Definition of Ambisonics
Ambisonics is a full-sphere surround sound format created by a group of English researchers — among them Michael A. Gerzon, Peter Barnes Fellgett, and John Stuart Wright — under support of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of the United Kingdom. In addition to the horizontal plane, the format incorporates sound sources above and below the listener. The term is used as both a generic name and formerly as a trademark.
Unlike some other multichannel surround formats, its transmission channels do not carry speaker signals. Instead, they contain a speaker-independent representation of a sound field called B-format, which is then decoded to the listener's speaker setup. This extra step allows the producer to think in terms of source directions rather than loudspeaker positions, and offers the listener a considerable degree of flexibility as to the layout and number of speakers used for playback.
Ambisonics was developed in the UK in the 1970s under the auspices of the British National Research Development Corporation.
Terms mentioned above
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Frequently asked questions
What is Ambisonics?
Ambisonics is a full-sphere surround sound format created by a group of English researchers — among them Michael A. Gerzon, Peter Barnes Fellgett, and John Stuart Wright — under support of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of the United…