AMBEO is in reality a complex set of technologies, covering the content creation aspects of producing channel-based immersive/spatial audio, complemented with rendering engines for different platforms, including soundbars and binaural rendering on headphones and two-channel devices. To make it all more complicated, the original AMBEO set of technologies devised under the original Sennheiser Group is now spread across specific product categories, which remained in business divisions that Sennheiser sold and are now operated under brand-licensing.
Developed in partnership with Netflix, this specific Sennheiser technology implementation of AMBEO is meant to deliver an immersive experience over stereo speakers or two-channel platforms such as headphones, while fully respecting the creative intent of the original surround or immersive mix. Unlike Dolby Atmos or MPEG-H Audio, this specific AMBEO implementation dubbed "Surround to 2-Channel Rendering" was designed so that Netflix subscribers can enjoy the additional "immersiveness" without requiring additional hardware.
As Sennheiser explains, "More and more content is being produced in immersive formats like Dolby Atmos or MPEG-H Audio or standard surround formats, while the majority of users still only experience stereo. AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio translates an original immersive or surround mix into two channels of audio that deliver a spatial experience far beyond stereo. It transforms any stereo speakers or headphones into an enhanced spatial experience, no end-user upgrades required."
"We are very pleased that Netflix has expanded its partnership with Sennheiser and has chosen to roll out our game-changing AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio experience to more of its catalog," explains Renato Pellegrini, Manager Pro Labs, AMBEO Immersive Audio.
In addition to content mixed for Dolby Atmos, Netflix’s spatial audio catalog will also include non-Atmos surround content. “As a brand-new feature, the AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio renderer is now also able to process surround mixes, unlocking huge catalogs of content available in these formats," shares Pellegrini. "For members on Netflix’s Premium plan, this means they will be able to enjoy more of their favorite content immersively, however they watch."
"As a company that counts many mix and (re-)recording engineers among its customers, Sennheiser takes audio quality and mixer intent seriously. AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio rendering was created hand-in-hand with mixers and provides them with granular control of the amount of spatialization," Pellegrini adds.
A preview tool allows mixers to compare standard stereo to AMBEO and adjust rendering settings by individual stems or groups. Specific stems, such as dialog, can be completely excluded from spatialization and music mixes can be kept on their left and right channels while immersive rendering is applied to any other stems. The renderer seeks to translate mixer intent while giving an impressive immersive audio experience previously inaccessible on two speakers.
Members on Netflix’s Premium plan can experience AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio on hundreds of Netflix’s most popular titles, including "Stranger Things," "The Watcher," "Wednesday," and "Knives Out: Glass Onion." Netflix will add forthcoming titles, such as "You," "Your Place or Mine," and "Luther: The Fallen Sun."
For an up-to-date list of content available in this surround to two-channel spatialization rendering engine, Netflix subscribers can simply enter “Spatial Audio” in the Netflix search field or look for the new Netflix spatial audio badge. This also means that subscribers that are looking for original Dolby Atmos content will no longer be able to consider "spatial audio" as synonym of Dolby Atmos immersive content. And since those same subscribers are likely to subscribe to streaming audio services that promote "spatial audio music" that is effectively mixed in Dolby Atmos, the confusion is likely to generate further consumer indifference.
www.netflix.com
More details about AMBEO 2-Channel Spatial Audio are available in the website: www.sennheiser.com/ambeo-spatial-audio
www.sennheiser.com
