Immersive audio, involving more than just two speakers providing stereo content, more accurately reflects the way we experience sound in the real world. It reaches the listener from above, behind and below in addition to the familiar left and right channels that stereo offers. This puts the listener at the centre of the audio experience. It’s more engaging and also allows sound designers and producers significant new creative opportunities. But the acquisition of audio for immersive experiences, whether broadcast or live art installation, presents challenges for content producers. Quality of recorded sound remains of paramount importance in such situations and – coupled with the logistics of capturing multiple channels of audio – this requires well-planned productions and the creative use of new technology. Audio-Technica has a long history of delivering quality audio in a wide variety of commercial applications, from installation to broadcast and live sound, and the move towards immersive sound is continuing to drive the company’s innovative approach. 360-degree microphone Over the last three years, Audio-Technica has developed a 360-degree microphone to deliver immersive audio in conjunction with Spanish broadcaster Dorna Sports SL. The microphone’s testing ground was the demanding environment of Moto GP ™ , the Grand Prix motorcycling championship, for which Dorna is rights holder. Audio- Technica’s 8.0 Microphone Concept is designed to be lightweight and small enough not just for discreet placement, but each of the eight 12mm elements can be removed from the core mount and packed away quickly in a compact case, making for fast deployment by a single operator. The simplicity of the 8.0 Microphone Concept is a real advantage for producers who wish to capture immersive audio content in a realtime and fast-paced environment, offering them a practical and uncomplicated solution without the additional algorithms and decoding required in alternative immersive audio capture applications. While the 8.0 concept was developed in a broadcast environment, potential applications for the new microphone are myriad, from concert hall performance and sound installations to outdoor festivals. “As audiences expect and demand a more encompassing audio experience in their listening environments the need for realtime live immersive mixing is only going to increase.” Says Rodrigo Thomaz, Audio-Technica Project Manager, Broadcast Partnerships: “The development of our 8.0 microphone and its proving in some extremely challenging, time- pressured broadcast situations has ensured that we’re well placed to deliver the tools required at the very beginning of that immersive signal chain.”
sound press
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker