High-definition measurement microphone integral to audio calibration tool performance
THAT Corporation, a leading provider of high-quality audio technologies, today announced that it has partnered with Earthworks® Audio to create a customized dbx-tv omnidirectional measurement microphone for its new dbx-tv® Total Cal audio calibration tool – a PC-based acoustic measurement and configuration system that simplifies and shortens the time required to configure a TV’s audio system.
Each Total Cal system utilizes a minimum of three state-of-the-art dbx-tv / Earthworks microphones to capture the sonic fingerprint of the TV audio system being measured through the built-in speakers. By comparing these sonic profiles to a series of preconfigured test tones, Total Cal is able to assess the performance of the TV’s existing hardware and automatically adjust its audio system to meet the setmaker’s sonic objectives. Using a proprietary genetic tuning algorithm and the myriad parameters of dbx-tv’s Total Sonics audio software suite, Total Cal achieves remarkable results that can be auditioned in just minutes without the need for a trained audio engineer.
“In order for our Total Cal audio measurement and calibration solution to deliver the best possible results, we knew we would need to specify incredibly sensitive transducers throughout the system,” said Tim Brault, dbx-tv’s Product Manager for Audio Enhancement Products. “Earthworks microphones are known throughout the audio industry for their superior flat and wide frequency response, superb handling of transients, and accurate polar characteristics. “Since our respective companies share a common dbx heritage, and Earthworks has a stellar reputation for manufacturing the highest quality microphones, it was only natural to ask our friends at Earthworks to help us create something special for Total Cal.
“Over the years, Earthworks has teamed up with dbx-tv on a number of successful audio measurement projects,” said Bill Norton, COO of Earthworks Audio. “Our new dbx-tv microphones are incredibly accurate in terms of time domain and flat frequency response with virtually no handling noise. As a result, they are ideally suited for the exacting, free-field acoustical measurement requirements of dbx-tv’s Total Cal system.”
About Earthworks® Audio
Earthworks is a New Hampshire, USA based company that is dedicated to quality and sonic excellence. The company was formed by David Blackmer, the brilliant inventor and founder of dbx™, whose passion focused on inventing new technologies for microphones, preamplifiers and monitor speakers. These advanced, patented technologies provide Earthworks with the ability to manufacture the “next generation” of professional audio products that significantly outperform any other quality professional audio equipment on the market. For more information, visit www.earthworksaudio.com
About dbx-tv®
dbx-tv’s audio software enhancement solutions extract high-quality sound from TVs and other consumer devices, even those with the tightest of design constraints. Invented in the 1980s, dbx-tv originated as the Emmy®-award winning BTSC noise-reduction system that is now part of the North American analog-TV audio standard. Today, dbx-tv’s signature suite of TV audio intellectual property (IP) has enabled better audio in more than a billion TVs, set-tops and other devices worldwide. dbx-tv is headquartered just outside Boston, with offices in Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul.
“Total Sonics” and “Total Cal” are trademarks of THAT Corporation. dbx-tv and THAT Corporation are registered trademarks.