Eclipsa Audio: The open-Source Disruptor Challenging Dolby and DTS
Table of Contents
- 1. Eclipsa Audio: The open-Source Disruptor Challenging Dolby and DTS
- 2. What is Eclipsa Audio?
- 3. The Powerhouse Behind Eclipsa: Samsung and Google
- 4. Eclipsa Audio: An Open-Source Approach
- 5. The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
- 6. What are the potential benefits of Eclipsa Audio’s open-source nature for content creators?
- 7. Eclipsa audio: Interview with dr. anya sharma
- 8. Eclipsa Audio: Decoding the Technology
- 9. The Partnership Behind the Innovation
- 10. Impact and Challenges
- 11. The Future of 3D Audio
A new audio format emerges, backed by Samsung and Google, aiming to democratize 3D sound.
Las Vegas, NV – The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known for unveiling cutting-edge technologies, and this year was no exception. Among the myriad of innovations,Eclipsa Audio emerged as a potential game-changer,poised to challenge the long-standing dominance of Dolby and DTS in the surround sound arena. The sentiment among AV enthusiasts is clear: “Oh, great, another format war! That’s just what we want!” However, Eclipsa Audio’s open-source nature and backing from tech giants like Samsung and Google suggest it could be more than just another fleeting contender.
What is Eclipsa Audio?
Eclipsa Audio is a new ‘3D audio technology’ capable of delivering up to 28 individual input channels in a single bit-stream. Each of these channels can be rendered out to speakers or headphones and can be set to either be fixed in nature, like a mic in a recording studio, or dynamic, to track moving objects such as a speeding vehicle in a movie car chase.
Eclipsa Audio, at its core, is a spatial audio technology designed to create a more immersive listening experiance. It allows sound engineers to place audio objects in a three-dimensional space, offering a heightened sense of realism for the listener. similar to Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, creators can fine-tune the location and intensity of sounds within the audio space. What sets Eclipsa apart is its support for binaural rendering, crucial for delivering immersive sound through headphones, notably for mobile applications.
This technology offers listeners the ability to adjust certain aspects of the sound, creating a more personalized audio experience. This level of customization could be a major selling point for consumers who want to fine-tune their audio to their individual preferences.
The Powerhouse Behind Eclipsa: Samsung and Google
Eclipsa audio is the end result of two years of collaboration between Samsung and Google.
The collaboration between Samsung and Google, announced in 2023, initially operated under the working title of Immersive Audio Model and Formats (IAMF). Eclipsa Audio is the official name of the final product of this partnership. This collaboration is significant as it combines Samsung’s expertise in hardware and audio technology with Google’s software prowess and dominance in the content creation space, particularly with YouTube.
Eclipsa Audio: An Open-Source Approach
the main difference between Eclipsa Audio – and, indeed, the main reason Samsung and Google decided to pursue its creation – is that it’s open source. In other words, while any soundtrack creator or playback device manufacturer who wants to use Dolby Atmos or DTS:X has to pay a license fee for the privilege, Eclipsa Audio is free for anyone to use.
The open-source nature of eclipsa Audio is its defining characteristic. unlike Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which require licensing fees for both content creators and device manufacturers, Eclipsa Audio is free to use. This is a significant advantage, potentially lowering the barrier to entry for smaller studios, autonomous filmmakers, and amateur content creators.
Consider the impact on platforms like YouTube. Currently, achieving high-quality spatial audio on YouTube often involves navigating complex and potentially costly licensing agreements. Eclipsa Audio could democratize this process, allowing independent creators to produce immersive audio experiences without significant financial overhead.
It’s easy to understand, then, why Samsung and Google would have been keen on coming up with an open-source 3D sound format.
For Samsung, it gives them a 3D sound system for their TVs, projectors, soundbars and so on that they don’t have to pay a third party to use. For Google, it allows amateur content creators to elevate their productions on sites such as Google’s YouTube with 3D audio without needing to go down the costly Dolby or DTS routes.
In fact, in theory at least, Eclipsa audio could enable these content creators to deliver the sort of immersive sound experiences currently only associated with expensive Hollywood movies.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its potential, Eclipsa Audio faces significant challenges. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are firmly entrenched in the home entertainment and commercial cinema industries. For decades, Dolby and DTS have been the standard.
One potential obstacle is the existing infrastructure. Most streaming services,Blu-ray discs,and cinema sound systems are built around Dolby and DTS. For Eclipsa Audio to gain widespread adoption, it will need to be integrated into these existing ecosystems, or offer a compelling enough reason for consumers and content providers to switch. This could require significant investment in encoding and decoding technologies, and also partnerships with key industry players.
