NRG Acoustics A-70: Multi channel audio
Multi channel audio is a method of enriching the sound processing top
quality of an audio source with additional audio channels from audio
speakers that surround the listener (surround channels), providing sound
with a 360 radius within the horizontal plane (2D) in contrast to
"screen channels" (centre, [front] left, and [front] right) coming from
only on the listener's forward arc.
Multichannel audio is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot
in which the audio effects perform best, and offers a set or frontward
perspective of the sound field with the listener around this location.
The technique improves the belief of sound spatialization by taking
advantage of sound localization; a listener's capability to know the
location or origin of a detected sound in path and range. Typically this
is achieved by using multiple discrete audio channels routed to an
array of loudspeakers.
There are lots of multichannel based models and methods, differing in
processing and saving approaches in addition to the number and the
positioning of of additional channels.
NRG Acoustics HJ-17: Areas of use
Though cinema and soundtracks signify the foremost uses of surround
approaches, its scope of use is larger than that as multi channel audio
enables creation of an audio-environment for all variations of
functions. Multichannel techniques could be used to recreate contents as
various as music, conversation, synthetic or natural sounds for cinema,
television, transmissions, or pc's. Relating to music content one
example is, a live performance may use multichannel techniques in the
context of an open-air event, of an musical theatre or for
transmissions; for a film particular techniques are adjusted to movie
theatre, or even to home (e.g. home cinema systems).
The narrative area is also a content that could be improved through
multichannel approaches. This applies mainly to cinema narratives, for
example the talk from the characters of a film, but may even be applied
to plays for theatre, to a meeting, or to incorporate voice-based
comments in an archeological site or monument. As an illustration, an
exhibit could very well be enhanced with topical background sound of
water, birds, train or equipment sound. Applicable natural sounds can
also be used in educative programs.
NRG Acoustics SG-4 - Other sorts of fields of application include gaming controllers, computers along with other platforms.
In these purposes, the content would typically be synthetic noise
generated by the computer unit in interaction with its user. Significant
work has been specifically done using multichannel for enhanced
situation awareness in military and public safety applications.
