Commercial Integrator December 2022 - 37

and spatialized as intended. " This format
works best in controlled rectangular spaces
and has diffi culty when spaces become
very wide, fan-shaped or multi-level, "
Lopez observes. Surround sound and
stereo work well in home theaters, where
there are only a few listeners and where
it's possible to target seating in the limited
" sweet spot. "
Lopez next outlines the comparative
virtues of immersive audio, saying, " Immersive
systems typically do not require
specifi c, fi xed positions for loudspeakers,
and, with that variable arrangement, can
allow 'sound objects' to be positioned
and spatialized accurately based on the
loudspeaker arrangement. " He adds, " This
also allows some automatic translation from
space to space where there may be diff erent
loudspeaker arrangements. There is a
great degree of fl exibility in the scalability
and loudspeaker arrangement depending
on the application and needs. "
Cooper and Snarky Puppy, which we host
in our 18.1.12 listening spaces in California
and London, " Fichte adds.
Immersive sound systems might have
gotten their start in home theaters, but, with
the commercial opportunity exploding,
the paths are diverging. Rob Gerwatowski,
DMC-D-4K, audio service department head
at Wixom, Mich.-headquartered Bluewater,
explains, " Surround-sound systems
in home theaters are produced on the same
level plane as the listener. Immersive audio
produces a 3D, 360-degree sound fi eld
around the listener that is more lifelike. " The
latter perfectly encapsulates the kind of application
where AV integrators have the power
to transport visitors in out-of-home environments
to an entirely new plane of being.
Immersive Audio
vs. Surround Sound
Marc Lopez, vice president of marketing,
Americas, d&b audiotechnik, helps
understand the diff erences between
surround sound and immersive audio. He
explains, " Surround sound is a fi xed format
commercialintegrator.com
that requires loudspeakers positioned
in specifi c locations acting as specifi c
output functions in order for content to
deliver in a coherent manner. " He adds
that surround sound, as with stereo, has a
limited " sweet spot " in which the listener
can hear the audio properly positioned
Increased Engagement Via Immersion
Although immersive audio and spatial sound
have natural alignment with theatrical sound
design and themed entertainment, the
applications certainly don't end there. Steve
Ellison, Meyer Sound's director of spatial
sound, affi rms that corporate, house of worship
and special-event audio systems can all
benefi t from the increased engagement that
immersive audio helps provide.
On this point, L-Acoustics Creations'
Fichte says, " The house of worship market
is driving strong demand for immersive
Immersive audio
and spatial sound
have the power to
transport those who
are in out-of-home
environments to
an entirely new
plane of being.
DECEMBER 2022 Commercial Integrator 37
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Commercial Integrator December 2022

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