Telefunken Elektroakustik and Dysonics have collaborated on the development of an eight-capsule, 360° microphone array for immersive audio and VR capture. Using the Samsung Gear platform, the system features the first-ever solution that combine 360° motion-tracked audio with 360° video.
Dysonics has produced demos based on captures of various locations around San Francisco and have been called ‘the future of sound technology’ by Gizmodo. In recent months, the San Francisco start-up has worked with Virgin America, Delta and major Hollywood studios to bring air travellers enhanced surround sound versions of Game of Thrones, Mad Max: Fury Road and Terminator Genisys among other features.
‘We think anyone tracking immersive audio will want to sample this technology,’ says, Telefunken Design Engineer, Bill Ryan. ‘Dysonics is an ideal partner for us as we push forward into exciting new opportunities to deliver sound to recording professionals and audiophiles alike.’
‘It’s been great collaborating with Bill and his team,’ says Dysonics CTO, Bob Dalton. ‘We are confident that our combined efforts have created a best-of-breed solution for immersive audio and VR capture.’
Dysonics has more than 15 years of research in human audio perception to help devise the lifelike and immersive sound. At the core of its work is proprietary RondoMic, a patented mic array that houses eight custom omni-directional Telefunken M60 FET microphones that capture sound environments in 360°.
RondoMic is able to pick up room acoustics, which are then stitched together in real time using spatial and motion-tracking audio software for delivery over headphones.
Using proprietary circuit topology, the M60 FET amplifier uses selected and tested components that are hand-plugged into gold-plated circuit board traces to provide an ultra-clean class-A discrete amplifier with a frequency response of ±2dB from 20Hz to 50 Hz. The output is matched with a custom transformer that offers an especially low self-noise and a typical THD+N of 0.015% or better for critical recording applications. The TK61 capsule features a 6-micron gold-sputtered membrane measuring 15mm in diameter.
