Test and Measurement News

Prism Sound's new dScope Series III software proves a hit with SoundField

Cambridge - August 2007: Prism Sound's Version 1.21 software for its dScope Series III audio analyser is proving popular with innovative British microphone manufacturer SoundField, which is using many of the new features as part of its test and manufacturing procedures.

SoundField DSF-1 surround-capable digital microphone system

Prism Sound's dScope Series III is a comprehensive and powerful measurement system for analogue and digital audio generation and analysis, including digital audio carrier testing and testing of Windows sound devices. This industrial strength audio test and measurement system comprises a Windows PC (XP and Vista compatible) software application coupled with an external high-precision audio I/O processor for equipment-under-test (EUT) connections. SoundField acquired a dScope Series III audio analyser three years ago to test a new range of digital microphones. Thanks to its portability, the unit is also used on location to test long co-axial cable runs to ensure they are coming up to AES3 specifications.

Peter Schillebeeckx, head of R&D at SoundField, says: "We have always appreciated Prism Sound technology because it is so versatile and flexible. The ability to connect the unit to a laptop by a simple USB cable makes it very useful in our R&D department where it can be shared between a number of test benches. We also use it as part of our manufacturing process, and to test our microphone installations at many of the UK's top football stadiums and concert venues."

SoundField recently installed the new Version 1.21 software, which is available as a free download to all existing dScope Series III users. As well as offering new tools for acoustic measurements, PC audio and 192kHz sampling on digital audio interfaces, the software can also perform a rapid multi-tone-based "quick check" giving frequency response, distortion and noise and amplitude accuracy in a few seconds.

"We are particularly impressed by the new Impulse Response feature, which has made this type of testing much quicker and easier," Schillebeeckx adds. "Before Prism Sound introduced Version 1.21, I was testing impulse response frequencies in a convoluted way using a number of different software and various algorithms I had written myself. Having this feature readily available in a piece of test equipment, especially one that is as flexible as dScope, is a huge bonus."

Soundfield, based Wakefield, West Yorkshire, manufactures a range of microphones each capable of generating mono, stereo and full surround. In addition to the hardware, SoundField has developed software for both surround and stereo applications that enables all microphone parameters to be adjusted or changed after the event in post production. With HD broadcasting becoming a mainstream delivery standard, SoundField systems are meeting a growing need for a simple means of recording 5.1 audio. Already, broadcasts from the 2006 World Cup and UK Premiership League Soccer games have used single SoundField mics to generate simultaneous stereo and 5.1 audio for SD and HD transmission, and SoundField systems have been permanently installed at many large football stadiums in the UK. Last year, SoundField launched the first of its new digital microphones - the DSF-2 Broadcast Microphone System, which was specifically designed to provide both the surround and stereo soundscapes at large scale outside broadcast events such as the World Cup. Following the commercial success of this system, SoundField is about to launch two new products: the DSF-1 surround-capable digital microphone system for concert venue broadcast and recording, and the DSF-3 digital surround processor for the DSF-2 and the new DSF-1.

Prism Sound can be found on Stand 597 in Hall 8 at IBC.
SoundField can be found on Stand 587 in Hall 5 at IBC.