audio the future of audio
So it's a new year and a new decade (happy
ones, by the way), a traditional time for
journalists and pundits to look backwards and
forwards in an attempt to give some
illumination as to what might be happening in
life and business. A potentially dangerous
undertaking; one wrong or misguided
prediction can damage any credibility someone
had, although Arthur C Clarke neatly side-
stepped complaints that come 2001 the
human race wasn't spinning around in space
stations to the strains of The Blue Danube by
saying that forecasts can be essentially correct,
it's just the timescale might be off by a few
decades. Kevin Hilton offers his forecast for
2010 and beyond.
What’s next for audio?
I
n some respects prognostication surround for TV through its work on pictures but for an experience that is
has become easier because there MPEG4 low bandwidth technology different from ‘normal’ TV the sound
is the experience and example of with Coding Technologies. would have to deliver its own
what went before to guide us. MPEG4 HE aacPlus (high efficiency sensation of extra dimensions. BSkyB's
Audio went through massive advanced audio coding, now known audio department is grappling with
upheavals during the 1980s, with
The next big
as HD AAC v2) became an open this situation in the run up to the
the growing influence of digital on
thing in
standard for 5.1 on platforms that launch of its 3DTV service later this
how material could be recorded,
multichannel
needed to squeeze more into a year.
stored and played back. Through the
audio is
limited carrier space. Both Dolby and Sky was among the leaders in 5.1
2000s few would have been shocked
likely to be
DTS produced systems based on the for HD, starting full services during the
at the prospect of recording on to a
what goes
format and expanded their R&D 2006/2007 football season. Senior
computer disk, editing and mixing capacity with their respective buy- manager of audio, Vaughan Rogers,
tracks using a software program and
with 3D
outs of Coding Technologies and says the answer to what audio goes
then sending the finished production
television.
Neural. Dolby Pulse, based on HD AAC with 3D might be nothing, but
to wherever it needed to go as a data v2, is now the audio format for possibilities are being explored.
file attached to an email. mobile DTV in the US. Although Rogers did not elaborate,
Similarly everyone is prepared for Even as the perceived natural audio one of these might be a cut down
5.1 surround sound, even if not all TV accompaniment to HD, 5.1's position version of the 22.2 that works with
programmes carry it right now. The in broadcasting for the next 10 years Super Hi-Vision. The large number of
last 10 years were about technologies is not assured. Blu-ray Disc (BD) is audio channels and how the play-back
like 5.1 evolving to provide showing a taste for 7.1 and loudspeakers are arranged produces a
broadcasters and post-production broadcasters in Europe are already sensation of height as well as of width
1
2
.
facilities with a wider selection of looking towards it for future and depth. The cost of rings of
tools for specific purposes. transmissions. multiple mics might be considered
Both Dolby and DTS were highly The next big thing in multichannel prohibitive by broadcasters and on the
productive and innovative during the audio is likely to be what goes with consumer side finding room for even
2000s. Dolby built on its AC-3 format 3D television. 5.1 and 7.1 would both more loudspeakers would most likely
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(Dolby Digital), while DTS moved into adequately complement the deeper spark domestic disputes.
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10 l ibe l january/february 2010 l www.ibeweb.com
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