Spin Digital and Fraunhofer IIS Ready to Support Next-generation Broadcast with VVC and MPEG-H Audio

Berlin, Erlangen, August 17, 2022 – Spin Digital Video Technologies GmbH (Spin Digital) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS (Fraunhofer IIS) announced today that they will present a new software solution for next-generation broadcasting based on VVC video and MPEG-H Audio. Onsite demonstrations will be presented at the SET EXPO 2022 trade show in São Paulo, Brazil, from August 23rd to 25th.

With the support of Fraunhofer IIS, Spin Digital added MPEG-H Audio to its live encoding and playback solutions. Thanks to the new software, UHD (4K and 8K) video using VVC can now be encoded in real-time, together with MPEG-H Audio. It can then be delivered over broadcast channels or streamed over the internet; and played back using a flexible and optimized software media player.

The VVC encoder from Spin Digital can reduce the bitrate at the same or better quality than state-of-the-art HEVC encoders while providing the performance required for processing 4K and 8K video in real time. It has been extended to support the live encoding of MPEG-H Audio for broadcast and internet streaming. Additionally, the Spin Digital media player has been extended to support MPEG-H Audio decoding and rendering, enabling immersive sound and advanced personalization options.

VVC and MPEG-H Audio are being selected by broadcasters and standardization organizations as the basis for next-generation broadcasting systems. In a significant case, the Brazilian SBTVD Forum recently finalized the technical evaluation phase of the TV 3.0 project for the definition of the next-generation television system in Brazil. As a result of the evaluations, the VVC video coding standard and the MPEG-H Audio system were selected as mandatory video and audio codecs for the future Brazilian broadcast system.

Also known as H.266, VVC is the newest video coding standard designed to significantly reduce the bitrate beyond HEVC/H.265, and to facilitate next-generation video applications. MPEG-H Audio is the most advanced standard for Next-Generation Audio (NGA) providing immersive and personalized audio experiences for broadcast and new media services. Together VVC video and MPEG-H Audio provide the best audiovisual quality for next-generation and immersive media services such as UHDTV broadcasting, 4K/8K video streaming, and Virtual Reality.

“By combining Spin Digital high-performance video codecs with Fraunhofer IIS MPEG-H Audio solution we are enabling the most advanced audio and video coding systems for delivering new and more immersive media experiences.” Mauricio Alvarez-Mesa, CEO Spin Digital.

 

„We are excited to work with Spin Digital on the integration of MPEG-H Audio into their software encoder and media player for next generation applications. This opens the door to a truly immersive and interactive experience for more and more people around the world,“ says Adrian Murtaza, Senior Manager Technologies and Standards at Fraunhofer IIS. “The new MPEG-H Audio and VVC live encoding and playback solutions are an essential tool for broadcasters and content providers who want to integrate the most advanced solutions in their workflows.”

About Spin Digital

Spin Digital Video Technologies GmbH (Spin Digital) develops high-performance video codecs for the next generation of video applications. Spin Digital software solutions enable media applications that require the latest image and video processing enhancements including very high resolution (4K, 8K, and 16K), high dynamic range, high frame rate, wide color gamut, and 360° video and virtual reality. Based in Berlin, and operates in an international B2B environment, collaborating with customers and partners around the world and across market segments. For more information, visit: https://spin-digital.com/

About Fraunhofer IIS

For over 30 years, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS Audio and Media Technologies division has been shaping the globally deployed standards and technologies in the fields of audio and moving picture production. Starting with the creation of mp3 and continuing with the co-development of AAC and the Digital Cinema Initiative test plan, almost all consumer electronic devices, computers and mobile phones are equipped with systems and technologies from Erlangen today. Meanwhile, a new generation of best-in-class media technologies – such as MPEG-H Audio, xHE-AAC, EVS, LC3/LC3plus, Symphoria, Sonamic and upHear – is elevating the user experience to new heights. Always taking into account the demands of the market, Fraunhofer IIS develops technology that makes memorable moments.