Yamaha has announced an upcoming upgrade of its Active Field Control (AFC) technology.
AFC Enhance can be used to create acoustic spaces in which acoustic images are positioned and moved around using the new GUI of AFC Image.
AFC Enhance controls the reverberation of a space, while making use of the natural acoustic properties of the existing structure. Unlike approaches that add artificial reverb to the source sound to create a different impression, AFC Enhance controls sound propagation within the space, so that reverberation and volume can be altered while the natural sounds of musical instruments and voices are maintained.
AFC Image allows users to control the perceived positions of acoustic images within a space. With a conventional stereo configuration, the acoustic image will vary according to the listener’s position. Immersive systems, on the other hand, allow acoustic images to be placed and moved wherever they are needed to produce the desired effect, and their position remains absolute regardless of listener location.
Features of AFC Image include speaker zoning function that assigns object sounds to only the desired speakers within the system, and binaural output that lets users experience immersive sound in headphones.
Systems can be created according to customer needs, allowing easy integration of DAWs, mixers, tracking systems, plus other third-party hardware and software.
Yamaha immersive audio systems provide support that covers everything from content production to playback. The space conversion feature in AFC Image, for example, makes it possible to reproduce 5.1 channel content created using a DAW via a live sound system, matching playback to the venue and the audio system’s speaker layout. Working with NS-1 simulation software and a range of outboard equipment, this technology can deliver the creator’s content in a wide range of real-world environments.