Japanese broadcaster NHK has developed what it says is the world’s first mixing console that supports live production of object-based audio.
Previously, audio metadata from object-based audio equipment would be output as a file. But, NHK says its new console can output audio metadata streams, enabling it to support live production.
The new console can take up to 192 audio signal inputs, and output up to 64 channels for transmission (including audio metadata), and up to 24 channels for monitoring.
The team at NHK have also developed a rendering function that can monitor sound reconstructed by the receiver in real time, as well as a function that can transmit audio metadata over existing digital audio interfaces.
NHK says these functions enable production of object-based audio programmes without significantly impacting quality control, equipment or the workflows of conventional programme production.
The audio metadata stream and transmission formats used in the mixing console have been standardised internationally, based on the proposals from NHK Science and Research technology Laboratories.
