The next (r)evolution: Audio and the future of the cinema experience

[Film Journal]

…Now in its 13th year—yes, indeed, it was way back in 1999 when the first DLP Cinema® solutions were introduced to the industry with Star Wars Episode 1—digital cinema is now deployed on more than 50 percent of the world’s 140,000+ screens. …

Sound from all around
Combining various directional sound sources in an auditorium to recreate sounds as experienced in nature augments the realism of a film’s soundtrack. This concept recognizes the subconscious’s ability to determine the origin of a sound without necessarily seeing the physical occurrence.

A three-layer approach to recreating 3D sound more precisely achieves this effect than the current configurations of 5.1 and 7.1 found in most of today’s cinemas. The lower layer built on traditional 5.1 delivers directs sounds from actions in a horizontal plane around the listener. The second height layer adds important acoustical reflections from around and above the listener…just like we experience in real life. Adding a third layer to relay sounds emanating directly above patrons (used mostly for effects like birds chirping, plane fly-bys, etc.), completes the 3D experience to create a sense of full immersion.
An ideal standard
A new 3D audio format is emerging which increases the channel assignments from 7.1 to 11.1, with a desired maximum of 12 to 14 channels. These parameters, with an eye toward limits, enable an exhibitor to achieve his performance objectives while maintaining backward compatibility with existing formats. Equally important is that an 11.1 format is the ideal configuration for spurring the generation of content in facilities that can easily support the workflow.

Creating content in an 11.1 multi-channel format is an easy process to adopt in the production environment. Lucasfilm Ltd. recently demonstrated the impact of 3D audio with its theatrical release ofRed Tails, the first domestic movie to utilize an audio format beyond 7.1.
“Curtains” for 5.1?
So does all this play out the end for 5.1? Certainly not. The 5.1-channel format is likely to remain a standard for the near-future. …

Making financial sense
Above all, we must understand that a cinema is a business, whereby any technology decision must achieve a demonstrable return on investment. No format will be adopted unless there are clear value propositions for everyone involved in the motion picture ecosystem, from movie studios to exhibitors.

The technology must not only significantly and tangibly improve the cinema experience, but do so in an economical way. …

Read the full story here: http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/news-and-features/features/technology/e3i95b0aec810483fe1cabfc40a01bedc57