NRG Acoustics SG-4: Multichannel audio
Surround sound is a method of enriching the sound reproduction high
quality of an audio source with additional audio channels from speakers
that surround the audience (surround channels), providing sound with a
360 radius within the horizontal plane (2D) contrary to "screen
channels" (middle, [front] left, and [front] right) originating only
within the listener's frontward arc.
Multichannel audio is portrayed by a listener spot or sweet spot in
which the audio effects performs best, and presents a set or forward
perspective of the sound area towards the listener at this location. The
technique enhances the conception of sound spatialization by using
sound localization; a listener's capability to identify the location or
origin of a detected sound in route and distance. Typically this is
achieved by using multiple discrete audio channels routed to an array of
loudspeakers.
There are lots of multichannel audio based formats and techniques,
varying in processing and saving options combined with the number and
location of extra channels.
NRG Acoustics SG-4: Fields of use
Though cinema and soundtracks represent the major purposes of surround
solutions, its scope of application is broader than that as multichannel
audio permits creation of an audio-environment for all variations of
functions. Multichannel surround sound techniques are useful to
reproduce contents as varied as music, conversation, synthetic or
natural sounds for cinema, television, transmissions, or pcs. Regarding
music material to illustrate, an active performance could use
multichannel techniques in the context of an open-air show, of a musical
theatre or for broadcasting; for a film particular techniques are
adjusted to movie theatre, or even to residence (e.g. home cinema
systems).
The narrative place is also a content that could be enhanced through
multichannel solutions. This applies mainly to cinema narratives, for
example the dialog of the characters of a film, but may also be used on
plays for theatre, to a meeting, or to integrate voice-based comments in
an archeological site or monument. As an illustration, an exhibit may
be improved with topical ambient sound of water, birds, train or
equipment sounds. Applicable natural sounds could also be used in
educative programs.
NRG Acoustics SG-4 - Other sorts of fields of application include gaming units, computers and other platforms.
In such applications, the content would typically be fabricated noise
made by the computer system in interaction with its user. Substantial
work has been specifically done using surround sound for enhanced
situation knowledge in military and general public safety applications.
