cibomatto2002
October 11th, 2007, 06:28
An audio experience like that of a movie theater involves huge amounts of data. The sound engineer mixes down dozens of signals from individual microphones and produces files which are then played back through six channels. The recording of a Robbie Williams concert, for instance, would fill an entire audio DVD. Such mammoth files can be played on the surround sound system at home or in the car, but they are much too large for transmission via Internet radio or for storing on an MP3 player. “In order to make surround sound files interesting for sale via webshops or transmission on Internet radio, the data rate has to be drastically reduced,” explains Matthias Rose from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen.
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Together with engineers from Agere Systems, the IIS researchers have discovered a new way of streamlining the data packets: Special software reduces the data stream down to a stereo signal, and additional information is then packed into this so-called “downmix”. After this, the file is compressed and can be transmitted in the usual way, for example via the Internet. The receiver reads the additional information packed into the file and, with its help, is able to reconstruct the original signal. “This approach combines the advantages of previous procedures, allowing surround sound to be stored or transmitted in top quality without taking up too much space, and that’s the basis of MP3 Surround,” says Rose. “MP3 Surround is the multi-channel upgrade to the MP3 audio compression standard.”Basically, MP3 reduces the data stream: Those parts of the signal which are almost or entirely imperceptible to the human ear are coded with less accuracy and consequently take up less storage space. Then there is the additional information for the different channels, for example the time taken for audio signals to travel between speakers or differences in volume. The software packs the coded stereo signal and the sound parameters into an MP3 Surround file, which can then be stored or sent via the Internet. It can be played back on any MP3 player. If the MP3 player is fitted with an MP3 Surround chip and is attached to six speakers, the room will resound to the full surround sound effect. If not, a normal stereo signal will be heard.
The new technology has already begun to take hold of the multimedia world. The first manufacturers have started to integrate MP3 Surround into their products. The German software house Magix, for instance, is equipping many of its entertainment, music and video products with MP3 Surround. Steinberg’s professional audio processing software, Cubase 4, also supports the new surround sound format and, in the video field, the company DivX supports mp3 surround in its software. Many consumer electronics companies, such as Samsung, Sony and LG, have taken out licenses for MP3 Surround.
http://www.physorg.com/news91463738.html
Free White Paper
Free Information Technology white papers, downloads and podcasts
Together with engineers from Agere Systems, the IIS researchers have discovered a new way of streamlining the data packets: Special software reduces the data stream down to a stereo signal, and additional information is then packed into this so-called “downmix”. After this, the file is compressed and can be transmitted in the usual way, for example via the Internet. The receiver reads the additional information packed into the file and, with its help, is able to reconstruct the original signal. “This approach combines the advantages of previous procedures, allowing surround sound to be stored or transmitted in top quality without taking up too much space, and that’s the basis of MP3 Surround,” says Rose. “MP3 Surround is the multi-channel upgrade to the MP3 audio compression standard.”Basically, MP3 reduces the data stream: Those parts of the signal which are almost or entirely imperceptible to the human ear are coded with less accuracy and consequently take up less storage space. Then there is the additional information for the different channels, for example the time taken for audio signals to travel between speakers or differences in volume. The software packs the coded stereo signal and the sound parameters into an MP3 Surround file, which can then be stored or sent via the Internet. It can be played back on any MP3 player. If the MP3 player is fitted with an MP3 Surround chip and is attached to six speakers, the room will resound to the full surround sound effect. If not, a normal stereo signal will be heard.
The new technology has already begun to take hold of the multimedia world. The first manufacturers have started to integrate MP3 Surround into their products. The German software house Magix, for instance, is equipping many of its entertainment, music and video products with MP3 Surround. Steinberg’s professional audio processing software, Cubase 4, also supports the new surround sound format and, in the video field, the company DivX supports mp3 surround in its software. Many consumer electronics companies, such as Samsung, Sony and LG, have taken out licenses for MP3 Surround.
http://www.physorg.com/news91463738.html