2-channel spatial audio?

[Eric Wood]

Hello,

I've been told by a couple of sources that it's possible to achieve spatial audio in a stereo signal from a cinema projector, but no one's been able to tell me what gear I need to accomplish this. We currently take AES signal from a GDC SR-1000 to a DAX-602, to an analog sound mixer to mix 5.1 down to 2.0 to transmit to wireless headphones.

I'd like to explore trying to use spatial audio for a better guest experience if anyone knows what I'd need to do it.

Thanks!

[Marcel Birgelen]

Most "spatial audio" systems using two channels use "interaural time difference" as the main tweak to give a sense of "spatiality" to certain sounds.

While any advanced DSP should be capable of doing such a "downmix", I don't know any out-of-the-box solution that will be able to downmix 5.1 or 7.1 to a 2.0 spatial audio representation on-the-fly and with near-zero latency.

I know that some of the "Atmos powered" devices with a 2.0 output are capable of doing this for Atmos for consumer soundtracks and that Netflix also includes a pre-rendered "2.0 spatial audio" track, but this is all closed, non-standard technology.

Please keep in mind that a spatial audio mix really only works well to some extend, if it's being used for the proper setup. A spatial 2.0 mix for headphones may not work right for a normal 2.0 TV setup or an in-car stereo system, for example. Especially since many in-car systems use a four-speaker configuration, which would destroy the subtle timing differences that produce the "spatial sound effects".

Edit: Google came up with this device. I've never seen, let alone, used it, but at first glance, it's getting close to what you're looking for.

[Gordon McLeod]

Interesting as DTS aquired the intellectual property of Circle Surround and the SRS enhancment system that Smart licensed for years