Hi Yucca
Sorry about the delayed response - I am easily distracted. The full cost of the Pro studio encoder / decoder is $4,995 that includes a life time license to sell material encoded in Involve format. As an introductory offer for the next 2 months we are including in that price a full Y4 surround sound system that includes our electrostatiuc panels, Involve decode and our SST (Sweet Spot Technology- formally called Total Perspective). This system is anticipated to have a RRP somewhere between $2k - $3K.
(here is a summary from our soon to be started USA website)
INVOLVE FORMAT STUDIO ENCODER
The Involve Audio studio encoder is designed so the recording engineer can precisely record 4 or 5 channels into a fully compatible stereo format that is completely indistinguishable from standard stereo.
The process is an analogue process implemented with digital DSP processing and is completely lossless and produces a stereo output of two analogue channels. The Involve surround encoded file can be played on Ipod, radio, TV, CD’s, DVD’s and cable TV with no loss in fidelity, and no apparent loss in channel separation.
The resultant processed and recorded surround format is completely unaffected by file compression techniques and in no way changes the fidelity of the recording when played back in stereo or surround. If you put compressed audio in you will still get the same compressed sound out.
HOW DOES THE INVOLVE FORMAT STUDIO ENCODER WORK?
The patent pending Involve Studio Encoder is the world’s first actively adaptive tri band fully balanced matrix encoder. Many previous attempts have been made to effectively mix 4 or 5 channels into stereo using phase shift techniques but have always suffered in either not producing good surround channel separation or producing a compressed stereo image. Additionally most previous techniques failed to produce a decoded surround sound that was completely even, with no bias of front/ back/ left/ right channels.
Involve format recording solves all of these problems and produces a real circular sound field when played back with an Involve decoder.
Unlike all other matrix encode techniques, Involve uses 3 separate bands of encode with the matrix encode mathematics dynamically variable to suit the recording conditions. The processing senses the type of music being recorded and detects if surround content is present and its relationship to the frontal content and adjusts the recording matrix to suit the instantaneous recording requirement.
Involve format recording uses extensive modelling of human listening perception and several factors are incorporated into the application of the variable matrix equations. These dynamic adjustments are all designed to ensure both the stereo and surround listener are blissfully unaware of any changes to the original recording.
FEATURES
INVOLVE ENCODER:
XLR 5 channel recording inputs
XLR stereo encoded stereo outputs
RCA stereo encoded output
INVOLVE DECODER/ preamplifier:
RCA inputs – Aux 1, 2, 3, 4
Individual channel level adjustment
Remote control – including bass/ treble/ input channel/ volume
Decodes – Involve, Dolby PL 1 and 2, QS, EV4, Qsound, Ambisonics, Dummy head recording
ADVANTAGES
- Surround encoded Involve stereo is indistinguishable from stereo when played on stereo equipment
- Involve format can be partially decoded by Dolby and other decoders
- Involve format can be broadcast on radio, TV, Cable, Internet and converted into any compressed format
- All old multi track recordings can be re released with “hidden surround”
- Full movies can be sent with full surround over compressed media
- No recording license fees after purchase of Involve encoder – commercial license is included in the hardware price.
DISADVANTAGES
There are none that we are aware of apart from the initial cost of purchase
Fully isolated and floating encode inputs/ outputs
Input Level 3.5 Vrms
Output Level 3.5 V rms
Input Impedance 10 KOhms
Encode/ decode distortion Better than 1%
Frequency Response (All surround modes) 20 Hz – 20KHz 1db
Stereo analog output level 3.5 Vrms
Slew Rate 9V per microsecond
Signal to noise ratio Greater than 90 dB
Encode/ decode channel separation 35 – 40 dB
Warranty 3 Year Limited Warranty
Hope that clarifies the unit
Regards
Chucky
Could you remind the price and post exact specifications ?