We are happy to announce the new release of ZYLIA Studio PRO v1.5.1

Main changes and improvements are as follows:
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BUG-FIXES
 

• We fixed the problem with high CPU error in Pro Tools while changing ZYLIA ZM-1 model - this improvement allows you to change ZYLIA ZM-1 model during playback without errors.

IMPROVEMENTS

• Loading filters information – when you change a ZM-1 model then the ZYLIA Studio PRO plugin needs to load and update the correct filter. We added an icon in the top right corner of the radar screen indicating that this process is in progress.
• Model 3E (currently available on the market) set as the default ZYLIA ZM-1 model to facilitate work in ZYLIA Studio PRO

We are happy to announce the new release of ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter v1.2.2.
 
 
Main changes and improvements are as follows:

• Resolved issues with conversion of recordings longer than 1h in WavPack audio format.
• Fixed incorrect indications of conversion progress bar on Windows operating systems.
• When running the software the default microphone model is set to ZM-1-3E now. 

​In the new version, we solved an issue with incorrect closing of ZYLIA Studio for long recording in lossless compression mode (WavPack format).

​General changes introduced in both ZYLIA Studio PRO v1.5.0 and  ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin v1.2.0 concern adding a possibility to generate support packages. In case of technical challenges, users can create a support package and send it to us to solve issues with ZYLIA plugins. The new feature is available in Settings -> License -> Support data
 
In the new versions of ZYLIA Studio PRO and ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin scaling of graphical elements on Retina displays was also fixed.
 
We redesign the look of the native operating system’s dialog windows to be consistent with the rest of the graphical interface.

Additionally, with the new release of ZYLIA ZM-1 driver we would like to presents ZYLIA Studio PRO and ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin in AAX version for Windows system.

 Additional changes in ZYLIA Studio PRO

• We removed the Cancel button in the icon settings view in ZYLIA Studio PRO. The function of this button was to close the icon settings windows. Right now you can achieve this by clicking on any plugin area.
• We fixed the mechanism of reloading separation mode and separation level when .zspro configuration file is imported.

 
Additional changes in ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin

• The click-able area of radar widget in ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin has been adjusted, to eliminate accidental change of rotation.

To ensure the highest quality of ZYLIA equipment, every piece of ZYLIA ZM-1 array is professionally measured at the assembly line to detect any sensitivity differences, which may occur between individual MEMS microphones. Those data are constantly monitored and analyzed for the benefit of all audio recording enthusiast. Based on captured measurement data Zylia specialists developed the automatic gain correction in the set of new ZYLIA drivers. It means a significant upgrade in the quality of the 360-degree sound scene recordings.   

To be more detailed, this great new feature, allows to lower the sensitivity differences between individual microphones in ZYLIA ZM-1 from +/- 1 decibel down to +/- 0.1 dB! This results in higher performance of sound source separation algorithms applied in ZYLIA Studio and ZYLIA Studio PRO.  It will also increase the quality of HOA signals (Higher Order Ambisonics) in ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter. From the user’s point of view, it means especially:

• better (flat) frequency response,
• higher spatial resolution,
• more accurate sound source separation,
• less spill between separated tracks.

Introduced changes will be appreciated especially by professional sound engineers and audio researchers.


Additionally, a new ZYLIA ZM-1 driver for macOS:

• prevents automatic system sleep during recording and when the laptop lid is closed;
• allows installing the same version of ZYLIA ZM-1 driver again;
• improves audio data streaming between ZYLIA ZM-1 device and ZYLIA ZM-1 driver;
• gives ZYLIA Control Panel possibility to generate a package with support data.

Additionally, a new ZYLIA ZM-1 driver for Windows:

• gives support for recording in Pro Tools.

We are happy to announce the new release of ZYLIA Studio v. 1.8.0
​Get to know all the changes.

New release of ZYLIA Studio PRO and ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugins are developed to address the needs of audio enthusiasts. The new plug-ins accommodate specific characteristics of Pro Tools and enable use of the DAW with the innovative ZYLIA ZM-1 microphone. 

Main changes:

• ZYLIA Studio PRO v. 1.4.0

• Improved DSP algorithms providing better frequency response of the processed sound sources.

• ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin  v. 1.1.1

• Fixed bug in FUMA channels ordering

• Support for a new ZM-1-3E model of microphone array was added.

• In this update we have improved the sound quality of Ambisonics filters for ZM-1-1D, ZM-1-1C and ZM-1-3E arrays. They should now sound more neutral out of the box, but the change may require small tweaking of EQ settings in your projects.

