Audioscope - Broadcast and Conference Solutions

Audioscope is a high-performance audio capturing system from Squarehead Technology, which allows the isolation and capture of sound from specific points, in much the same way as a camera can be used to zoom in to highlight extra detail. Based on SONAR technology, the system is customized for the conferencing and broadcasting industries and completely redefines the concept of audio production and capture.

Conference Example - It happens so often a participant raises his hand to pose a question to the panel but it is almost impossible to hear what he is saying. Amplifying ad-hoc speakers among the audience, so that all participants are able clearly to hear the questions and comments is a well-known problem.

The AudioScope Conference System is customised for optimal use in conference halls and auditoriums specifically to overcome this problem. The system allows an operator to zoom in on any individual and capture his or her voice.

The core component of the AudioScope is a microphone array composed of 285 individual microphones integrated in a slim 1.5-meter dish. The dish is typically suspended near ceiling level in the conference room or auditorium. A wide-angle camera is also integrated in the centre of the dish, providing a live video signal to the Control Station’s touch screen.

The exact direction for sound pickup is steered from the touch screen without any physical movement of the dish. Sound from the selected point is amplified and isolated using the AudioScope´s advanced signal processing, which makes the targeted sound source clearly audible even in a noisy environment.

The AudioScope also offers automatic sound detection. When a person starts talking the AudioScope instantly zooms in on and amplifies speech from this person. Up to five sources can be detected and amplified at the same time. Even if a person should move around, the AudioScope is able to track and follow, always making sure the sound is being captured.

AudioScope technology can also be used in Broadcast production to enhance the viewing experience by adding a new dimension to audio, for example, by capturing life like sound close to the action of a sporting event in a way never heard before where microphone coverage of moving targets or static points can be provided by using the sound tracking and zoom facilities. Play the demo

 Key functions:

High directivity. Attenuates out-of-focus sounds by up to -30 dB.

Real-time zoom. For zooming in where the action is.

Post-event zooming for replay. Full functionality in post-processing which means that the producer can go back in time and capture and re-focus on any incident.

Multiple static sound regions. For instance: listening to sound in particular locations.

Integration with vision equipment. Coordinating with camera lens focus and zoom.

Multi-channel system for 5.1 surround sound for HDTV.