Amadeus has debuted new software (v2.1) for its Holophonix immersive platform – Holophonix Servers and the Holophonix Native app for macOS – plus two new configurations for its hardware processor.

The new Holophonix hardware configurations are available for feature redesigned rear panels with Neutrik-housed connectors integrated into the aluminium chassis, including one powerCon mains connector, three etherCon connectors for remote control and Dante redundant protocol, as well as HDMI and USB 3.2 connectors for service.

The updated Holophonix processor models are 1.6x faster than the previous model. The Holophonix 128 model offers 128x128 I/O at 96kHz in Dante AoIP format, while the new Holophonix 64 model offers 128 inputs for 64 outputs at 96kHz in Dante AoIP format.

‘Machined in three dimensions from a solid aluminium block and taking more than 20 hours to complete, the new Holophonix processor enclosure embodies all the technicality embedded and hidden within this unique tool,’ says Amadeus CEO, Gaetan Byk. ‘We designed some interesting features for the Wave Field Synthesis (WFS) algorithm over the past months, which figure among the most interesting algorithms built-in Holophonix, used in 90 per cent of the systems that we deploy.’

‘Recent work conducted at IRCAM helped us extend and improve our Wave Field Synthesis rendering engine,’ says Thibaut Carpentier, Researcher at IRCAM, Lead Developer, and Head of the SPAT project. ‘Originally restricted to 2D dense linear arrays of loudspeakers, the WFS approach has been generalised and is now compatible with arbitrary 3D loudspeaker layouts. This features several optimisations for large arrays or linear arrays with large spacing in-between loudspeakers, as well as 3D dome-like speaker layouts.

‘With immersive speaker systems, users can now create virtual sounds anywhere in 3D space; full-3D WFS gains and delays are computed in real-time, generating a convincing sound field that overcomes limitations of other techniques such as Ambisonics.’
Among other improvements, the Holophonix 2.1 update features a a new 3D-native computation of gains and delays for the WFS algorithm, a new Minimal Delay mode, and a new parameter called LSO (Large Stage Optimizer) designed to optimise intelligibility for spectators sitting in the very first rows.

‘The Minimal Delay parameter option is only available for the Wave Field Synthesis algorithm,’ says Adrien Zanni, Researcher and Developer at Amadeus for the Holophonix project. ‘When disabled, the WFS bus calculates the source’s delays and gains related to their real position from the speaker array. Thus, moving a source away from the speaker array increases the overall delay and latency. When enabled, the bus calculates the source’s delays and gains but subtracts the distance to the nearest speaker, resulting in lower latency.

‘The Large Stage Optimizer (LSO) was originally designed for the Avignon Palace of Popes Cour d’Honneur at the Avignon Festival which features a very large 40m-wide stage. The LSO function in v2.1 offers “intelligibility enhancement” for spectators sitting in the very first rows, especially those who are placed on the opposite side of the on-stage performers. Based on the WFS pure rules, if a comedian, for example, performs on the very left front of the stage, the spectator placed 40m away, on the right of the audience will hear a very low reinforcement level because of the WFS’ natural gain attenuation.

Holophonix 2.1 features:

• macOS Ventura compatibility for Holophonix Native.
• Apple Silicon (ARM architecture) optimisation for Holophonix Native.
• Minimal Delay bus function for WFS.
• Large Stage Optimizer (LSO) function for WFS.
• New interfaces for source and bus creation.
• New function enabling automatic bus creation from predefined speaker groups.
• New function offering an automatic suggestion of the HOA order based on the number of speakers.
• Improvement of the presets loading.
• Graphical enhancements on File and Display menus

Version 2.1 software update version is available now and is free of charge.

More: www.amadeusaudio.fr