If like us you’ve been to the cinema recently and been more impressed with the 3D sound than with the visuals then the future of the technology that’s pushing the boundaries of the cinematic experience is worth finding out more about. Whether it’s a spaceship flying overhead or the sound of Spider-Man swinging past a skysraper the sound is as important as the 3D specs at immersing you into the movie you’ve paid so much to see, so we caught up with Wilfried Van Baelen, inventor of the Auro 3D Format, to find out how their innovation is shaping the future of cinema.
What is Auro-3D® and how has it changed the cinematic experience?
‘Auro-3D® is the next generation three-dimensional audio standard, designed as a cross-market solution. It provides a realistic sound experience unlike anything you’ve heard before. By fully immersing the listener in a cocoon of life-like sound, Auro-3D® creates the sensation of actually ‘being there’. Auro-3D® adds in a very specific ingredient to the sonic mix, HEIGHT, the crucial third and final dimension in the evolution of sound reproduction, capable of thoroughly immersing the audience. That’s the reason why we named it “Immersive Sound“ in 2010, which finally became the term used for “True Sound in 3D” worldwide and which is as such not related to a channel or object based technology, as some companies might lead you to believe to sell their products.
‘It is the natural spread of vertical sound energy between ear-level and the top directly above us, which is crucial. Locating sounds in the vertical axis works completely differently for our brain compared to the horizontal axis, because our hearing system is horizontally oriented between our left and right ears. Since we don’t have an ear on the top of our head to hear the vertical time differences, our subconscious brain is picking up so much information coming from the 3D reflections around those sources. These are much more important than most people would believe, not only for a more precise vertical or horizontal location but as well for a more natural timbre. Therefore, depending on the size of the room, either 1 or 2 extra layers (HEIGHT and TOP) are mounted above the existing Surround layer to produce a natural-sounding hemisphere of sound all around the audience.
‘It is easy to implement because it is based on the existing Surround standard with the addition of Auro-3D®’s unique “Height Layer”, creating a “vertical Stereo field all around the listener” which is key to achieve the most natural and immersive sound experience possible. The optional third layer (TOP Layer, placed overhead) is considered an effect channel only and is actually not essential for a natural reproduction of sound. Since human beings are less sensitive to sounds coming from above, the TOP Layer is mainly used for “fly-overs” and special effects.
‘Most sound sources, as well as their important early reflections are in real-life located between the existing Surround Layer and Auro-3D®’s unique Height Layer. The big advantage of the Auro-3D® format is that it enlarges the sweet spot plus creates a more relaxing hearing experience due to a better vertical spread of all those sounds around the audience. But the Auro-3D® format is not only about the speaker layout, we also developed groundbreaking technical solutions to have an end-to-end solution format. The Auro-3D® Creative Tool Suite allows an easy creation of true 3D sound based on the existing workflows.
‘The Auro-Codec® on the other hand is a unique technology that allows the delivery of the Auro-3D® masters into a standard 5.1 Surround master meaning that an existing 5.1 PCM audio stream is the carrier of 2 creative formats. The magic wonder of the Auro-Codec® can be achieved without any concession on the audio quality or artistic decisions made in each format.’
Which cinemas feature Auro-3D® technology to deliver fully immersive 3D audio?
‘Auro-3D® has scalable and compatible speaker layouts of which the 3-Layered Auro 11.1 system was specifically designed for cinema applications. What makes the system unique is that the 6 channels behind the screen are arrayed in 2 vertical Layers, which goes beyond the capabilities of other systems. The result delivers significantly more precision and transparency from all sounds on the screen, as well as creating much more depth and natural sound. Barco, the worldwide leader in digital cinema projectors, has an exclusive license on our technology for the professional cinema market. Almost 500 theaters worldwide already committed to install the Auro 11.1 by Barco system of which about 250 are already installed. Additionally we will have more than 35 leading post production facilities having installed the Auro-3D® Studio System by the end of this year.
‘Auro-3D® is not only integrated in commercial places but also in universities and schools around the world. Even music studios are installing the Auro-3D® system because the feedback we have from artists and musicians is: “This is the way music should sound” or “This is what Surround sound was meant to be. Suddenly this feels so much more natural and creates a substantial higher emotional experience, bringing the listener closer to the soul of the artist”.’
How does this translate into movies like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Transformers: Age Of Extinction that have used Auro 11.1?
‘Transformers’ is being mixed in Auro 11.1 as we speak. But I was really amazed by the extreme immersive sound I experienced with The Amazing Spider-Man 2, mixed by the multi Oscar winning engineer Paul Massey. I was even more amazed when I analyzed the way he achieved it. He almost never used the Top Layer, except for a fly-over or a special effect. He equally spread all sounds between the existing Surround Layer and Auro-3D®’s unique Height Layer. The level of the Height Layer was almost the same as the level of the existing Surround Layer. So Paul Massey really used this unique Auro- 3D®’s “vertical stereo field” in front and all around the audience to create a nice vertical spread of sound, resulting in much more transparency of all sounds involved and an extreme immersive sound experience.’
What other future movie releases can we expect to feature Auro 11.1 and what does that mean for the audience?
Since we now have more and more cinema theaters requesting movies in Auro 11.1, all major Hollywood studios as well as Bollywood studios and other film markets have started to produce more and more films in the Auro-3D® format. More than 50 international films including the main blockbusters are signed up. So there is much more content in the pipeline, with upcoming releases including The Expendables 3 and Kung Fu Panda 3.’
How does this transfer to our movie watching experience at home?
‘Since the speaker layouts are designed to have perfect compatibility between large rooms and small rooms, the experience translates perfectly into a home cinema. But of course, people should not underestimate that they have to spend a lot of money at home in order to get an experience that will come close to the immersive experience they have in a professional cinema theater. The digital projection on a big screen as well as the acoustical space and its treatment in a cinema theater are hard to achieve in a smaller place like a home cinema. Having said that, the unique Auro-3D® speaker layout does create the feel of a bigger space around the listener in a living room.’
What does this mean for other home entertainment options like computer gaming?
‘During my launch of Auro 9.1 in 2006 at the AES convention in Paris and San Francisco, I stated “The closer to life-like sound, the more immersive the experience”. Can you imagine suddenly hearing the enemy walking in a game precisely where he is located on screen? How exciting that would be? Now this totally new gaming experience is possible with the Auro-3D® format. Especially because our format allows object based reproduction over 3 vertical layers around the gamer, which will create the feel of being in the middle of the action on screen.’
What does the future of home audio look like in 5 years time?
‘After 25 years of 2D-Surround sound formats like 5.1 and 7.1, the introduction of Height all around the audience, which was brought to the market by the Auro-3D® format, is clearly a new momentum in the evolution of sound reproduction. Since the introduction of the Auro-3D® format, it has inspired many creative people and companies, upgrading their products to bring this new experience to the market. Next year, the first German cars will be available with Auro-3D® systems. It will be a new driving experience, much more relaxing and at the same time it will provide a much higher emotional experience when listening to music. So in the next 5 years, the world will be busy with the integration of “Immersive Sound” in consumer products around the world.’
