Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Tech Focus: Audio Monitoring, Part 1 - Immersive Sound Is Changing What Loudspeakers Are and Do

15/01/2025

Tech Focus: Audio Monitoring, Part 1 - Immersive Sound Is Changing What Loudspeakers Are and Do Software steps in to manage the increase in speakers and greater complexity By Dan Daley, Audio Editor

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - 7:00 am

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

The big winners in the immersive-sound sweepstakes have clearly been the companies that make loudspeakers. With Dolby Atmos and other formats adding multiple side and overhead speakers for 7.1.4 and larger configurations, transducers are shipping by the pallet load. This dynamic has also boosted the consumer soundbar sector, which reached the $8 billion mark in 2024 and is headed toward an estimated $16 billion by 2032.

However, managing multiple loudspeakers in an intensive broadcast-mix environment, such as production trucks, requires more than just numbers: it needs its own kind of math, in terms of placement and positioning. That has led to development of a robust software market for such requirements as time alignment and automated imaging correction.

Genelec's Will Eggleston: In immersive installations, the challenge is always the need for quick and precise calibrations.

In immersive installations, says Will Eggleston, marketing director, Genelec, the challenge is always the need for quick and precise calibrations that account for level matching and [time-alignment] compensation, as well as room-environment equalization. Those are an absolute necessity.

He cites the GLM Genelec Loudspeaker Manager software, used for keeping multiple speakers correctly aligned in the tight confines of the audio compartment in the rear of most trucks. We find most trucks have been adapting from 5.1 surround to 5.1.4 immersive or maybe 5.1.2 with the use of four or two overhead [speakers], respectively. Noting that the GLM software can scale from stereo to 5.1 or 7.1.4 and higher, he says, The biggest challenge in these environments is usually space.

Another concern with multiple speakers is their size and geometry. A compact form factor, performance attributes, and various mounting options usually top the list of requirements for playback and durability, he adds, citing Genelec's basic analog-input 8030 and its Smart Active cousin, the 8330.

Reading the Room The freelance nature of the A1 cohort in the U.S. means that sports-audio mixers operate from a variety of trucks, each with its own acoustical environment. Getting a mix to translate is important, and DSP has been the silver bullet for that.

Several brands have developed room-correction systems for this. Some begin by focusing on LFE correction -JBL's Intonato 24 system, for instance, works solely below 500 Hz - but all are said to optimize frequency response to the spaces they're used in. Though differing somewhat, all speaker-calibration solutions need a point of reference in order to function.

This takes the form of a measurement process that captures a snapshot of monitor performance from a listening position based on several swept-tone passes. The resulting profiles and a predetermined target curve (that is, a flat or ideal frequency response) are the two main components of speaker calibration. The effects of the two curves are seen as after curves, which compensate tonal issues using EQ within each monitor channel, work to improve the phase relationship between monitors, and enable improved stereo and multichannel imaging.

Neumann's Jonathan Ruest: It's less about speaker size than about how well the speaker can adapt and translate in a different environment.

Room-correction software comes into play much more often now, especially in immersive environments, says Jonathan Ruest, head of sales and business development, Americas, Neumann, a speaker and microphone manufacturer. It's less about speaker size - although they do have to be more compact than not - than about how well the speaker can adapt and translate in a different environment.

Neumann's MA 1 Automatic Monitor Alignment system uses algorithms that calculate room geometries from individually calibrated measurement microphones to create a room-adaptive target curve. The software is run once on a speaker, which then uses that stored DSP data to adapt itself to new environments. (Each microphone has a serial number; with the serial number loaded into the MA1 software before tuning, the software calibrates the speaker for that individual mic's measurements.)

Mountability matters as much as speaker size, Ruest says, noting that the company has developed a mounting matrix that takes into account ceiling locations - necessary for Atmos - as well as more-conventional wall and stand mounting.

Finally, he points out, speakers need to be loud enough, a parameter that requires more than a volume knob that goes to 11. Unlike in music mixing, sports production involves a combination of elements, including sound effects and speech, and all must be heard clearly within a complex mix.

Immersive mixes tend to be more dynamic, he says. There are a number of considerations, especially as the number of speakers in a truck multiply.

Collectively, DSP systems will likely prove their value as more sports broadcasts move to the REMI/at-home model. Productions with endpoints perhaps in an A1's basement or garage home studio - a situation once propelled by pandemic policies but now more by economic exigencies - are making REMI workflows the norm in many cases.

In the larger picture, as various flavors of surround audio become ubiquitous and immersive sound grows ever closer to becoming a broadcast standard, digital technology is redefining what a loudspeaker is, what it does, how it does it, and where it can do it. In a soon-to-be-world of 5.1.4 and then some, it's perhaps not a moment too soon.

