AMBEO VR Mic

FAQ

• What is Immersive Audio, 3D audio?

  For many years, people have spoken about Surround Sound. With Immersive Audio, we speak about an additional dimension, namely the height dimension. We expect this to be the future of audio technology, comparable with the evolution from mono to stereo.

  In addition to the known Surround-placement (ear level/surround layer) we use elevation layers to place the audio elements in a 3-dimensional environment enveloping the listener.
  
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• What does “AMBEO” mean?

  AMBEO is Sennheiser’s program and trademark for 3D audio, which will cover immersive audio products and technologies for the entire audio signal chain, from capture to mixing and processing to reproduction.

  AMBEO products will be designed to deliver immersive sound experiences with an incredibly high emotional impact. While stereo audio or even 5.1 or 7.1 formats reproduce sound in a “plane”, AMBEO introduces a height elevation that creates an “as if there” feeling. This sound revelation has been compared to the switch from mono to stereo that happened in the last century. AMBEO 3D audio is so realistic that it is set to eliminate the boundaries between reality and playback, and between real and artificial sound sources.

  By revealing its strategic focus on 3D audio from very early on, Sennheiser has made AMBEO an invitation to users and technology partners around the globe to include their ideas, feedback and requirements in the design of the company’s 3D audio solutions, thus shaping the future of audio together with Sennheiser.

  AMBEO will set standards in immersive audio, creating a totally new audio experience that will change music and sound forever. Thanks to Sennheiser’s broad audio expertise and product offering, application scenarios will reach from music recording, filming and 3D audio installations in venues to gaming, sports broadcasting and playback on personal devices.
  
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• How is AMBEO different from other audio formats?
  AMBEO products will be designed to deliver immersive sound experiences with an incredibly high emotional impact. While stereo audio or even 5.1 or 7.1 formats reproduce sound in a “plane”, AMBEO introduces a height elevation that creates an “as if there” feeling in 9.1. This sound revelation has been compared to the switch from mono to stereo that happened in the last century. AMBEO 3D audio is so realistic that it is set to eliminate the boundaries between reality and playback, and between real and artificial sound sources.
  
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• What will be possible uses/applications for the AMBEO VR Mic?

  The unobtrusive, flexible and easy to use microphone was specially designed with Virtual Reality content producers in mind. Giving experienced sound designers as well as newcomers to 3D Audio the chance to record environment sounds by capturing 4 quadrants in high-quality standards, Sennheiser’s VR microphone is going to be a stable tool in any VR production.

  The innovative 3D microphone will be an important tool for VR productions and has been designed in cooperation with VR content producers and fine-tuned in an extensive creators’ program with participants from across the VR audio/video industry – and from across the globe. The microphone uses four cardioid condenser capsules in a tetrahedral arrangement; its signals are converted to B-format files in digital audio workstations by the supplied encoding software. The A-B-converter will be available as VST, AU and AAX plug-ins for Mac or Windows.
  
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• How is the AMBEO VR Mic set-up in proper use?
  Microphone to be used in parallel with VR cameras for full VR experience.
  
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• Why does the AMBEO VR Mic have four capsules?
  The four capsules are arranged in a tetrahedral cluster. This permits the capture of sound from all directions and provides what is called Ambisonics A-Format.
  
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• What is the output of the AMBEO VR Mic?
  The AMBEO VR mic outputs 4 x audio signals (one for each capsule) via a multipin connector at the base of the microphone. A special cable then splits the individual audio channels into 4 x Standard XLR 3F connectors identified numerically and by color.
  
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• Does the AMBEO VR Mic need phantom power?
  Yes, the AMBEO VR mic requires 4x 48v Phantom power (each capsule is a separate channel).
  
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• What is Ambisonics and why is it relevant to VR?

  The Sennheiser AMBEO VR Mic works in Ambisonics. Ambisonics captures audio in full-sphere surround from a single point in space. Not only horizontally, but also smoothly covering sound above and below. Developed in the 1970’s and mostly used for music recording, Ambisonics does not have outputs corresponding to speakers, but consists of a speaker independent representation of the sound field called B-format. This allows us to virtually rotate the orientation of the microphone in all directions and to position sound sources independently from speaker positions.

  B-format can be decoded to existing speaker layouts or binaurally rendered (using HRTF) to headphones.

  B-format representation can be changed dynamically by the use of head-tracking headphones or gyros in smartphones – this will make the audio spin when experiencing 360°videos.

  
  
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• What are the main use cases?
  • - Cinematic Virtual Reality
  • - Linear action based virtual reality
  • - Capture of live action as in traditional film
  • - Capture of ambiances for VR Games and other interactive Virtual Reality content
  • - Capture of sound beds for game sound design
  • - Livestreamed VR content
  • - Livestreamed content focused on sports or current events

  
  
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• Где устанавливают этот микрофон?
  Поле трёхмерного звука представляет собой сферу с центром в том месте, где установлен VR-микрофон. При совместной работе с 360°-камерой микрофон нужно постараться смонтировать как можно ближе к камере. Маркировка "Front" на микрофоне должна совпасть с фронтальной стороной камеры.
  
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• Как следует обрабатывать и прослушивать материал, записанный в формате трёхмерного звука?
  Микрофон VR Mic предоставляет трёхмерный сигнал Амбисоники формата A первого порядка (First order Ambisonics A-format), который необходимо конвертировать в формат B. Такого рода конвертация является самой значимой частью функционала и звучания данного микрофона. Вам необходимо скачать и установить конвертер Sennheiser AMBEO A-B (см. ссылку ниже), загрузив его на 4-канальную линейку вашей рабочей станции. Звук в формате Амбисоники можно декодировать в трёхмерный бинауральный стерео формат с помощью, например, плагина NoiseMakers AmbiHead.
  
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• Какова разница между стандартами выходных сигналов и каким стандартом необходимо пользоваться?
  На выходе с конвертера AMBEO A-B предоставляется выбор между опциями “Classic FuMa” и “ambiX”. Разница между ними заключается в порядке выбора каналов Амбисоники и уровнях сигнала. Какой из этих параметров выбрать, зависит от стоящей перед вами задачи и, возможно, от сигналов и инструментов обработки трёхмерных сигналов, которые должны быть все в одном формате. Для загрузки вашего материала в YouTube 360, всегда выбирайте параметр “ambiX” для совместимости этого материала с процедурой обработки трёхмерных сигналов, выполняемой браузером.
  
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• How can I use the A-B converter in Logic Pro X?
  Set up an LCRS or quadrophonic surround track in Logic.
  
  Go to Preferences → Advanced Tools → Show Advanced Tools and enable Surround.
  Then go to File → Project Settings → Surround Format and select either LCRS or Surround.
  Finally create a surround track by selecting Track → New Tracks → Audio and select Surround for both in- and output.
  The plugin should now be available as Audio Unit on this track.
  
  AMBEO VR Mic ( #507195 )