OBS confirms 5.1.4 as standard in the 4K HDR Summit

Nuno Duarte, sound designer and head of audio at OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services), has detailed in the 4K HDR Summit how the 5.1.4 immersive audio format has been standardized across its production.

The UHD It goes far beyond some bright colors, and spectacular dynamic range and one very wide resolution. He audio, either in the form of optimized channels o surround mixes, is also configured as a central element for sporting events signed by OBS, company that has recently undertaken a resounding commitment to narrate, clarify and contextualize each sport through the sounds that make it up. In fact, in just the last year, it has introduced the immersive audio in more than 100 sporting events. The bet is such that it has even hired 300 engineers audio and “hundreds” of broadcast engineers and producers.

From the first experimental broadcasts in Sochi 2014 until the standardization of 5.1.4 in Beijing 2022, Duarte's team has carried out methodical work aimed at perfectly defining the “sound, format, concept and design” of what it was going to be like audio of the future for sports productions. Among the principles that he has shared within the framework of the 4K HDR Summit, Duarte has recognized that the ease of deployment, the ease of delivery to RHBs (Right Holding Broadcasters) y standardization were immovable requirements. “We don't know the future, but we did want to maintain maximum interoperability for the coming years,” added the speaker.

Immersive: a new playing field

The arrival of a new audio standard has brought with him a change in OBS processes. The sound design of each competition has been rethought, taking into account the nature of the event, he venue in which it is celebrated or the own rules of each sport, so that the capture devices are placed in the best possible position without compromising each competition.

Likewise, Duarte has stressed in the 4K HDR Summit that this change in philosophy has been accompanied by a transformation technological. Microphones, metric elements y mixing desks have been renovated to produce on site from the compound a double mix of stereo y 5.1.4. RHB should not be worry about nothing, since you will receive the mixture directly in your preferred format after passing through the audio Quality control of OBS.

Olympic Broadcasting Services considers that the implementation of 5.1.4 has been a complete success. The deployment has achieved a “high level of consistency” having “little impact on the broadcast infrastructure.” Now it is time to “continue learning". As concluded Duarte his presentation at 4K HDR Summit, now the focus is on “creative production”. In fact, the team OBS is immersed in a phase of I+D to discern how the immersive audio in the next Olympics of Paris 2024.