resurround

Resurround is a term encountered in audio and multimedia contexts to describe the creation or recreation of a surround sound field around a listener. It is not a standardized technical term, and its exact meaning can vary depending on the domain, vendor, or product it appears with.

In practice, resurround may refer to upmixing stereo or multichannel material to a surround configuration such as 5.1 or 7.1, or to re-synthesizing a surround field from object-based audio formats to fit a particular speaker array or listening room. It can also describe re-mapping or adapting audio to different playback setups, for example from a home theater surround system to a compact soundbar or headphones, while preserving spatial cues as much as possible.

Techniques used in resurround include spatial panning, convolution with room impulse responses, and head-related transfer function (HRTF) processing to position sounds in azimuth, elevation, and distance. Other methods rely on object-based routing and scene analysis to maintain directional cues when speaker layouts change. Implementation may occur in software within digital audio workstations, media players, or dedicated hardware processors, and often involves considerations of room acoustics and listener position.

Because resurround is not governed by a single standard, its quality and behavior depend on the algorithms, the source material, and the listening environment. Some products or marketing materials simply label features as “Resurround,” without defining a specific technical specification. Related concepts include surround sound, upmixing, ambisonics, and spatial audio.