Click here for Tech Focus: Audio Monitoring,
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/01/15/tech-focus-audio-monitoring-par...
See more stories from svg

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

06/09/2026

Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Germany with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...

04/08/2026

Dalet Announces Commercial Availability of Dalia, Bringing Media-Aware Agentic AI to Enterprise Productions

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

04/07/2026

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in Dolby Cinemas Across Japan, Presented in Dolby Atmos and Dolby ...

April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...

17/06/2026

EVS Achieves EcoVadis Gold Medal, Ranking in Top 5% of Companies Globally

EVS has announced it has received the EcoVadis Gold Medal for sustainability performance, ranking among the top 5% of companies globally in the Technology/Mid-S...

17/06/2026

Chyron Releases Weather 2.4 with Updated DataFlow Module

Chyron has released Weather 2.4, an update to its weather suite for broadcasters and meteorologists. The release focuses on enhancements to the DataFlow module,...

17/06/2026

VSiN Launches Best Bets TV, a 24/7 FAST Channel

VSiN, The Sports Betting Network, has announced the launch of Best Bets TV, a free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel. The 24/7 channel is currently avail...

17/06/2026

Snapchat and Team Whistle Launch World Cup Creator Program Across Miami, New York, and Los Angeles

DAZN's Team Whistle and Snap Inc. have announced a creator program centered ...

17/06/2026

LiveU Supporting Broadcast and Public Safety Operations for Summer of Soccer

LiveU is providing video transmission technology for broadcasters, production companies, and public safety agencies across North America's busy Summer of So...

17/06/2026

NATAS Announces Two New Board Members and COO Promotion

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) has announced that Laurens Grant and Jacob Ullman have joined its Board of Directors. Chief of Staf...

17/06/2026

Akta Brings AI-First Cloud Video Workflows to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

Akta, the AI-First SaaS video platform for modern broadcast and streaming operations, today announced that its video platform is now generally available on Orac...

17/06/2026

SVG Students to Watch: Nicholas Stafford, Texas Southern University

This recent graduate from Houston found inspiration in technical directing and now eyes a future career in sports production...

17/06/2026

InfoComm 2026: Audio-Technica Brings New Wireless, Networked Audio, and Certified Conferencing Solutions

Audio-Technica (booth C7959) arrives at InfoComm 2026 in Las Vegas with a slate ...

17/06/2026

SNS Positions AI Suite as On-Premise Answer to Video Indexing and Search Demands

SNS has published a guide addressing growing demand for AI-powered video indexing, transcription, facial recognition, and searchable metadata across media libra...

17/06/2026

Providius Announces Providius Direct for Network Troubleshooting on NETGEAR Pro AV Switches

Providius has announced Providius Direct, a workflow for investigating network i...

17/06/2026

NEP Launches NEP Platform Software Orchestration System, Selects Bridge Technologies VB440

NEP Group has announced the commercial availability of NEP Platform, a software ...

17/06/2026

BBright White Paper: SRT vs. RIST for Professional Video Contribution and Distribution

A new white paper examining Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) and Reliable Interne...

17/06/2026

Bango Research: 51% of Gen Z Say Highlights Are Replacing Live Games

New research from subscription bundling platform Bango finds that younger sports fans are increasingly consuming sport through highlights, clips, and social med...

17/06/2026

SMPTE Opens Entire Standards Library to Public at No Cost

SMPTE has announced that its complete Standards catalog is now freely available to the global media technology community, including all published SMPTE Standard...

17/06/2026

MediaKind Completes Merger with Harmonic's Video Business, Creating Independent Video Infrastructure Heavyweight

Harmonic has completed the sale of its Video Business to MediaKind for $145 mill...

17/06/2026

Omaha Productions to Produce 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event Coverage for ESPN

Omaha Productions will produce the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vega...

17/06/2026

SoundBridge 3.1.0 now available

New features, changes & bug fixes SoundBridge have just released another update for their remote collaboration-focused DAW - reviewed here in SOS March 2026...

17/06/2026

Fryette launch the Valvulator Mini

Valve-based front end for digital & modelling rigs The latest addition to Fryette's product range delivers a packed-down, pedalboard-friendly version of...

17/06/2026

The Biggest UK Pro Audio Show In 20 Years!

GearExpo UK - 27 June 2026 Sound On Sound are proud to announce GearExpo UK, a major new recording and music technology exhibition in London! This is the bi...

