NRG Acoustics HJ-17: Fields of application

NRG Acoustics SG-4: Multichannel surround sound

Multichannel surround sound is a technique of enriching the sound reproduction quality of any audio source with additional audio channels from audio speakers that surround the audience (surround channels), providing sound with a 360 radius within the horizontal plane (2D) not like "screen channels" (middle, [front] left, and [front] right) coming from only on the listener's forward arc.

Multichannel surround sound is portrayed by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects performs best, and presents a fixed or forward perspective of the sound area towards listener as of this location. The technique enhances the belief of sound spatialization by manipulating sound localization; a listener's ability to identify the location or origin of a noticed sound in route and range. Typically this is achieved by making use of multiple discrete audio channels routed to an array of loudspeakers.

There are many multichannel based models and methods, ranging in processing and recording methods combined with amount and positioning of extra stations.


NRG Acoustics HJ-17: Fields of application

Though cinema and soundtracks characterize the main uses of surround approaches, its scope of application is wider than that as surround sound permits creation of an audio-environment for all sorts of functions. Multichannel audio techniques are useful to reproduce contents as various as music, conversation, natural or synthetic sounds for cinema, television, transmissions, or portable computers. With regards to music content for example, a live performance is able to use multichannel techniques in the context associated with an open-air concert, of a musical theatre or for broadcasting; for a film particular techniques are adjusted to movie theater, or even to home (e.g. home cinema systems).

The narrative space is also a content that could be enhanced through multichannel solutions. This is applicable mainly to cinema narratives, as an example the talk from the characters of a film, but might be also utilized on plays for theatre, to a meeting, or to integrate voice-based comments in an archeological site or monument. For example, an exhibition might be improved with topical background sound of water, wild birds, train or equipment sounds. Topical natural sounds can also be used in instructive programs.

NRG Acoustics A-70 - Several other fields of application include video gaming consoles, computers and other platforms.

In these purposes, the content would typically be artificial noise produced by the computer device in interaction with its user. Substantial work has been specifically done using multichannel surround sound for enhanced situation knowledge in army and general public safety applications.