security

As engineers and technologists, it’s easy to become bogged down in the technical solutions that maintain high levels of computer security. But as the boundaries between traditional broadcast engineering and IT continue to dissolve, the first port of call i…

Standards: Audio - Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)

AAC succeeded MP3 by delivering better quality at lower bitrates. This guide examines how it works, compares the leading encoder implementations, and explains where it sits within the broader MPEG audio standards landscape.