IS427:AY1314T1 Europe (G1) - Organizations: Lille: A-Volute

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About A-Volute

A-Volute was founded in 2004. It specialises in binaural-based technologies that are dedicated to offer an immersive 3D audio experience from on conventional stereophonic sound systems.

With A-Volute technologies, lifelike 3D sound can be recreated on any device from any input signal (Stereo, 5.1, 3D) and to any audience, making surround sound an accessible mainstream experience. A-Volute aims to become the new audio standard and bring 3D sound back to the ears of billions of people.

A-Volute is now located in Villeneuve d’Ascq (North of France). A-Volute has worked with many local, financial and technical partners and had many collaborations with well-established clients in diverse industries.

Founding Team

A-Volute was created by Tuyên Pham (CEO) & Ambroise Recht (CTO). They both started to work on their core technology while they were still students at Centrale Lille, a top ten French engineering school. As gaming and music lovers, audio is more than a profession to the founders: it is a vocation.

Technology

Click here to watch a demonstration of A-Volute's technology

3D Sound

3D sound primarily defines all the sound technologies that enables the positioning of sound around the listener to produce a lifelike immersive effect. This could encompass, but is not limited to, surround sound technologies, where multiple speakers are placed around a room to immerse the listener in the center of the action. 3D sound technologies aims to recreate sound in a spatial context such that a listener feels that he is hearing it naturally in real life instead of digitally.

Sound Virtualization

A-Volute has developed a renderer engine which enables them to virtualize sound and recreate standard surround sound systems no matter what audio playback system is used.

Upmix algorithm

A-Volute' upmix algorithm spatializes stereo or multichannel contents and transforms them into surround sound or full 3D contents in order to rediscover the sound's original accuracy.

Customizable HRTF filters

A-Volute offers HRTF (Head Related Transfer Function) customization to users for more comfortable and personalized lifelike sound.

Directional Sound

Nahimic Directional Sound uses acoustic waveguides and combines the principles of parametrical speakers and nonlinear acoustics to confine audio into a directional beam such that the audio cannot be heard outside a narrow region of focus.

Audio Enhancement

A-Volute has developed a wide range of audio effects designed improve the sound quality of electronic mass-market products such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones etc.

Voice Clarity

This effect selects the frequency ranges of human voices and boosts the high frequencies to improve intelligibility. The Voice Clarity also detects and eliminates all the ambient noises.

Noise Gate

Part of A-Volute's algorithms are dedicated to input signal processing. The Noise Gate cuts the unpleasant noises between words or sentences for clearer voice communication.

Dynamic Compressor and Bass Boost

Avolute's compressor measures, analyzes and controls the volume in order to ensure consistent loudness and thus to avoid unintelligible and unpleasantly loud sounds. This effect boosts the low frequencies and makes the audio quality clearer.

Equalizer

Our 8-band-equalizer sets the frequency level and enhances the audio quality of the content.

Smart Noise Reduction

Used in addition to the Noise Gate, this technology has been designed to analyze and estimate the amount of ambiant noise before eliminating them through spectral subtraction.

Audio Correction

A-Volute's technology detects, measures and analyzes the limits of electronic devices to apply adequate digital filters and correct audio.

Stereo Image Correction

Transaural HRTF-based technology that virtually reposition and balance the speakers.

Bandwidth Correction

This technology measures, analyzes and corrects the bandwidth frequency response in compliance with the user's specifications.

Virtual Bass Boost

A-Volute's Virtual Bass Boost creates bass feeling by synthesizing the harmonics of low frequencies that the product’s bandwidth could not deliver.

Business Model

A-Volute offers its solutions through direct sales, with customization options available.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths Adaptable technology for different platform use Wide array of industries to reach out to from end-consumer products, industry equipment, rental, privately owned Wide range of industry collaborations Portfolio: Industry collaborations lend strong credibility Great learning and cross-functional application

Weaknesses Lack of clear differentiation Ambiguous explanation of technology Definition of sound quality is not universal across clients/consumers Consumers more familiar with layman terms (with regard to sound quality): clarity for classical and instrumental, bass for rock, pop genres etc. 3D sound can be recorded manually with multiple microphones The necessity to do it live is circumstantial “Good to have” positioning People may not relate to why they need it or that their customers would be persuaded to pay for an product with such properties.

Opportunities (Expand) Consumer electronics: Mobile devices Products: Smart devices, appliances & platforms Partners: LG, Samsung Applicable to many industries (international, scalable) and competitors have scattered presence Still other areas yet to be touched like e-learning, corporate, training, etc. (Enhance) Technology combination Leverage on all areas of tech expertise Make solutions customizable (on/off – toggle) – so that the product retains its relevance in multiple scenarios rather than just one

Threats Competitors in 3D Sound Arkamys IOSONO Competitors in Surround Sound Dolby DTS

Competitor Presence

Arkamys	IOSONO	Dolby	DTS
Automotive Mobile devices Home entertainment Professional sound	Cinema Theme parks Research institutes Sound producers Clubs Museums Planetaria	Multi-industry	Multi-industry