User:Saurster/sandbox

Auro 11.1 - Creating a new dimension in sound
Auro 11.1 is the next-generation 3D sound format for the cinema industry.Developed by Galaxy Studios and powered by Barco, Auro 11.1 turns conventional cinema audio into a fully immersive 3D sound experience, with sounds coming from all around and above the listener.

Introduction
The introduction of digital projection in cinema theaters has spurred a revival in 3D movies. The first was ‘Chicken Little’ in 2005, and now – according to box office returns – they’re here to stay. The image quality provided by digital cinema systems provides the immersive 3D experience that moviegoers have been missing for decades. But in contrast to this revolution of the visual experience, cinema audio has been evolving very slowly. In fact, other than adding a few more speakers to surround the audience with sound, the past 20 years have brought forth no significant innovations that have been able to make the aural experience as life-like and immersive as 3D imagery … until now. 3D audio is the next logical step required to usher in the ultimate motion picture experience. When experiencing 3D Sound, one realizes that an immersive sound field creates more of an emotional response in the audience than image alone. Sound is related to emotion. Even when environmental sounds are heard unconsciously, they can have an impact on our emotional attitude and behavior. The importance of sound – for business applications as well as for private individuals – has been greatly underestimated. People feel connected with the environment through sound – and the more natural the sound, the closer the connection. Furthermore, neurologists and sound engineers have long proven that sound can strongly influence the brain and the body.

As George Lucas put it: sound is 50% of the movie experience. Still, the industry remains uncertain as to how to properly implement and use a new 3D sound experience. Auro 11.1 is the ideal, state-of-the-art solution because it integrates the full 3D experience into existing technology and standards with a flexibility and quality never achieved before. This new format was first showcased at the AES Conventions in Paris and San Francisco in 2006 – and it has only improved since. Providing 3D listening formats that are compatible with current standards is just one of the contributions that Auro 11.1 has made. But what about the technology that will permit this new 3D format to be placed within the market’s existing distribution architectures and make it compatible with all forms of multimedia?