Esfera SPM 8000 for Upmixing

[mgoorevich]

Sennheiser just has introduced at IBC 2014 its own up mixing system http://en-de.sennheiser.com/spb-8000 which uses a regular XY MKH8040 stereo pair and up mix it to 5.1.
I am not interested in BG's 5.1 (either 5.0) derived from XY, but I wonder how this box would up mix Music for film mixes and maybe some ORTF recordings.

But maybe I am wrong in my interest in this unit as its mostly TV oriented.

Any one has experience with it or visited IBC this year>

[Cheesehead]

Hi Michael,

I thought it looked interesting too, but the price £6520.00!
I know that includes the mics but even so.

I think I'll stick with what I have.

Martin

[mgoorevich]

Originally Posted by Cheesehead

Hi Michael,

I thought it looked interesting too, but the price £6520.00!

A bit less (for the unit only) Martin http://www.daleproaudio.com/p-25680-...processor.aspx
I am just curious about the algorithm itself Sennheiser developed or borrowed for the unit comparing to Soundfield UPM, Auro, Anymix Pro, Unwrap, Penteo e.t.c
Taking in a count they know a thing or two about pro audio and acoustics, it could be at least worth to check.

[thierryd]

Originally Posted by mgoorevich

A bit less (for the unit only) Martin http://www.daleproaudio.com/p-25680-...processor.aspx
I am just curious about the algorithm itself Sennheiser developed or borrowed for the unit comparing to Soundfield UPM, Auro, Anymix Pro, Unwrap, Penteo e.t.c
Taking in a count they know a thing or two about pro audio and acoustics, it could be at least worth to check.

The Sennheiser system was already at the 2013 IBC. As it was then explained to me, the system does its 5.1 decoding out of 2 channels by taking into account the known on- and off-axis responses of the 2 (matched pair) microphones. Maybe this algorithm can do interesting things for upmixing other 2 channel material, but it is not what it is intended for. For that kind of money I would rather buy all the competing software products you mention above (though Unwrap is only TDM or System 6000 of course). That would certainly give more flexibility than one box.
And there are more options on the horizon:
http://www.nugenaudio.com/newsitem.p...c-001999c29f76

Greetings,

Thierry

[mgoorevich]

Thierry, I am not looking to buy this one.
I am finished with the hardware as well as with TC.
This is the curiosity only, whether Sennheiser has an interesting up mixing technology in its box.
Knowing the Sennheiser for quite allot, I would not even expect from them developing a plugin anytime soon.
But again, I'm just wondering....