Surround sound

Multi channel audio is a way of enhancing the sound processing quality of an audio source with additional audio channels from speakers that surround the audience (surround channels), providing sound from the 360 radius in the horizontal plane (2D) compared with "screen channels" (center, [front] left, and [front] right) coming from only from the listener's forward arc.

Surround sound is portrayed by a listener location or sweet spot where audio effects work most effectively, and presents a set or forward perspective of the sound field towards listener at this location. The technique improves the belief of sound spatialization by using sound localization; a listener's capability to know the location or origin of a detected sound in direction and range. Typically this is achieved with the use of multiple discrete audio channels routed to an array of loudspeakers.

There are numerous multi channel audio based models and methods, differing in processing and recording options in addition to the number and placement of extra stations.

BNW Acoustics SR-44 Areas of use

Though cinema and soundtracks signify the major uses of surround solutions, its scope of application is wider than that as multichannel surround sound permits creation of an audio-environment for all sorts of purposes. Multichannel techniques could be used to reproduce contents as varied as music, speech, natural or synthetic sounds for cinema, television, broadcasting, or computing devices. Regarding music content to illustrate, a live performance is able to use multichannel techniques in the context associated with an open-air show, of a musical theatre or perhaps broadcasting; for a film specific techniques are adapted to movie theatre, or to residence (e.g. home cinema systems).

The narrative place is also a content which could be enhanced through multichannel solutions. This applies mainly to cinema narratives, for example, the dialog of the characters of a film, but might be also utilized on plays for theatre, to a meeting, or to integrate voice-based comments in an archeological site or monument. Here is an example, an exhibit may very well be improved with topical background sound of water, wild birds, train or machine sounds. Applicable natural sounds may also be used in informative programs.

- Other fields of application include video gaming systems, computers along with other platforms.

In this purposes, the content would typically be synthetic noise generated by the computer device in interaction with its user. Substantial work has been specifically done using surround sound for enhanced situation awareness in armed service and general public safety purposes.

BNW Acoustics SX-90

BNW Acoustics LR 60 Ground Adapter Plug
Adapts a three pronged electrical plug to a two pronged wall outlet. This bypasses the ground and may create a hum in the system. A lack of a good ground can cause mild electrical shock when touching a microphone.

Local On/Off (Local Mode On/Off)
A switch or function in a synthesizer that connects ("On") or disconnects ("Off") the keyboard control of the synthesizer's sound module.

BNW ACoustics TL-7 Stretched String Instruments
Instruments that use stretched strings to generate the tones such as guitars, violins and pianos.

BNW Acoustics ZM-12 Over Easy
DBX's trademark for the gradual change of compression ratio around the threshold making it difficult to detect when compression is taking place.