Promoted by the MPEG-H Alliance, with the direct support of Qualcomm, Technicolor and the Fraunhofer Institute, MPEG-H Audio is under consideration for next-generation UHDTV broadcast standards, including as the ATSC3.0 audio standard. MPEG-H Audio allows broadcasters and streaming services to deliver streaming and TV audio at comparably low bit rates and in a cost-effective manner. The integration of MPEG-H Audio software will offer features such as interactive audio, with the ability to adjust the sound mix to the users’ preferences, for example choosing between different commentators in a sporting event, and 3D audio components to deliver a truly immersive sound experience.
South Korea is already leading the way in the adoption of ATSC 3.0 and several companies have made practical demonstrations of all the technology components during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show, in Las Vegas, NV. Korean encoder manufacturer, DS Broadcast is taking industry-leading steps in broadcast audio encoding with the integration of MPEG-H Audio software from the world- renowned audio experts at Fraunhofer IIS. The BGE9000 4K Ultra HD Encoder will be among the first professional broadcast encoders to support MPEG-H Audio software in the Korean market.
DS Broadcast is dedicated to developing quality equipment and solutions for broadcasters. The BGE9000 4K Ultra HD Encoder is based on highly reliable hardware for use in broadcast applications such as terrestrial, cable, satellite, and IPTV. The manufacturer adopted the MPEG-H Audio encoder software for its professional broadcast encoder, enhancing the truly immersive 4K UHD images, frame rate and quality provided by the BGE9000 encoder with immersive and interactive sound.
“Broadcast professionals have come to expect the highest level of quality from our encoder products. We are pleased to announce the integration of MPEG-H Audio in the BGE9000 4K Ultra HD Encoder. Our encoder is one of the first in the Korean marketplace to adopt the MPEG-H Audio software that will provide immersive and interactive sound to consumers,” says Harry Chang, CTO, from DS Broadcast, Inc.
Kai Media Integrates MPEG-H Audio
In an effort to develop advanced broadcast encoding solutions, Kai Media also displayed the integration of Fraunhofer IIS’ MPEG-H Audio software in their latest broadcast encoder, the KME-U4K.
KME-U4K is a high-performance and reliable 4K UHD live encoder. Developed with dedicated hardware on a server, KME-U4K provides outstanding functionality while remaining practical and flexible. The adoption of the MPEG-H Audio encoder software from Fraunhofer IIS adds advanced audio features in addition to real-time encoding up to 4K UHD and four FHD channels.
“As a developer of a variety of functional solutions for broadcasters that utilize international video and audio standard techniques, the added benefits and features of MPEG-H Audio will be an industry game changer. We are pleased to announce our early adoption of the MPEG-H Audio software for our 4K UHD live encoder, which offers professional broadcast customers features such as interactive audio and immersive sound,” said Jin Suk Kwak, Director from Kai Media.
“Kai Media’s adoption of MPEG-H Audio software for the KME-U4K encoder, and the integration of MPEG-H Audio software for DS Broadcast’s encoder, represent another milestone in Fraunhofer’s continued efforts to deliver high quality applications of advanced audio technologies to the evolving media world, particularly in South Korea,” says Robert Bleidt, Division General Manager at Fraunhofer USA. “MPEG-H Audio enables professional broadcasters to deliver premium content to viewers with the next-generation quality of audio,” he added.
www.iis.fraunhofer.de/audio | www.kai-media.com | www.dsbroadcast.com
