"With the rise in spatial sound and high quality streaming music services, we are seeing a professional demand for headphones that can adaptably address and enrich all of these immersive production needs," says Andy Munitz, Sr. Product Manager, Sony Electronics. "Sony’s deep heritage in audio is on display with the introduction of the MDR-MV1, a flexible and stylish new option for studio or home use. The headphones prioritize comfort, showcase Sony’s craftsmanship and provide long-term durability while offering sound engineers the ability to accurately reproduce sounds, as the artist intended them to be heard."
According to Sony, the MDR-MV1 headphones offer extended spatial sound reproducibility and accurate sound object positioning within a 360-degree space, as well as clear, hi-resolution, nuanced sound with a super-wide frequency range and accurate soundstage. This is the result of the headphones’ custom developed drivers that provide ultra-wideband playback (5Hz – 80 kHz). This makes it easier to capture localization, spaciousness and detailed changes in sound processing. The open back structure of the headphones also reduces internally reflected sounds and eliminates acoustic resonances while accurately reproducing natural, rich spatial information and sounds. These features support the use of the MDR-MV1 headphones in professional mixing and mastering environments while accommodating the highest production standards, Sony states.
Engineered with comfort in mind, the MDR-MV1 feature breathable earpads and are intentionally lightweight, soft and fitted to provide a pleasant wearing experience, even after hours of use. The MDR-MV1 includes a high quality replaceable, detachable cable with machined aluminum connectors and a stereo mini-jack adapter for ease of use in a professional setting.
"To create great listening experiences for streaming and immersive audio, it’s important for artists and studio professionals to have sound equipment tuned for these technologies," says Mike Piacentini, Mastering Engineer, Battery Studio, Sony Music Entertainment. "The MDR-MV1, developed by Sony’s Headphone Engineering team in collaboration with Sony’s Music engineers, provides creators mixing both in studios and at home with a new reliable reference point for modern sound design needs."
The MDR-MV1 will also work seamlessly alongside Sony’s just announced 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360VME) service to free creators from space constraints and heighten reproduction abilities from virtually anywhere. The open back headphones are planned to be available in April 2023, and it will be showcased for the first time at NAMM 2023, in Sony’s booth, #15721.
360 Virtual Mixing Environment
Sony also announced the launch of its measurement service and dedicated software for the 360 Virtual Mixing Environment ("360VME"), a spatial sound technology that uses headphones to reproduce the sound field environment of a reference studio with high precision. As spatial sound content is increasing in music, movies, and games, the monitor environment of production studios is becoming multichannel. Conventionally, the production of spatial sound content was generally done in studios equipped with multi-speaker environments, and the number of compatible studios was limiting. 360VME supports creators by reproducing the sound field of a multichannel studio with headphones so that they can create spatial sound content from virtually anywhere.
With the launch of the service, creators can accurately measure their hearing characteristics in the studio and create customized 360VME profile data. Using the profile data and dedicated software, the headphones virtually reproduce the sound field environment of the studio. This enables users to produce studio-quality spatial sound content such as 360 Reality Audio in almost any location.
For this project, Sony partnered with three influential studios in the United States and Japan, and each studio will start providing measurement services and dedicated software expected in June 2023 - The Hit Factory (New York), Gold Diggers Sound (Los Angeles), and MIL Studio (Tokyo). Sony will continue to work to provide measurement services at various studios. In addition, the new MDR-MV1 headphones will support reproduction with the 360VME profile, enabling creators to reproduce the sound field environment of the studio with even higher precision.
Sony Aldo confirms that the dedicated software to render spatial sound content for headphones using 360VME profile data will be available also in June 2023. The software works in conjunction with any Digital Audio Workstation software and "360 WalkMix Creator" to virtually reproduce the sound field environment of the studio with headphones.
For more details, please visit the 360VME Official Site: www.sony.net/Products/create360RA/360VME/
For more details on the MDR-MV1 headphones, please visit:
www.sony.net/Products/proaudio/en/headphone/special/MDR-MV1/
www.pro.sony/audio
