Awesome audio: MDO concept immerses listeners in sound

The Media Device Orchestration (MDO) concept has been developed at Surrey University in collaboration with the Universities of Salford and Southampton, and BBC Research & Development. It was presented at the Audio Mostly conference in London on 24 August 2017.

Using the MDO concept, researchers say they have demonstrated a 3D or ‘spatial audio’ experience that can be achieved by employing everyday home devices in the living room such as a laptop, smartphone or wireless mini-speaker. The technology is said to isolate different elements within audio content (such as a particular voice), and connecting them to separate speakers available around the room.

Surrey University claims the concept could enable consumers to experience films, games, programmes and music in a far more immersive, multi-layered and exciting way.

It is possible to create 3D listening experiences using current spatial audio technology, but this requires a complex set-up involving a multitude of speakers located at exact points in relation to the listener. Because of these limitations, the technology cannot easily be replicated in a domestic situation and is generally limited to specialist environments.