NEW YORK – A panel of experts combine their expertise to present a workshop on UWB technology and its applications at AES, New York. The workshop is set for Oct. 27 at 10:15 a.m., within room 1E11 at the Jacob Javits center in NYC.
More details from Nexonic (www.nexonic-design.com), Sonical (www.sonical.ai) and AntennaWare (www.antennaware.co.uk):
At the 155th AES in NYC, October 25-27, 2023, a number of stakeholders in UWB will be running a workshop titled “UWB – A New Wireless Tech in the Future of Pro Audio”. As a wireless option, UWB (Ultra Wide Band) offers significant benefits for both the Professional and high end consumer audio markets. The data payload and low latency credentials can service real time applications without any compromise on audio quality.
The workshop at AES will be at 10:15am ET on Friday, October 27th in room 1E11 of the Jacob Javits centre. A panel of UWB experts will explain UWB technology and examples of its application in the next wave of cutting-edge wireless audio products. They will also discuss the need for a UWB Audio Interface Standard in order to ensure the interoperability and high quality of professional audio implementations.
From a performance perspective, UWB offers sufficient throughput to deliver Linear PCM 24/96 stereo with a latency of under 3 milliseconds while operating bi-directionally. These performance figures make UWB very attractive for Microphones, In Ear Monitors (IEM’s), Home Theatre, Home Studio, HiFi, Ear buds and headphones/headsets, and gaming accessories. Recent product announcements from Sonus Faber and Lenbrook have under-written the potential with premium Consumer devices. Previously only available as a discreet solution for professional audio, from a radio chip solution vendor perspective there are options appearing from several companies with Qorvo and Spark leading the pack for supply to the market, whereas Apple and Samsung are prominent from a mass scale adopter.
Typically for large scale deployment, UWB has been used for location applications. Real-time audio has a very different level of complexity and two issues that need to be addressed are Body Blocking and System Synchronization/timing. Both issues have been addressed and will be discussed at the AES Workshop. Presentations include information on solving Body Blocking via Antennaware’s patented Bodywave which provides up to 20dB of extra gain in the link budget and system synchronization and timing considerations from a pro audio and UWB expert representing Nexonic Design and the UWB Alliance. The workshop will also include exciting information regarding a new AES Standards task group within SC-02-02 : AES standard for Digital Input/Output Interfacing — UWB Hi Res, Low Latency Audio Interface. The development of this interface standard will facilitate ease of integration and reduce R&D time for product development.
UWB is a purely digital bi-directional signal with plenty of bandwidth and the ability to provide very precise location and orientation information. It coexists and supports other technologies seamlessly. Accordingly, it is a natural proposition that combining UWB and intelligent body worn audio devices will herald configurable content delivery products such as headphones. This improved connectivity combined with latest generation signal processors provide the foundation for Headphone 3.0 devices where the user can personalise the specifications by enabling combinations of software plugins running on an OS i.e. Sonical’s CosmOS, an Operating System for the Ear. The workshop will also include information regarding some obvious examples of an integrated headphone audio/operating system. Uses range from listening to Hi Res music, live performance, to running Apps, that enable ‘Detect and Protect’ which can test individual auditory performance and adjust a hearable accordingly.
As the options for Audio over UWB at the AES Workshop are for Linear Stereo audio, additional functionality can be offered when using a low latency bit rate efficient algorithm i.e. Skylark. Using the same data rates but leveraging on 6 streams of Skylark can deliver 5.1 for a truly immersive experience.
The workshop is at 10:15am ET on Friday, October 27th room 1E11 of the Jacob Javits centre. https://aesny23.sched.com/event/1RhxB/uwb-a-new-wireless-tech-in-the-future-of-pro-audio
In addition, the panel will have various demos and examples of devices including Headphones and evaluation platforms. For additional details please contact [email protected].
