[Digital Cinema Report]

…  This however does not undermine the importance of 3D sound in cinemas, not the efforts being made by these providers to bring 3D sound to audiences. Vicente Lopez, executive chairman of imm Sound, whose company, based in Barcelona, has recently launched the imm Sound 3D processor, admitted there is a ‘chicken and egg’ problem with 3D sound, but he is encouraged by the flurry of activity in this area that sound won’t be sidelined for much longer.  “Sound has to adapt to infrastructure,” he says, adding, “You can’t just keep setting up additional speakers.” 

Imm Sound’s technology provides an immersive experience, so that in theory, filmmakers can post-produce the sound on their Immersive Audio Workstation (IAW) and then in exhibition, have their sound up-mixed in the booth via imm Sound’s 3D processor. Cinemas are routinely refurbished to include up to five additional speakers in the ceiling, and three or four around the walls (although Imm Sound only provides the decoders) so that 5.1 becomes 14.1 potentially.

Imm sound is currently installing its systems into theatres in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Netherlands, France and in substantial number throughout Asia, according to their website. 

There is no DCI compliance with regard to 3D sound, unlike digital projection, so the market is currently cluttered with a variety of solutions, generally falling into two categories: mixed at source, or up-mix to a multi-channel environment via a processor in the booth. Imm Sound straddles both, and while their sales are looking impressive, purists argue that the sound does not necessarily marry up to the picture as neatly as it should. In a recent demo of a Queen live concert, the drumming came from the back of the auditorium, which in real life would never be the case. …

Read the full story here: http://www.digitalcinemareport.com/node/3007