In 191 days, the world of sports will be converging in Paris, captivating global audiences with a heightened focus on the sports viewing experience. While a lucky few will be seeing it live, most people will be experiencing it through video. So delivering the experience in exceptional video quality will be paramount for sports rightsholders.
Ateme’s award-winning transcoders and our contribution encoders enable the ultimate viewing experience. Sports fans feel as if they were right there in the field with the sports contestants – seeing pristine images, crisp colors, and immersive sound. They do this using 4K UHD, HDR, Dynamic HDR, and immersive audio technologies. Read on to find out what these all are – and how they enhance the experience.
4K UHD
4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) refers to a display resolution of approximately 3840 x 2160 pixels, which is four times the resolution of full HD (1080p). More pixels mean more detail and sharper images. Viewers can discern finer details, textures, and nuances, for a more immersive and lifelike sports viewing experience – especially noticeable on larger screens.
HDR
High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology enhances image contrast and brightness, creating a more realistic and visually stunning sports viewing experience. Achieving this involves capturing and displaying a broader range of luminance values. This addresses the limitations of Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). SDR often struggles to accurately represent both the brightest and darkest parts of a scene simultaneously. The enhanced realism resulting from HDR is particularly noticeable in scenes with varying lighting conditions, such as sunsets, fireworks, or scenes with intricate shadows.
HDR also comes with support for a wider color gamut, allowing for a broader range of colors to be displayed. This expanded color range contributes to more vibrant and accurate colors, enhancing the overall realism of the image.
Dynamic HDR
Dynamic HDR is an enhanced version mainly of the HDR10 standard, including technologies such as HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Advanced HDR by technicolor. All these are HDR technologies. Dynamic HDR improves upon certain aspects of HDR10, mainly by introducing dynamic metadata.
In HDR10, a single set of static metadata is used for the entire video, specifying display preferences. Dynamic metadata, present in HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Advanced HDR by Technicolor, enables adjustments on a scene-by-scene or frame-by-frame basis. This optimizes tone mapping and brightness levels for each specific scene. Enhanced control over contrast and brightness contributes to a visually striking and realistic image. This is especially noticeable in scenes with mixed lighting conditions, such as sunsets, where Dynamic HDR maintains detail in both bright sunlight and darker surroundings.
Another feature of Dynamic HDR is “Adaptive Tone Mapping.” It dynamically adjusts tone mapping parameters to ensure content looks optimal on displays with varying capabilities. Adaptive tone mapping is responsive to the display’s capabilities and the characteristics of the content.
Immersive Audio
Immersive audio refers to advanced audio technologies that create a more lifelike and three-dimensional sound experience, such as MPEG-H and Dolby ATMOS. These technologies enhance sound in several ways, contributing to a more engaging and realistic sports viewing experience:
- Height Channels: Traditional audio systems are typically limited to horizontal sound placement, while immersive audio introduces height channels. This allows for sound to come from above, giving a vertical dimension to the audio experience. Height channels are effective in creating overhead effects such as rain, thunder, or aircraft movement. They add depth and realism to the audio experience.
- Localized Sound Effects: Immersive audio technology allows for precise localization of sound effects. Audio elements can be positioned with accuracy, creating a sense of directionality and distance. For instance, if a character is speaking from a specific location on the screen, the audio can be matched to that position. This enhances the synchronization of sound with on-screen events.
- Enhanced Dialog Clarity: Immersive audio systems often include advanced algorithms that enhance dialog clarity. Dialogs become more distinct and intelligible, even in complex soundscapes with multiple audio elements.
- Increased Dynamic Range: Immersive audio technologies often support a wider dynamic range, allowing for both subtle details and powerful, impactful moments. This increased dynamic range contributes to a more emotionally engaging cinematic and audio experience. Immersive audio can handle a broad range of audio intensities, from whispers and subtle rustles to booming explosions.
Have you experienced the clear resolution of 4K UHD, the crisp colors of HDR, the adaptive flexibility of Dynamic HDR, or the enveloping sound of immersive audio? Share your experiences in the comments below.
And stay tuned for our next post in the series, where we’ll share how Ateme has already enabled immersive experiences for sports fans around the world.
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