Hearing Beyond Barriers

In environments where sound must be captured through solid barriers like walls, windows, or sealed enclosures, conventional microphones simply fail. Microphones rely on airborne sound, rendering them ineffective when the source is physically separated by materials that block or distort acoustic transmission. This article describes an approach based on structure-borne sound acquisition, combining surface-attached vibration sensors with advanced digital signal processing.

Packetcraft announced that it has teamed up with Ezurio, formerly known as Laird Connectivity, to create an innovative rapid prototyping kit that expands the realm of Auracast Broadcast Audio. The concept of a "talking sensor" - Auracast-enabled sensors that talk directly to earbuds, hearing aids, headphones and hearing protection products - expands Bluetooth applications to a host of new devices that can communicate important notifications and messages.

The United States of America has proposed to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) adoption of the ATSC 3.0 digital broadcast standard for use by all countries in the world. The proposal is the first major step in the evaluation process for worldwide acceptance of the standard. The ITU will review the world’s first IP-based Broadcast System proposal to other regions, such as Europe, China, Japan, and Brazil, which have their own TV standards.

The 145th Audio Engineering Society International Convention will host a wide variety of Broadcast and Online Delivery Track events utilizing the latest technologies. Topics to be examined will include standardizing audio quality for OTT TV (over the top television), the future of audio delivery to the consumer, audio production for March Madness events, broadcasting in emergency situations, and an exclusive look at the 80th Anniversary of The Mercury Theater’s “The War of the Worlds.”

Voice evacuation systems can save lives in an emergency. The correct installation and periodic functional testing of such systems are therefore essential. The NTi Audio TalkBox and XL2 Sound Level Meter with the new extended background noise correction are instruments designed for this purpose.