Fraunhofer IIS, Qualcomm and Technicolor to Demonstrate Live Broadcast of MPEG-H Interactive and Immersive TV Audio
Fraunhofer IIS, Qualcomm Technologies and Technicolor, the three major technology companies behind the MPEG-H Audio standard, are demonstrating this new technology at the NAB 2015 conference in Las Vegas this week.
In two separate venues, the companies will offer the world?s first live broadcast demonstration of their new interactive TV audio system currently proposed for ATSC 3.0 and being developed for over-the-top streaming video services.
MPEG-H Audio is designed to offer broadcasters a cost-effective means to elevate the sound quality of their offerings beyond 5.1 surround while incorporating new interactive features across the modern viewing devices from high-end home theaters, to tablets, smartphones, and sound bars.
The end-to-end live production demonstration at the Fraunhofer booth SU3714 will incorporate a live audio feed from a remote truck combined with recorded programming from video servers at the network. The process for distributing the new, live content to affiliate stations, inserting local commercials and emission to viewers? living rooms will be included in the demo.
Aside from the Fraunhofer prototype audio/video encoders and decoders and a J?nger Audio monitoring unit, all of the equipment in the demonstration is unmodified broadcast equipment used in TV plants and remote trucks today.
The system is based on the new MPEG-H Audio international standard. It offers viewers the ability to choose different audio presentations, such as "home team" or "away team" commentary for a sports event, or volume control over specific audio elements in a program ? such as dialogue or sound effects. Viewers are also able to experience great sound over loudspeakers, new 3D soundbars, tablet computer speakers, and headphones. Additionally, it is a true multi-screen audio system that tailors playback so programs sound best on a range of devices and environments ? from quiet home theaters with speakers to the subway or airport with earbuds.
All of these features will be under the control of the broadcaster or content distributor.
The demonstration will also include prototypes of new consumer devices supporting MPEG-H, including a Technicolor set-top box, Samsung pre-production prototype TV, and Texas Instruments-based audio-video receiver.
In addition, in meeting room SU 201LMR, Qualcomm Technologies will be demonstrating an end-to-end simulated live broadcast of scene-based MPEG-H audio. Every stage of a live Higher Order Ambisonic (HOA) production will be demonstrated: from capture of a live 3D musical performance, through efficient transport through a TV plant (NoC to affiliate), an emission encoder (MPEG-H) to playback on consumer devices with various speaker configurations.
MPEG-H Audio is designed to offer broadcasters a cost-effective means to elevate the sound quality of their offerings beyond 5.1 surround while incorporating new interactive features across the modern viewing devices from high-end home theaters, to tablets, smartphones, and sound bars.
The end-to-end live production demonstration at the Fraunhofer booth SU3714 will incorporate a live audio feed from a remote truck combined with recorded programming from video servers at the network. The process for distributing the new, live content to affiliate stations, inserting local commercials and emission to viewers? living rooms will be included in the demo.
Aside from the Fraunhofer prototype audio/video encoders and decoders and a J?nger Audio monitoring unit, all of the equipment in the demonstration is unmodified broadcast equipment used in TV plants and remote trucks today.
The system is based on the new MPEG-H Audio international standard. It offers viewers the ability to choose different audio presentations, such as "home team" or "away team" commentary for a sports event, or volume control over specific audio elements in a program ? such as dialogue or sound effects. Viewers are also able to experience great sound over loudspeakers, new 3D soundbars, tablet computer speakers, and headphones. Additionally, it is a true multi-screen audio system that tailors playback so programs sound best on a range of devices and environments ? from quiet home theaters with speakers to the subway or airport with earbuds.
All of these features will be under the control of the broadcaster or content distributor.
The demonstration will also include prototypes of new consumer devices supporting MPEG-H, including a Technicolor set-top box, Samsung pre-production prototype TV, and Texas Instruments-based audio-video receiver.
In addition, in meeting room SU 201LMR, Qualcomm Technologies will be demonstrating an end-to-end simulated live broadcast of scene-based MPEG-H audio. Every stage of a live Higher Order Ambisonic (HOA) production will be demonstrated: from capture of a live 3D musical performance, through efficient transport through a TV plant (NoC to affiliate), an emission encoder (MPEG-H) to playback on consumer devices with various speaker configurations.
