surround-sound

2009 NAMM Show: Samson Technologies and Immersive Media Research (IMR) have announced new technology that lets H2 Handy Recorder owners share surround-sound recordings with the world. 

With four built-in microphones, the H2 captures 360° sound into two stereo WAV files. Until now, there was no easy way for H2 owners to share their unique surround recordings with the world.

IMR’s Vortex Zoom Encoder converts the H2’s unique dual-stereo recordings into standard formats you can share as DTS, Binaural, or 5.1 WAV.

Additional details on the output formats:

• DTS WAV is the easiest surround-sound format to author: Users simply drag the 44.1kHz, 16-bit, 2-channel WAV files to any CD-burning program and burn a CD as normal. They then play this special CD through the S/PDIF output on a CD player, computer, or Sony PlayStation 3 into a DTS-compatible home theater system. The signal automatically expands back into glorious 5.1-channel surround sound.
• Binaural WAV employs IMR’s proprietary ImmersiveStereo™ technology to convert surround-sound recordings into a dramatically real headphone experience. Users can transfer the resulting two-channel WAV files to portable players, burn them to audio CD, or convert them to compressed formats such as MP3 for more portability.
• 5.1 WAV is a six-channel, 44.1kHz interleaved WAV file. Users can drop these files into the free Fraunhofer MP3 Surround Encoder(http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/EN/bf/amm/mp3sur/index.jsp). MP3 Surround files are completely backward compatible: They play like normal stereo MP3s in standard players, but expand into 5.1 channels in MP3 Surround players such as Winamp. These 5.1 WAV files also load into many DAWs and video editing programs.

Vortex Zoom Encoder runs on Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista. The program operates in full-featured mode for 30 days and then reverts to a free player for Zoom H2 surround files, allowing users to hear their four-channel recordings through four speakers. Users can unlock and restore DTS, Binaural, and 5.1 WAV encoding for $25.

The Sound Guy has released ReSpatializer, an advanced panning, surround sound and spatialization plug-in. ReSpatializer supports up to eight input channels, each of which can be individually positioned.

Features:

• Selection of angle, spread and spin for each source
• LFE (low-frequency effect) tools
• 16 different output formats
• Host tempo sync for source rotation

ReSpatializer is available in VST and Audio Unit formats. The cost is US $99. Read more…

Neyrinck has introduced the Mix 51 Surround Panning and Mixing plug-in for Digidesign Pro Tools LE/M-Powered systems.

Mix 51 is a set of 5.1 surround panning and mixing RTAS plug-ins that allow you to take advantage of any Pro Tools system with six or more outputs such as Mbox 2 Pro, Digi 002/003, or M-Audio interfaces such as the Delta 1010 or FireWire 410.

5.1 Surround Panning

Insert an unlimited number of Mix 51 Surround Panner plug-ins on mono or stereo tracks to pan and mix to the Mix 51 Surround Mixer plug-in busses. Each panner can mix to one 5.1 bus and to one quad effect send bus.

Each panner has its own volume, mute, solo, and send controls so you can create a professional, automated mix using Pro Tools plug-in automation. The panner features X and Y position controls, a center % control, divergence controls, and LFE level control. Each panner also features a quad-channel effect send that follows the main pan control for easy-to-set-up surround reverb and effects panning.

5.1 Surround Mixing

The Mix 51 Surround Mixer plug-in provides three independent 5.1 busses so you can manage submixes such as dialog, music, and FX. It also provides three independent quad effect send busses that make it easy to set up surround reverb and effects. Each bus features fully automatable volume, mute, and solo controls for flexible monitoring and mixing. Read more…

NAB: SoundField has introduced the SoundField SPS200 A-Format microphone for stereo and 5.1 surround recording.

Designed for computer-based field and studio broadcast and recording applications, the SPS200 offers software plug-in A-Format to B-Format conversion, plus stereo and surround sound decoding and manipulation in place of an outboard control unit.

The most affordable of the SoundField Technology product range, the relatively lightweight SPS200 A-Format microphone uses the same established SoundField multi-capsule technology as the high-end models and offers many of the mpressive features of the company’s more expensive microphones. The SPS200 provides the ability to capture 5.1, 6.1, 7.1-channel audio and simultaneous stereo with variable width and to continuously vary the effective polar pickup pattern and orientation without moving the microphone.

The SPS200 comprises four low-noise, studio grade condenser capsules and weighs-in at less than 8 ounces (220 grams). Offering standard 48V phantom power, compatibility with all equipment is ensured through a provided short breakout cable that offers four line level outputs on balanced XLR connectors.

The first SoundField microphone to not require an accompanying outboard control unit, the SPS200 A-Format microphone relies on software for all format conversion, decoding and manipulation. The SoundField Conversion Lounge plug-in handles A to B-Format conversion and the SoundField Surround Zone plug-in looks after all aspects associated with stereo and surround sound decoding and manipulation. The software is compatible with Digidesign Pro Tools|HD and all PC and Mac DAW platforms that support VST Multichannel, including Nuendo, Cubase and Soundscape.

In addition to A-Format to B-Format conversion, the software supports many other features, for example allowing for 360-degree rotation and ±45-degree tilt control. A Zoom function gives the effect of zooming in or out from the sound source while End Fire re-orients the mic for end fire use rather than the more standard side address. An Invert function maintains the correct three-dimensional perspective in both surround and stereo when the SPS200 is suspended upside down above the sound source.

The software offers six modes for surround sound applications, including three 5.1 presets plus 6.1, 7.1 and 8-channel presets, with variable control of the front and rear width and rear polar patterns. In stereo mode, the software offers adjustment of polar patterns, stereo width and a high-pass filter as well as a Mid/Side (M/S) encoder.

Soundfield did not include pricing in its announcement.

Wave Arts has introduced Universal Binary versions of TrackPlug 4, MasterVerb 4 and WaveSurround 4 in the VST and Audio Unit formats, “Due to popular demand”.

We’re not sure about this, but we figure “due to popular demand” means that no one will buy your Mac software if it doesn’t run on any current Mac. Read more…