 

• Normalization parameter was added

​         ◦ Possibility to set normalization between „SN3D” and „N3D”

• Minor bugs were fixed

        ◦ Estimation of progress bar for .wv files conversion
        ◦ Sensitivity of rotation slider

• In this update we have improved the sound quality of Ambisonics filters for ZM-1-1D, ZM-1-1C and ZM-1-3E arrays. They should now sound more neutral out of the box, but the change may require small tweaking of EQ settings in your projects.

• Support for ZM-1-3E was added.

​

• Minor bugs were fixed:

        ◦ Input field of elevation slider
        ◦ Wrong sample rate warning

Download link - ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter plugin

ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin is a VST/AU plugin which enables conversion to Ambisonics directly within a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Thanks to ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin the whole recording system becomes even more powerful enabling new features for 3D audio production and surround sound recording.
ZYLIA Ambisonics Converter Plugin transforms a single 19 channel ZM-1 [http://www.zylia.co/zylia-zm-1- microphone.html] recording into Higher Order Ambisonics file that is compatible with top class tools for VR and 360 video production. It enables you to prepare 3D audio recordings for playback on the ‘Facebook 360’ and ‘Youtube 360’ platforms.​

​Main features:
​
•    B-format conversion (1st, 2nd and 3rd order of HOA)
•    FuMa or ACN channel ordering & SN3D or N3D normalization
•    ambiX and TBE formats
•    Support for YouTube360 and Facebook360
•    Correction of microphone position in the post-production stage
•    Available as VST, VST3 and AU plugins
•    macOS and Windows versions
•    Compatible with DAW that supports at least 19 channels per track

Available in ZYLIA PRO Set.

​What would happen if on a rainy and cloudy day, during a walk along a forest path, you could move into a completely different place thousands of kilometers away from you? Putting the goggles on would get you into a virtual reality world, you would find yourself on a sunny island in the Pacific Ocean, you would be on the beach, admiring the scenery and walking among the palm trees listening to the sound of waves and colorful parrots screeching over your head.
​
It sounds unrealistic, but such goals are determined by the latest trends in the development of Augmented / Virtual Reality technology (AR / VR). Technology and content for full VR or 6DoF (6 Degrees-of-Freedom) rendered in real time will give the user the opportunity to interact and navigate through virtual worlds. To experience the feeling of "full immersion" in the virtual world, realistic sound must also follow a high-level image. Therefore, only each individual sound source present in virtual audio landscape provided to the user as a single object signal can reliably reflect both the environment and the way the user interacts with it.

There are many possibilities of using a 6DoF VR technology. You can imagine exploring a movie plan in your own pace. You could stroll between the actors, look at the action from different sides, listen to any conversations and paying attention to what is interesting only for you. Such technology would provide really unique experiences.

​A wide spectrum of virtual reality applications drives the development of technology in the audio-visual industry. Until now, image-related technologies have been developing much faster, leaving the sound far behind. We have made the first attempts to show that 6DoF for sound is also achievable.

​It's extremely challenging to record high-quality sound from many sources present in the sound scene at the same time. We managed to do this using nine ZYLIA ZM-1 multi-track microphone arrays evenly spaced in the room.

In our experiment the sound field was captured using two different spatial arrangements of ZYLIA ZM-1 microphones placed within and around the recorded sound scenes. In the first arrangement, nine ZYLIA ZM-1 microphones were placed on a rectangular grid. Second configuration consisted of seven microphones placed on a grid composed of equilateral triangles.

​Microphone signals were captured using a personal computer running GNU/Linux operating system. Signals originating from individual ZM-1 arrays were recorded with the specially designed software. 

​We recorded a few takes of musical performance with instruments such as an Irish bouzouki (stringed instrument similar to the mandolin), a tabla (Indian drums), acoustic guitars and a cajon.

To present interesting possibilities of using audio recorded with multiple microphone arrays we have created a Unity project with 7 Ambisonics sources. In this simulated environment, you will find three sound sources (our musicians) represented by bonfires among whom you can move around. Experiencing fluent immersive audio becomes so natural that you can actually feel being inside of this scene.

​During exploration experiments, MPEG Standardization Committee has realized that there is a lack of test material for audio and video experiments into MPEG-I Immersive Video. Our recordings have been accepted as a reference material in MPEG Standardization Committee. Each of the experts involved in standardization works on MPEG-I can now use the Zylia recordings to develop and test audio technologies for VR/AR applications.