Brazil. Since it was first invented in 1925, television has gone from tube to thin, from grayscale to color images, and from analog to digital signal. At the same time, audio technology has followed this evolution very closely. And it will evolve once again, according to the latest SBTVD Forum report.
At first, the mono audio system was the only one available for TVs. With single-channel playback and capture, the mono in the 80s was replaced by the stereo system on TVs. This already had the possibility to listen to the different sounds of the recording on alternate channels, on the right and left sides.
Following this development, 5.1 surround audio has come out of theaters to provide the viewer with a multidirectional sound experience, including the front and rear. Despite its superiority over the stereo system, surround audio still has limitations, as the sound propagates only in the horizontal plane.
With technological advancement, it was possible to develop immersive audio (or 3D audio), which allows a much more real and immersive experience, because in addition to the horizontal plane, sound can also be perceived in the vertical plane. The best part is that starting this year, this feature will also be available on free-to-air TV.
From the use of immersive audio, viewers will have access to a much more real and personalized sound. In a broadcast of a football match, for example, it will be possible to switch to hear the sound of only one of the fans.
"This feature is very much in line with the evolution of television as a whole. Today we are regulating a system that includes interactivity solutions, DTV Play and we are working on the evolution of television to the 4K version. Immersive audio is another technological advance that adds value and makes free-to-air television more attractive to consumers," explains Leonardo Chaves, coordinator of the technical module of the Brazilian Forum of Digital Terrestrial TV Systems (SBTVD Forum).
Recently approved by the institution, the immersive audio standards that will be adopted are E-AC-3, MPEG-H and AC-4, which offer, in addition to three-dimensional sound, the possibility of customization. "In a dialogue on TV, you can reduce or increase the volume of the soundtrack (background music), for example."
To join the news, you'll need to buy a smart TV that already comes with this feature. There's also the option to connect a soundbar or home theater to the TV. "The intelligence that will be launched starting this year will already support this technology. But using speakers or the home theater itself can provide an even more remarkable experience," Leonardo emphasizes.
To make immersive audio a reality for the entire population, the SBTVD Forum is finalizing the process of creating standards of use and, after board approval, they will be published and put into effect. It is estimated that the technology will be used optionally.