17/06/2026

Genelec introduce the 9402A System Management Device

SAM monitoring line-up gains Dante and AES67 support The latest expansion of Genelec's UNIO monitoring ecosystem introduces a new device that provides D...

17/06/2026

The R&SPR300 portable receiver from Rohde & Schwarz sets new standards in spectrum monitoring

The R&S PR300 portable receiver from Rohde & Schwarz sets new standards in spect...

17/06/2026

Elt Group and Rohde & Schwarz sign a cooperation agreement to explore commercial opportunities in electronic warfare and defense

Elt Group and Rohde & Schwarz sign a cooperation agreement to explore commercial...

17/06/2026

NABLF Graduates Its 2026 Broadcasting Leadership Training Class

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

ABC and ESPN Score Most-Watched NBA Finals Since 1998

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

Smartly, Roku Bring Social Performance Tools to CTV

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

Pliant Technologies Debuts Crewcom Flex at InfoComm 2026

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

The Immersive Supervisor Emerges as Hollywood's Next Production Role

The Immersive Supervisor Emerges as Hollywood's Next Production Role Brie Clayton June 17, 2026 0 Comments Above image: On set live immersive revi...

17/06/2026

Vertical Musical Playback Shot with Blackmagic PYXIS 6K

Vertical Musical Playback Shot with Blackmagic PYXIS 6K Brie Clayton June 17, 2026 0 Comments Large format sensor and DaVinci Resolve workflow used fo...

17/06/2026

DAZ 3D Launches New Game-Ready Character Assets Built for Modern Engines and Production Workflows

DAZ 3D Launches New Game-Ready Character Assets Built for Modern Engines and Pro...

17/06/2026

Spectrum Awards $1.1 Million in Digital Education Grants

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

XR Sports Alliance Adds New Members

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

AIMS Launches Free Online IPMX Training Series

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

17/06/2026

Kiloview Partners with SFM to Expand AV-over-IP Solutions...

Montr al, Quebec, June 11, 2026 Kiloview, a leading provider of AV-over-IP and NDI -based video transmission solutions, today announced a distribution partner...

17/06/2026

Kiloview Launches U4 IP Video Dock Bringing Professional...

Changsha, China, June 15, 2026 Kiloview officially announced the launch of U4 IP Video Dock, a compact IP video decoder and output dock designed to bring prof...

17/06/2026

Half Year, Half Off! Ivory II Summer Sale is Here

Save 50% on All Ivory II Pianos and Collections Were halfway through the year, and we're cutting prices in half for the Ivory II Summer Sale! For a limite...

17/06/2026

Two in three fans will connect to venue WiFi this World Cup, Sky Business research reveals

Wednesday 17 June 2026 Two in three fans will connect to venue WiFi this World ...

17/06/2026

Visibility builds credibility - the tools you use every day...

Visibility builds credibility - the tools you use every day, now visible on your LinkedIn profile Published on Jun 17, 2026 Categories: Company News, Product ...

17/06/2026

Harmonic Completes Divestiture of Video Business to MediaKind

Transaction Positions Harmonic as a Pure-Play Broadband Company SAN JOSE, Calif. - June 17, 2026 - Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT), the worldwide leader in virtual...

17/06/2026

FOX Advertising To Launch Industry's First End-to-End Agentic Advertising Platform, Powered by FOX AdStudio

FOX Advertising To Launch Industry's First End-to-End Agentic Advertising Pl...

17/06/2026

Building resilience in an era of compounding threats

How SGN is future-proofing critical national infrastructure with Arqiva Managed Connectivity. When disruption becomes the norm As Storm Eunice tore across the ...

17/06/2026

Good Vibrations hit Dublin and Limerick as RT Concert Orchestra plays the music of the Beach Boys

The RT Concert Orchestra will bring the timeless music of The Beach Boys to aud...

17/06/2026

June 16, 2026

Calibr-Skaggs awarded $5.1M by NIH to develop long-acting hepatitis B virus therapy A new program aims to replace a daily HBV drug with once-monthly or even qua...

16/06/2026

Thomson launches new learning App

Thomson's highly regarded expert-led online learning courses are now easier to access on the go via our new App. Available now on Google Play Store, the J...

16/06/2026

Neumann MT 48 Receives Major Firmware 2.0 Update

Neumann.Berlin has released firmware version 2.0 for the MT 48 audio interface, adding plugin compatibility, expanded Dante networking options, broadcast encode...

16/06/2026

TVNewsCheck Opens Nominations for 2027 Women in Technology Awards

TVNewsCheck has announced that nominations are now open for its 2027 Women in Technology Awards, to be presented at NAB Show 2027 on Tuesday, April 6 in the Med...