HDR10+ Technologies LLC will administer a new certification program for Eclipsa Audio, based on the IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Format) open-source specifications created by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) that is comprised of nearly 40 leading technology companies.
In 2023, the AOM global consortium was formed and adopted the IAMF as an industry standard for 3D audio. Participating companies include Samsung, Google, Netflix, and Meta, among others. The AOM was developed by Samsung and Google, and the 3D audio format is available to content creators under the brand name Eclipsa Audio.
The Eclipsa Audio certification program helps to ensure uniform immersive audio performance on compatible televisions and other next generation devices, says the company. IAMF encompasses various audio specifications that have been designed to optimize the immersive listening experience across a wide range of applications, including music streaming, gaming, augmented and virtual reality, and traditional broadcasting. It allows consumers to enjoy multi-dimensional sound in any environment.
IAMF enables content creators and distribution platforms to deliver high-quality spatial audio with efficient encoding and flexible rendering, making it adaptable to a variety of playback conditions. It’s also released under a royalty-free license, codec agnostic, and its reference software decoder comes complete with test streams that can be easily accessed from AOMedia’s GitHub.
“Digital experiences today are powered by platforms and services that are generally available from their developers, via open-source browsers, operating systems, social networks and video conferencing,” says Matt Frost, Chairman of AOMedia’s Steering Committee. “Immersive audio should be no exception, but realizing this requires robust device testing and maximum compliance. Given its expertise in this area, HDR10+ Technologies LLC has been designated to administer the Eclipsa Audio program.”
HDR10+ Technologies LLC, the organization behind the HDR10+ dynamic metadata video format, currently has over 170 adopters and more than a half dozen testing facilities worldwide. As consumers increasingly purchase more immersive ‘big screen’ televisions, the demand for high performance spatial sound that matches HDR video quality has never been greater.
“For years, HDR10+ has been at the forefront of video innovation, offering a spectacular viewing experience,” adds Bill Mandel, Co-Manager of HDR10+ Technologies LLC. “With Eclipsa Audio, we can now ‘complete the picture’ by connecting ‘sight and sound’ in a unified manner that achieves total immersive entertainment, just as the creator intended.”
The new Eclipsa Audio certification program will initially address televisions with other devices to follow. It’s royalty-free licensing agreement and technical specifications are now available immediately to partners. The first Eclipsa Audio certified devices are expected to be introduced shortly.
For more information on licensing and certification, visit eclipsamedia.org or contact [email protected].