Software to improve surround sound for MP3 music

Two inventors of the MP3 compression format have taken an important step forward when introducing a new audio improvement program at the ongoing CES 2006 Consumer Electronics Show (USA).

The Fraunhofer IIS Institute of Germany and Thomson SA from France have added two new elements to the MP3 Surround software. MP3 SX (MP3 Stereo eXtended) enhances multi-channel playback (playback) for stereo files, and supports conversion from stereo to surround (surround sound). Meanwhile, Ensonido brings surround sound to stereo headphones. The technology is built on the principle of acoustics to reproduce the natural transmission of multi-channel sound from speakers to ears.

Research on compressed music has been started since the 1980s by a group of scientists at Fraunhofer IIS. MP3 compression format helps reduce file size but also makes quality a little worse.

The MP3 Surround software, developed by Fraunhofer IIS in 2004 in collaboration with Agere Systems, is licensed by Thomson SA, providing high quality surround sound.

More information about MP3 Surround and Ensonido can be viewed as well as a free trial version of the software.