[sander99]

They've reached it. Been beta testing a different Sony product designed for pro use for sound to picture use since early last summer. I've listened extensively to a Realiser and the Sony system is as convincing. Makes sense as they both use similar concepts: need mics in ears and you at a dub stage or control room to get a personalized reference. Sony's loads as a plugin for Pro Tools for the time being. I think they'll have standalone software when (if) released, but even though it'll be much less expensive than the A16, the high barrier to entry (personalized measurements) may mean this is a product oriented to professionals. Dunno, how Sony will market it. BTW, this product comes with open back, purpose-built headphones along with the software. Works from 2 through 32 channels.

Thanks for the info and please keep us informed of further developments.
And does it support headtracking, or any chance it will in the future?

 

[bigshot]

Does the Sony system require someone who knows the process help you calibrate to your own HRTF? Or are there a software setup instructions you can do yourself? The HRTF calibration seems to me to be a big leap. Another drawback I see would be that it would only be calibrated to one person at a time. An engineer and a client couldn't be listening to the same thing at the same time. I don't know how you could run a mix like that. It would take forever switching back and forth and trying to explain what to change. I don't see how it could replace a mixing stage. Maybe it is designed for sound effects editors to place things pre-mix.

 

[sander99]

Another drawback I see would be that it would only be calibrated to one person at a time.

You would need one seperate instance of the virtualisation software running for each person. Just like the Smyth A16 can actually run 2 simulations to serve 2 users simultaniously each with his/her own independend PRIR and HPEQ and headtracking.
I don't know anything about Pro Tools and if that can run 2 [Edit: or more] instances of the Sony plugin at this moment but it sure should be possible to develop something for such use cases.

 

[bigshot]

I suppose it's possible if you have enough computing horsepower. But generally at mixes, the studio I work for has at least 5 people in the room; and lately, they've been run virtually over the internet. Only two people in the room and three people over the internet.

 

[sander99]

Only two people in the room and three people over the internet.

Ah, actually that makes for a very nice use case: the two people in the mixing room can use the normal monitor speakers, and the other three don't need to be in a special room at all, but instead could listen to a virtualisation of the speakers in the aforementioned mixing room.

 

[bigshot]

Yes. I wonder if the project files could reside on more than one computer and stream the mix information to be processed on the remote computers?

 

[jgazal]

Sony sponsored Dr. Choueiri and now his patents generate the highest royalties of Princeton. Perhaps Sony is actually using code and algorithm from the 3D3A lab...

 

[Cecala]

Any further developments regards the Sony system?

 

[jgazal]

Sorry, I don't know, I am not following up as I used to be when I started the thread.

 

[Cecala]

With regards to the Sony software implementation are you guys referring to this?
https://www.sony.net/Products/360RA/licensing/