Why is it called “Eclipsa Audio”? What kind of a mixed metaphor is that?
I guess Samsung + Google is something of a mixed metaphor as well. Their joint release of Eclipsa 3D audio appears to be getting noticed at CES as we go to press. It gives Dolby Atmos a competitor–most importantly a free open-source competitor.
Samsung says it will integrate Eclipsa into its 2025 soundbar and TV lineup — from the Crystal UHD series to the flagship Neo QLED 8K models.
Samsung has long been competitive with Dolby, especially from an open-source standpoint. The company previously took a stance against Dolby Vision in favor of the open HDR10+ standard with no licensing fees.
Samsung has long been competitive with Dolby, especially from an open-source standpoint. The company previously took a stance against Dolby Vision in favor of the open HDR10+ standard with no licensing fees.
Beyond that, creators will also be able to upload videos with their own Eclipsa Audio tracks to YouTube (a subsidiary of Google). Viewers with 2025 Samsung devices (only) will be able to watch YouTube videos with premium spatial audio when available. So you can see the circular ecosystem these companies have in mind.
Eclipsa Audio is based on IAMF, or Immersive Audio Model and Formats, an open-source audio format that enables immersive audio experiences. The Alliance for Open Media (developers of AV1), which includes major players like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Netflix, has already adopted the underlying IAMF specification, and it has been extensively optimized, including for real-time encoding and other variables that contribute to energy efficiency.
An Eclipsa Audio bitstream can contain up to 28 input channels, rendered to a set of output speakers or headphones. These input channels can be fixed, like a microphone in an orchestra, or dynamic, like a vehicle moving through a sound field in an action movie.
Eclipsa Audio also features binaural rendering, which is essential for mobile applications when delivering immersive audio through headphones.
To ensure consistent audio quality, Samsung and Google are working with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) to create a certification program for devices using Eclipsa Audio. The partners also worked extensively with Arm on the chip side to optimize performance and power efficiency.
Eclipsa 3D audio highlights how spatial audio customization and interactivity will accelerate audio development as a matter of IT. Samsung and Google know that at least in entertainment settings, users want to be less passive, to customize the content of others and to make their own content as a natural extension of consuming it. This participatory culture also comes into the workplace. Users will continue to expect immersion and responsiveness from their work tools, just as a natural way of how they think, process, and socialize. “Top down” is very old school now, users will not only expect immersion but expect to be able to respond within it.