Also, the Samsung Dolby Vision situation we mentioned a moment ago is actually quite different to the Eclipsa Audio situation. While Samsung can argue (legitimately or or else) that what its TVs can do with the basic HDR10 format renders dolby Vision unnecessary,if it ends up only supporting eclipsa Audio on its TVs and soundbars then the Dolby and DTS soundtracks used on just about every film and TV show for years now simply won’t work. Or else they’ll default down to a much more basic mix that no amount of 3D spatial audio ‘virtualisation’ will be able to satisfactorily fix.
It’s no surprise, in fact, that Eclipsa’s main focus at this point is on an area where dolby Atmos and DTS will likely never become a mainstream option: amateur content creation. There’s no indication yet that Eclipsa is being pushed at the big movie and TV studios.
This doesn’t mean Eclipsa audio might not become an significant player in the audio space. If it really can democratise the 3D audio creative process to a level where almost anyone can potentially create ‘Hollywood standard’ sound mixes, it has every chance of finding its way onto any number of YouTube videos.
What are the potential benefits of Eclipsa Audio’s open-source nature for content creators?
Eclipsa audio: Interview with dr. anya sharma
Archyde News: Welcome back to Archyde,everyone. Today, we have Dr. Anya Sharma, a Lead Audio engineer at the Audio Innovation Lab, to discuss the exciting new 3D audio technology, eclipsa Audio. Dr. Sharma, thanks for joining us.
Dr. Anya Sharma: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Eclipsa Audio: Decoding the Technology
Archyde News: let’s start with the basics. Could you explain what Eclipsa Audio is and how it differs from existing technologies like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Certainly. Eclipsa Audio is a new spatial audio technology designed to elevate the listening experience. It allows for the placement of audio objects in a three-dimensional space, creating a much more immersive experience. Unlike Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Eclipsa Audio is open-source and royalty-free, which is a meaningful differentiator.
Archyde News: And what does this open-source nature specifically mean for content creators?
Dr. Anya Sharma: The open-source nature of Eclipsa Audio removes the financial barrier to entry. Content creators, especially independent filmmakers, smaller studios, and even amateur content creators on platforms like YouTube, can now create high-quality spatial audio experiences without the licensing fees associated with Dolby or DTS.It democratizes the process of 3D audio production.
The Partnership Behind the Innovation
Archyde News: We understand that Eclipsa Audio is a collaborative effort between Samsung and Google. How did this partnership influence the technology’s growth?
Dr. Anya Sharma: The collaboration was crucial.Samsung brought its expertise in hardware and audio technology, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance on their devices. Google provided its extensive software prowess and content creation ecosystem, particularly through YouTube. The combination of these strengths truly shaped the final product.
Impact and Challenges
Archyde News: What are the potential challenges Eclipsa Audio faces when challenging established formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X?
dr. Anya Sharma: Dolby and DTS have a strong foothold in the industry.They’ve been the standard for years, ingrained in streaming services, Blu-ray discs, and cinema sound systems.Gaining widespread adoption will require Eclipsa Audio to be integrated into existing ecosystems, which might involve partnerships and investments in encoding and decoding technologies. Adoption will likely first occur by content creators, who will adopt the programme for their projects.
Archyde News: What are the opportunities for Eclipsa Audio to really take off?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Certainly,I see significant opportunities in the amateur content creation realm. If Eclipsa can truly empower creators to produce “hollywood-standard” sound mixes for platforms like YouTube, it could gain significant traction.The binaural rendering capabilities,particularly for headphones,offer a compelling experience for mobile users as well.
The Future of 3D Audio
Archyde News: Considering the initial focus on amateur content creation,do you think Eclipsa Audio can make its way into the sphere of major television and film studios?
Dr. Anya Sharma: While the current focus is elsewhere, there’s potential. The accessibility and cost-effectiveness of Eclipsa are appealing. Perhaps smaller studios may choose this, because it is open-source it allows for quicker, more effective experimentation with the format.
Archyde News: Dr. Sharma,what do you beleive will be the most significant impact of Eclipsa Audio on the future of audio technology?
Dr.Anya Sharma: The democratization of spatial audio creation. By removing the financial barriers, eclipsa Audio empowers a new generation of creators to experiment with and explore the possibilities of immersive sound. It could lead to a wider variety of creative audio experiences and a richer, more engaging audio landscape for everyone.
Archyde News: Dr.Anya Sharma,thank you for this in-depth look into Eclipsa Audio. it certainly sounds like an exciting development.
Dr. Anya Sharma: Thank you for having me.
