MultikanalAudio

MultikanalAudio is a broad designation for technologies and content formats that deliver more than two discrete audio channels, enabling surround and immersive sound. The term covers both channel-based systems, where each channel maps to a loudspeaker, and object-based systems, where sound elements carry metadata that determines their rendering across different listening setups.

The goal is consistent spatial reproduction across environments, from compact televisions to concert halls. Typical layouts include traditional configurations such as 5.1 and 7.1, with extensions that add height channels (for example 5.1.2, 7.1.4). MultikanalAudio content can be stored as multi-channel PCM or compressed, and may include metadata for speaker positions, levels, and dynamic routing.

In production, channel-based and object-based approaches are used together; object metadata allows rendering on arbitrary speaker configurations. Playback software and hardware interpret the channel map or objects to reproduce the intended sound field.

Applications include cinema, broadcast, streaming services, video games, and virtual or augmented reality. Interoperability relies on agreed channel layouts and metadata conventions to enable consistent rendering across devices. Key challenges include latency, calibration, and cross-platform compatibility.