IOSONO has presented the multi channel version of the new Spatial Audio Workstation at the AES Convention in London. Find out more.

In addition a tutorial on object-based production was given:

T5 – Spatial Audio Reproduction: From Theory to Production

Presenters:
Frank Melchior, IOSONO GmbH – Erfurt, Germany
Sascha Spors, Deutsche Telekom AG Laboratories – Berlin, Germany

Abstract:
Advanced high-resolution spatial sound reproduction systems like Wave Field Synthesis (WFS) and Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA) are being used increasingly. Consequently more and more material is being produced for such systems. Established channel-based production processes from stereophony can only be applied to a certain extent. In the future, a paradigm shift toward object-based audio production will have to take place in order to cope for the needs of systems like WFS. This tutorial spans the bridge from the physical foundations of such systems, over their practical implementation toward efficient production processes. The focus lies on WFS, however the findings will also be applicable to other systems. The tutorial is accompanied by practical examples of object-based productions for WFS.

Press release on the latest installation at Todd AO can be found here. Furthermore a nice report on the first event at this location here.

Wave Field Synthesis by Diemer de Vries – In December 1988, Delft University professor Guus Berkhout published his article in the AES Journal in which he proposed the concept of Wave Field Synthesis (WFS) as a format for spatial sound reproduction without ‘sweet spot’ limitations. Now, more than twenty years later, Diemer de Vries who was involved in the development and application of the concept from the very beginning, presents a 93-page monograph on the theme.
The principles of WFS are explained once again, with a digestible summary of the underlying mathematics. An explanation is also given of how the necessary steps, from theory (where things are infinitely large or small, having ideal properties) to real-world application, have successfully been made by making ample use of the properties of the human hearing mechanism.

Reproduction in WFS is most effective when dedicated recording techniques are used. A survey of such techniques is given. Special attention is given to the EU-project “CARROUSO” where ten institutes successfully cooperated on WFS-oriented research and development. Due to the results of this project, WFS is now known and recognized worldwide.
An illustrated short description is given of all – as far as known to the author – existing WFS systems in the world. Applications range from high-level audio research via multimedia education to night club entertainment. The monograph ends with a view to the future.

P5-7 Dual Radius Spherical Cardioid Microphone Arrays for Binaural Auralization—Frank Melchior, IOSONO GmbH – Erfurt, Germany, TU Delft, Delft, The Netherlands; Oliver Thiergart, Giovanni Del Galdo, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS – Erlangen, Germany; Diemer de Vries, TU Delft – Delft, The Netherlands; Sandra Brix, Fraunhofer IDMT – Ilmenau, Germany

The direction dependent analysis of impulse response measurements using spherical microphone arrays can deliver a universal basis for binaural auralization. A new method using dual radius open sphere arrays is proposed to overcome limitations in practical realizations of such arrays. Different methods to combine the two radii have been analyzed and will be presented. A plane wave decomposition in conjunction with a high resolution HRTF database is used to generate a binaural auralization, wherein the different designs are simulated under ideal and real conditions. The results have been evaluated in a quality grading experiment. It is shown that the dual radius cardioids design is an effective method to enhance the perceived quality in comparison to conventional spherical array designs.
Convention Paper 7855

… find the paper of the Ambisonics Symposium PDF.