Astro Spatial Tracking is the result of a collaboration between Norway’s TTA, the world’s foremost authority in on-stage RF tracking technology, and Astro Spatial Audio (ASA), supplier of fully object-based immersive audio solutions. TTA Sound is the creator of Stagetracker II, exclusively licensed to Astro Spatial Audio, and designed to integrate seamlessly with ASA’s SARA II Premium Rendering Engine, which harnesses the power of SpatialSound Wave, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT. Together, the system intends to offer the industry’s most powerful combination of immersive entertainment technologies for audio, lighting and video.
More than a decade after the first Stagetracker system revolutionized theatre sound, the world’s foremost authority in on-stage tracking technology, Norway’s TTA, has worked exclusively with Astro Spatial Audio to create Stagetracker II, a fully upgraded version of the pioneering original, due to commence shipping in Q3 2017. Reengineered for modern immersive applications, the IP67-rated product offers previously unseen degrees of precision and ultra-fast vector-based tracking in all three dimensions.In addition, Astro Spatial Tracking uses discreet tags that can be easily concealed within a performer’s outfit, and which broadcast to state-of-the-art RadioEye RF receivers. The resulting system is capable of following performers to an incredible accuracy of just 2cm – so precise that the technology is ready not just for audio but also lighting and video camera systems. Up to 100 tagged performers can be tracked, and each individual tag can transmit up to 100 positions per second.
Yet the extraordinary potential of Stagetracker II truly comes to life when combined with the new SARA II Premium Rendering Engine, harnessing the power of SpatialSound Wave (developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology IDMT). SARA II liberates the sound engineer, rendering a three-dimensional audio environment, with variable room acoustics, within which users are free to place, move and manipulate audio objects as they wish, either in real time or pre-recorded arrangements, all via an intuitive, browser-based GUI.
With the addition of Astro Spatial Tracking, that same freedom is now extended to performers, whose every action on stage can be captured and conveyed to the audience. The result is an experience unlike any other, both fully immersive for the audience while easy to operate, implement and scale.
The Stagetracker II and SARA II engines have also been designed to complement one another in the rack, both with 2.8 inch front-panel touchscreens for easy operation and rugged construction for tour worthiness. The SARA II engine can accommodate up to 64 MADI or 128 Dante configurable network pathways, all of which are assignable to at least 32 audio objects. Stagetracker II communicates with SARA II via Open Sound Control (OSC), and can link to any Artnet-equipped lighting console.“The original Stagetracker solution was the trusted choice of theatre productions all over the world, and we are very proud to introduce and represent the next generation of this principal technology with Astro Spatial Tracking,” commented ASA Director Bjorn Van Munster. “Together, our Astro Spatial technologies represent a bold new set of possibilities in live entertainment. We are very excited to demonstrate the potential of this remarkable combination at Prolight+Sound 2017.”
“The Stagetracker technology has evolved exponentially since we introduced the world’s first tracking system for stages. A Stagetracker II RadioEye sensor now contains 60 antennas in a rugged design, supporting rough handling on the road and extremely precise positioning”, added TTA CEO John Skjelstad. “Stages are crowded and full of scenery – a difficult environment. But our RF-based technology overcomes these challenges as our sensors operate without any need for line-of-sight coverage. Just as Astro Spatial Audio is defining object-based 3D audio, so Astro Spatial Tracking will change how immersive theatre is produced. We are very excited about our partnership.”
Full demonstrations of Astro Spatial Tracking will occur throughout Prolight+Sound 2017, at the Frankfurt Messe between April 3rd and April 7th, in Hall 3.1, booth H14. In addition, visitors will be invited to experience true object-based immersive audio in special demonstrations held in conjunction with Adamson Systems.
www.astroaudio.eu
