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frequently asked questions

faq

  • Can IOSONO systems play back conventional multichannel material?

    Absolutely. While the full potential of our technology can be realized only with IOSONO-encoded material, the advantage of using an IOSONO system to play back conventional multichannel material lies in a much larger sweet spot.


    An IOSONO system simulates speakers at a greater distance to the audience than the venue would normally allow, thereby increasing the size of the sweet spot until it covers every seat in the house. Members of the audience sitting or standing closer to the walls will have almost the same experience of an even sound balance as those in the middle of the listening area.


    conventional audio system


    IOSONO audio system with enlarged sweet spot

  • Are IOSONO systems capable of reproducing the acoustics of famous concert halls?

    IOSONO systems can, to a large extent, recreate the acoustics of large concert halls. The reverberation characteristics of a particular hall can be reproduced with greater accuracy, and instruments can be arranged in the space as they would be in the original venue. Since virtual sound sources can be positioned practically anywhere, you can, for example, put a string quartet in the middle of the room and have the audience sit in front of, to either side of, or behind the musicians.

  • What types of venues can benefit from an IOSONO installation?

    IOSONO systems can greatly enhance the experience offered by cinemas, museums, theme parks, multi-media installations, clubs, and any venue that relies on sound reproduction. Some examples of successful IOSONO installations around the world can be found in the references section.

  • What kind of hardware and software does an IOSONO system typically comprise?

    The core of any IOSONO installation is a PC-based rendering and control unit which runs the IOSONO software, and dedicated audio hardware, all integrated into a rack. A graphical user interface provides easy control of the system.


    The synthetic 3D wave field is produced by a number of IOSONO-certified speaker panels set up along the perimeter of the listening area. To ensure the highest sound quality, the speaker panels are built using premium components and on-board active amplification. State-of-the-art subwoofers are used for subsonic frequencies.


    If the sound sources are to be manipulated in real time, for example by a DJ at a club, an IOSONO DJ/Live Interface is required. The DJ/Live Interface consists of a JazzMutant Lemur touch screen and a professional analog-to-digital converter unit that accepts stereo audio signals from any source.


    IOSONO-encoded material can be produced with the help of the IOSONO Spatial Audio Workstation plug-in. It has been designed to integrate smoothly into Nuendo 4, Steinberg’s advanced audio and post-production software.

  • How steep is the learning curve for venue operators and content producers who are new to IOSONO?

    As with any powerful software tool, it takes a while to become acquainted with the IOSONO control software, the DJ/Live interface and the SAW plug-in for content producers. However, considering the scope of its functionality, our software is still relatively easy to use. You’ll soon find yourself forgetting about the technology and focusing on the creative aspects of IOSONO 3D sound!

  • Are IOSONO systems scalable?

    Yes. IOSONO systems can be configured for many different types of venues ranging from recording studios and trade show stands right through to large cinemas and assembly halls.

  • Where can I listen to an IOSONO system?

    IOSONO systems have been installed in a number of venues around the world. If you are a venue operator or an audio content producer interested in experiencing IOSONO live, please contact us to arrange a demonstration at our facilities in Los Angeles, California, or Erfurt, Germany.

  • Is IOSONO technology available for home entertainment?

    While we do not currently cater to the mainstream home entertainment market, we are continually developing IOSONO technology and plan to make systems optimized for home entertainment applications available soon.

  • How are IOSONO and the MP3 audio format connected?

    MP3 is a revolutionary audio encoding technology, developed in the 1990s, which reduces the amount of digital memory required to store audio material. Using MP3 data compression, an entire CD track can be converted into a file that is only one tenth the size of the original track, with virtually no perceived loss of sound quality. MP3 thus paved the way for portable media players that can store thousands of songs.


    IOSONO is also an encoding technology, but it serves a different purpose: to create a virtual acoustic environment with multiple sound sources placed in practically any desired location within, or even outside of, the listening area.


    What the two technologies have in common is that they were both pioneered by renowned researcher Karlheinz Brandenburg, currently Head of the Institute for Media Technology at the Technical University Ilmenau, Germany, and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT, also in Ilmenau.

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