This open source alternative to Dolby Atmos could arrive on many products

Partners since 2015 As part of the Open Media Alliance, Google and Samsung work alongside other technology giants (including Nvidia, Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Meta, Huawei, and Intel) to develop open source technologies and unified IT. In this context, Samsung first began working internally, and then with the help of Google, on 3D audio in order to develop royalty-free technology capable of simulating surround sound.

This work began in 2020, and now results in what the two companies call IAMF, for “Immersive audio model and formats“This alternative to Dolby Atmos technology, due to its open nature, could integrate many products over the coming years, from televisions to soundbars, including headphones and connected speakers.

“Samsung and Google’s expertise in hardware and content made them ideal partners to create IAMF technology“, comments a Samsung Research executive in A I reported It was released at the beginning of November by the Korean giant. “By partnering to develop this unprecedented technology, we are paving the way for consumers to enjoy 3D audio at home“.

A promising technology, especially for its openness

Despite what Samsung suggests, spatial, or 3D, audio is nothing new. It’s been used for years by the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X standards, at least to some extent. The real new thing about IAMF is that this technology will now be able to develop beyond the borders of the American company Dolby and a few other big names in the sector. Completely open source, this new codec was also certified by the Alliance for Open Media last October… paving the way for support by many more brands, and potentially across a range of services and content.

“To allow people to freely create content using 3D audio technology, it must be open to everyone. Providing a comprehensive open source framework for 3D audio, from creation to delivery and playback, will enable more diverse audio content experiences in the future.“, comments Samsung.

On a technological level in the strict sense, IAMF relies on vertical audio (to allow better immersion), but also on AI-enhanced sound scene analysis, and finally on parameters customizable by the end user. Thanks to AI, Samsung explains that IAMF is remarkably capable of adjusting audio dynamically (to better show dialogue in a movie, for example), or even taking into account the user’s environment to adapt to it as best as possible. .