Roland Systems Group Demonstrates Surround Field Recording and Monitoring with Holophone and DTS at NAB Show

Las Vegas - NAB 2014(03 Apr 2014)

Roland Systems Group in cooperation with DTS and Holophone microphones are pleased to be demonstrating a 3D recording and monitoring solution for sound designers and location recordists at their NAB Booth C8635.

A challenge for sound designers in the field is monitoring the surround audio being captured. Through headphones they are able to monitor each channel of a surround image as well as a summed stereo image but not the resultant 3D image. Up until now, to truly hear what was captured in context, they had to wait until they were back in the studio playing the channels through a multi-speaker surround configuration. Now with the advent of DTS Headphone:X™, sound designers can turn a pair of headphones into an impressive personal surround system.

The surround recording and monitoring demonstration consists of a Holophone H2-Pro 7.1 Microphone feeding a Roland R-88 8-channel field recorder which in turn is connected via USB to a PC running a plug-in for DTS Headphone:X technology.

Because the Roland R-88 is also an USB audio interface, while it is recording the 7.1 audio data it can simultaneously send all eight channels to a PC for backup recording or in this case, to be further processed using the DTS Headphone:X technology. With an A/B headphone switch, the user can switch between monitoring the individual channels or stereo image on the R-88 or the real-time surround image via DTS Headphone:X. 

With more than forty years of film audio experience, award-winning feature film sound designer Frank Serafine has been proving this 3D audio workflow for the last 18-months, working on a documentary film called “Awake”. He has been recording 7.1 audio for 3D/surround sound using the Roland R-88 field recorder and Holophone H2-Pro microphone. DTS’s Headphone:X technology plug-in then allows him to hear the 3D audio in headphones on the spot.

Serafine says, “I have been waiting many years for 3D surround sound. Never in my forty years of working with cutting edge audio technologies on films such as Star Trek, Tron, and the Hunt for Red October has this type of serious sound perspective been so convincing. To be able to actually hear accurate and precise 3D surround out of a pair of headphones is truly amazing.”

Serafine is building an extensive library of 3D audio sound effects for film specifically using Headphone:X technology from DTS. Some of his sampled audio libraries along with live audio using the R-88 along with the Holophone H2-Pro microphone can be heard on display at the Roland Systems Group NAB booth C8635

About the Roland R-88

The Roland R-88 establishes a new standard in professional portable recording by providing seamless integration of a recorder, mixer and a multi-channel audio interface. With eight discrete channels of audio recording plus a stereo mix, the R-88 is ideal for demanding multi-channel applications such as location sound design, event production, event videography, and live musical performance. The Roland R-88 includes all the features required by location sound professionals including a full on-board mixer, various timecode modes and slate tone/mic for memos. The stereo mix output on the R-88 is perfect for location sound recording applications enabling a stereo mix back to the camera to record reference audio or provides a stereo monitor output while simultaneously recording individual tracks.

About DTS Headphone:X™

DTS Headphone:X faithfully reproduces the home theater surround sound experience using any pair of headphones. By using the acoustic characteristic of the original mixing studio, or other professional audio labs as a reference, Headphone:X externalizes and accurately recreates the studio soundstage through any headphones. With benefits for content owners, device manufacturers, headphone manufactures and consumers, DTS Headphone:X presents a whole new way to hear mobile entertainment.

About Holophone H2-PRO Surround Mic

The Holophone H2-PRO is a cutting edge microphone capable of recording up to 7.1-channels of discrete surround sound. It terminates in eight XLR microphone cable-ends (Left, Right, Center, Low Frequency, Left Surround, Right Surround, Top, and Center Rear).  The H2-PRO is a breakthrough for all audio professionals recording surround sound. It greatly simplifies the complex issues of microphone placement in any environment, taking the guesswork out of capturing surround sound. Entirely compatible with all surround audio mixing and playback systems, the H2-PRO also enhances mono and stereo mixes. It is the perfect cost effective front-end solution for all professional surround sound audio applications.