Access to First Full 5.1 Podcast Content Through iTunes Store
ONTARIO, CANADA, APRIL 13, 2009 — Holophone, a pioneer of surround recording technologies, is helping to take on a whole new immersive audio experience with the introduction of Holophone TV 5.1, the world’s first full 5.1 podcast series.
For the first time, iPod, iPhone and Apple TV users will be able to experience an entire 5.1 podcast captured by Holophone’s simple to use surround microphones; the H4 SuperMINI, PortaMic 5.1 and PortaMic 5.1 Pro. Offered as free downloads from the iTunes store (simply type in Holophone TV into the site’s search engine), Holophone TV 5.1’s podcasts present a variety of high-quality surround content - from music recordings to fireworks to motocross events. The company also has plans to showcase local Canadian recording artists in future podcasts.
“This is the first podcast where the entire content is offered in 5.1,” states Holophone CEO Jonathan Godfrey. “The podcasting technology out there is made to handle this type of content but no one has yet attempted to move into this realm. With Holophone TV, we hope to break some new ground and show that it can be done easily and effectively.”
Listeners simply plug in their ear buds and choose the virtual surround iPod version of the podcast or download content to their Apple TV connected to their home theater and can listen to cinematic-quality 5.1 Dolby Digital HD recordings. What makes this process as seamless as possible is the unique patented design of Holophone’s line of microphones. In each microphone’s elliptical-shaped head are six separate mic elements positioned to mirror the typical speaker setup found in a home theater. This allows the microphone to effortlessly capture a high-quality surround recording from a single point. Using Dolby Pro Logic encoding technology, the six channels of audio coming from the mic elements are encoded to two channels so that they can be recorded to any stereo recording device such as a broadcast camera, home camcorder or even an iPod. These recordings are brought back to 5.1 channels when decoded by a ProLogic II decoder or played through a Dolby Digital decoder like those found on Apple TV.
In addition to providing exclusive content, Holophone is looking to offer those new to the podcasting realm a model from which they can base their own podcast. Holophone plans to use its Holophone TV podcasts as a means of training current and potential customers in the uses/best practices of the company’s surround recording products.
“All content for Holophone TV has been shot using a variety of Holophone’s Surround microphones, an HD camera and then edited using Final Cut Pro,” Godfrey continues. “With some of these tools like the PortaMic 5.1 costing around $600, it’s very simple to put together a high-end production for not a lot of money. Podcasting is a means to give the general public an opportunity to develop media content that is uniquely their own and we want to help make that content as realistic, immersive and easy to create as possible.”
About Holophone
Holophone is committed to developing and commercializing products that use patented 3-D audio technology to bring the physical experience of “really being there” to a new level for all audio and visual productions by professionals and hobbyists. Holophone provides customers and business partners with industry-leading product and service quality. Holophone is firmly dedicated to providing outstanding value, excellence in service, and product performance.
Holophone® surround-sound microphones are patented audio recording devices designed specifically to address the challenges audio professionals face in capturing, recording and broadcasting multichannel surround sound. Developed by Rising Sun Productions in Toronto, Canada, Holophone systems effortlessly capture discrete signals that are ultra-realistic and provide the most accurate spatiality, audio imaging, and directionality of any recording device. Entirely compatible with all audio mixing, encoding, and playback systems, Holophone also enhances mono and stereo mixes. Holophone systems provide the perfect front end for all professional and consumer audio applications including HDTV broadcasting, standard broadcasting of live sporting and music events, feature film location recording, and studio recording for music, films, and worship applications. Holophone surround sound technology has been used for numerous national and international broadcasts, including the Grammy Awards and NFL Super Bowl. As a scalable system, Holophone technology is also available for license to the consumer electronics industry.
