Sennheiser is growing its involvement in immersive audio systems through an investment in spatial audio algorithms and audio VR/AR software specialist Dear Reality, and the acquisition of technologies from Sonic Emotion, a developer of 3D audio software and processing solutions. Both companies have developed unique expertise and tools for the creation and rendering of immersive audio in object-based and scene-based formats.
‘We are excited to be complementing our broad Ambeo expertise with additional capabilities in the areas of processing, controlling and reproducing object-based immersive audio,’ says Sennheiser co-CEO, Daniel Sennheiser.
Based in Germany, Dear Reality provides innovative software tools for the professional audio production of both interactive and linear content in VR/AR. The company is noted for its immersive audio plug-ins, algorithms and custom software for development platforms and interactive apps. Dear Reality’s Spatial Connect software enables an innovative, fully immersive workflow for VR/AR audio productions, while dearVR is a 3D audio engine for digital audio workstations and interactive platforms such as Unity. Both solutions have met with an enthusiastic response from the audio and VR/AR industries and the specialist press alike.
‘With Sennheiser, we share the conviction that immersive audio is the future of audio productions and that augmented audio will become important for our everyday life,’ say Dear Reality co-CEOs Achim Fell and Christian Sander. ‘We are very happy to have found a strong partner in Sennheiser that will enable us to develop high-quality software solutions for immersive audio production and perception. Our products close the gap between recording equipment and reproduction hardware to create a comprehensive production workflow that is compatible with every headphone in the world.’
The acquisition of technologies from Swiss company Sonic Emotion brings immersive audio solutions for soundfield control and loudspeaker playback to Sennheiser’s Ambeo technologies. Sonic Emotion’s object-audio workflow and 3D software licencing portfolio enable an immersive, fully natural audio experience for a multitude of consumer devices including soundbars, headphones, boomboxes, laptops and smartphones.
‘The algorithms developed by Sonic Emotion will now be combined with the strong product portfolio and algorithms of Sennheiser,’ says company co-founder, Renato Pellegrini. ‘There is a huge potential in our joint expertise, and I am very much looking forward to the resulting products, which will make the future of audio ever more real for our customers.’
‘Augmented audio will play a huge role in the future, and this expansion will strengthen our position as go-to experts in the field of augmented and mixed reality applications,’ adds Sennheiser Co-CEO, Dr Andreas Sennheiser
