Multi channel audio

Multichannel audio is a technique of enriching the sound reproduction high quality of any audio source with additional audio channels from speakers that surround the listener (surround channels), providing sound with a 360 radius within the horizontal plane (2D) in contrast to "screen channels" (center, [front] left, and [front] right) coming from only on the listener's forward arc.

Multichannel audio is characterized by a listener position or sweet spot in which the audio effects perform the best, and features a fixed or frontward perspective of the sound field to the listener as of this location. The technique enhances the perception of sound spatialization by exploiting sound localization; a listener's capability to get the location or origin of a noticed sound in path and range. This typically is achieved by means of multiple discrete audio channels routed to an array of loudspeakers.

There are numerous multichannel surround sound based models and methods, differing in reproduction and recording solutions combined with the amount and positioning more stations.


Odyssey Cinema TM-60 Domains of use

Though cinema and soundtracks signify the major uses of surround approaches, its scope of application is wider than that as multichannel surround sound permits creation of an audio-environment for all variations of functions. Multichannel surround sound techniques is known to reproduce contents as varied as music, speech, natural or synthetic sounds for cinema, television, broadcasting, or pc's. In terms of music material as an example, an active performance is able to use multichannel approaches to the context of an open-air show, of a musical theatre or perhaps for transmissions; for a film certain techniques are tailored to cinema, or to residence (e.g. home cinema systems).

The narrative area is also a content that may be enhanced through multichannel solutions. This is applicable mainly to cinema narratives, much like the dialog from the characters of a film, but will even be utilized on plays for theatre, to a conference, or to blend voice-based comments in an archeological site or monument. Here is an example, an exhibition might well be enhanced with topical background sound of water, wild birds, train or equipment sounds. Topical natural sounds may also be used in educational programs.

- Several other fields of application include gaming units, personal computers and other platforms.

In such applications, the content would typically be artificial noise maded by the computer system in interaction with its user. Substantial work has been specifically done using multichannel audio for enhanced situation knowledge in army and general public safety purposes.

Tuning Fork
A metal fork with two prongs that tend to vibrate and put out a fairly pure tone of one frequency.

Odyssey Cinema VT-20: Foot Pedal
1) An effects device where the amount of the effect can be controlled by a musician with his foot.
2) The beater mechanism of a foot drum that is activated by the drummer's foot to play the drum.
3) Any device, like a volume control, that can be operated by the foot.

High Hat
A double cymbal on a stand which can be played with a foot pedal or by the top cymbal being hit with a stick.

Odyssey Cinema Projectors: Timbre
The timbre of the instrument is what makes an instrument sound like that instrument and not another, even though the other instrument may be playing the same pitch.