SpatialSound Wave

Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology

Interactive Design for Innovative Sound Adventures

With SpatialSound Wave, Fraunhofer IDMT offers a compact sound and production system for directional reproduction of sounds and acoustic environments – without being limited to the preferred seats. The system can not only be used in clubs and for events, but also in planetariums and theme parks, for live events, product presentations and for audiovisual 3D simulations.

Benefit from the 3D-Experts‘ Know-How

SpatialSound Wave is based on a long-time experience of Fraunhofer IDMT with spatial audio reproduction technologies like Wave Field Synthesis. With SpatialSound Wave, the experts have now created a very compact system for spatial sound reproduction working without a closed set-up of loudspeakers although creating an impressive, acoustically realistic immersion.

Spatial Sound Quality for All Purposes

With SpatialSound Wave, you get a scalable spatial sound system that can be individually adapted to the quality requirements and the characteristics of the location. SpatialSound Wave convinces with an extended sweet spot and several features for real-time movement and positioning of sound sources. With a sufficient number of loudspeakers available, the system can be extended with real 3D sources. The free use of sound objects allows SpatialSound Wave to be applied for individual sound design in live and playback reproductions as well as for producing dramatic shows. The system offers also an interactive acoustic room simulationtool. This way, the spatial sound created can be adapted to the given requirements of an event, e. g. speech reproduction and concert acoustics.

Interactive Design for Innovative Sound Adventures

With SpatialSound Wave, a sound designer, content producer or DJ can add to his show interactively by introducing sound effects from any direction. For a massively entertaining experience, also light and video systems can be coupled with the sound system. They are operated in real-time using an intuitive graphical user interface.

 

Processing Unit
SpatialSound Wave is based on a PC based audio server running in a Linux operating system. Linux offers solid operation stability and a high performance for demanding real-time applications.

Audio In/Out
In general, audio signals are connected via MADI using proven RME sound cards. Further audio interfaces can be offered. A typical configuration consists of 32 input and 64 output channels. This configuration can be extended.

Software Package
SpatialSound Wave contains the rendering software of the processing unit as well as the control application. It is operated using the intuitive SpaMix User Interface. The following extension modules are available: 3D Module (height), OSC Video Connection Modules, Q-Sys Interface.

Typical Hardware Environment
At the outputs, the system is directly connected to amplifiers and loudspeakers using D/A converters. The system provides internal filters, so additional controllers are not necessary.

At the inputs, mixers or digital audio workstation (DAW) can be connected directly via MADI or A/D converters. 32 inputs are processed at the same time. Thus, the SpatialSound Wave system can be integrated into any audio environment.

Synchronization
The system can be synchronized with existing equipment as master or slave via Wordclock or LTC.

Object oriented coupling to video sources or computer based input is possible via the Open Sound Control protocol (OSC).

Redundancy
Full redundancy is available. A fully synchronized second system can run as hot-standby. The signals are switched automatically, if necessary.

Room Simulation
You can extend SpatialSound Wave with a room simulation module. It provides a reverberation time extension and virtual acoustic room reproduction using convolution based spatial simulation. 

SpatialSound Wave has additional benefits in many applications. Clubs and dance halls, planetariums and dome theaters as well as event and life productions can benefit from a SpatialSound Wave system.

Since October 2010, SpatialSound Wave has provided impressive spatial sound effects in the worldwide known club P1 in Munich.

In showrooms and at events, the system is used for the processing of live and playback signals as well as for reverberation time extension and room simulation. For this, audio processing can also be carried out by a commercial audio network. In September 2011, in the showroom of Shure Europe GmbH, a SpatialSound Wave system based on the Q-SYS platform of QSC Audio Products has been installed.

In Zeiss-Planetarium Jena, SpatialSound Wave is used as sound system for production and presentation. The audio system controls 60 loudspeakers located inside the dome as well as horizontally around the audience. In combination with the digital full-dome projection system “powerdome®VELVET” of Carl Zeiss AG, impressive 3D worlds are created for eyes and ears.

SpatialSound Wave as Turnkey System

SpatialSound Wave is available as ready to run PC based audio server that can be used to operate and control the system at the same time.

SpatialSound Wave Integrated in Commercial Audio Platform

SpatialSound Wave can also be ported directly to different commercial audio platforms and used there.