With its unique personalization features, the MPEG-H Audio system offers fully adjustable dialogue levels, customizable audio description, multiple languages, and even interactive object positioning. As a result, users can tailor the media consumption experience to their individual preferences and needs. MPEG-H delivers these unprecedented customization options, as well as enveloping immersive sound, on every kind of playback device – from home theaters to 3D soundbars to mobile devices.

The MPEG-H Authoring Suite (MAS) is a set of tools that make the production of MPEG-H Audio content easier, faster and available for everybody. With two new tools added to the MPEG-H Authoring Suite in version 3.6, MPEG-H has just become more accessible than ever!

The MPEG-H Conversion Tool (MCO) is a software tool for macOS and Windows that converts MPEG-H compliant content masters between different file formats. The MCO serves as an interface to the MPEG-H Audio ecosystem and supports the import and export of MPEG-H Production Format (MPF) and BWF/ADM files. With the option to import BWF/ADM files that were created by other tools, it is now up to the users to choose their preferred toolkit for the production. It is even possible to enhance existing productions from the archive with the MAS tools by first converting them with the MCO. Because of this, the MCO enables flexible integration into already existing workflows.

The MPEG-H Production Format Player (MPF Player) is a software player enabling quality control of files containing video and associated MPF audio. The MPF Player supports a variety of video formats, such as ProRes422 in a MOV or H264/H265 in an MP4 container. With the MPF Player, there is now an easy way to play back your master files including MPEG-H Audio before encoding, check for A/V sync, review the scene authoring, preview interactivity and monitor in a variety of different render layouts – from Mono up to immersive loudspeaker setups or Binaural Rendering.

MPEG-H Authoring Plug-in: Capabilities and highlights

The MPEG-H Authoring Plug-in (MHAPi) takes you through all the steps of creating object- or channel-based MPEG-H Audio productions inside a VST3- or AAX-enabled Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). You will be able to export your immersive and interactive MPEG-H Audio scenes to either MPEG-H Production Format (MPF), or MPEG-H BWF/ADM, containing audio and metadata, ready for distribution via MPEG-H-enabled channels.

With the MHAPi 3.6 you can even import static and dynamic metadata from an existing MPF file back into your DAW. Please refer to the user manual for a step-by-step guide.

Combination of channel-based components and dynamic audio objects
3D panning and 3D position automation of dynamic objects for immersive content
Dynamic Gain Sequences
Enabled interactivity on component gain and position for an interactive user experience
Create labels in multiple languages for audiences all over the world
In-depth documentation and template sessions for Pro Tools, Nuendo, Reaper and Sequoia
Export to MPEG-H Production Format (MPF), MPEG-H BWF/ADM or XML
Now supports monitoring layouts up to 22.2
Binaural monitoring for immersive audio reproduction over headphones
Options for binaural authoring including the option to bypass binauralization on a per component basis (mono/stereo)
Updated to the latest MPEG-H ADM profile with all new features
Improved routing capabilities
Assisted authoring mode for faster MPEG-H authorings
Improved object panner
Improved user experience

MPEG-H Authoring Tool: Capabilities and highlights

The MPEG-H Authoring Tool (MHAT) is a new software tool for macOS and Windows for creating MPEG-H metadata with existing audio material. The MPEG-H Authoring Tool allows for easy MPEG-H authoring without the need of a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). You can define specific MPEG-H parameters, instantly listen to your configurations and export your authored mixes as MPEG-H Production Format (MPF), MPEG-H BWF/ADM or as a template XML file.

Now supports monitoring layouts up to 22.2
Author MPEG-H metadata with previously produced wave files
Combination of channel-based components and dynamic audio objects
Enabled interactivity on component gain and position for an interactive user experience
Create labels in multiple languages for audiences all over the world
Binaural monitoring for immersive audio reproduction over headphones
Options for binaural authoring including the option to bypass binauralization on a per component basis (mono/stereo)
Import and export of MPF and MPEG-H BWF/ADM
Streamlined export and loudness measurement process for even faster results

Technical details and requirements

Supported operating systems
- macOS X 10.9 or newer
- Windows 10 (64bit)
Intel-compatible CPU (minimum 2GHz recommended)
Memory: 2GB RAM
Supported sample rates: 48kHz

MPEG-H Authoring Plug-in:

Supported audio plugin interfaces: AAX, VST3
Supported operating systems: any AAX Pro Tools- or VST-compatible host

Terms and Conditions

1. Description

The MPEG-H Authoring Suite is freely available software created by Fraunhofer IIS for authoring of MPEG-H audio scenes. It is intended for professional use. It creates MPEG-H audio metadata which can be used as input for a MPEG-H audio encoder and allows monitoring of the authored scenes on standard computer hardware. It is available for Windows and Mac operating systems.

2. User qualification

Fraunhofer reserves the right to deliver the software at its sole discretion to qualifying users only and to deny access to the software without further explication to users that are not deemed to be qualified. Qualification is dependent on professional use of the user and shall be in conformity with German, EU, US or other applicable export control laws and regulations. In order to be approved, users must submit the information requested below.

3. Software license type

The software license is for permanent use as described in §3 Art. 2 of the general terms and conditions.
The license is a multi-user license for 2-5 workplaces.
Modifications, changes and reengineering of the software are forbidden.

4. Third-Party Software

The MPEG-H Authoring Suite includes Third-Party Software toolkits to enable compatible interfaces to audio production tools. These toolkits will be licensed by the respective copyright owners which define the rights of use. The Fraunhofer general terms and conditions do not apply for these software parts.

The MPEG-H Authoring Plug-in (MHAPi) is compatible to VST^®. VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, registered in Europe and other countries.

The MPEG-H Authoring Plug-in (MHAPi) is compatible to AAX by using the Avid AAX-SDK 2.3.0 for connection the plugin to the AAX-Interface.

ASIO Driver Technology by Steinberg Media Technologies.

5. Open Source Software

The MPEG-H Authoring Suite includes Open Source Software (OSS). These OSS will be licensed by the respective copyright owners which define the rights of use. The Fraunhofer general terms and conditions do not apply for these OSS. Details about the used OSS and its licensing conditions and copyright terms can be found here.

Registration

The following information is required to verify whether you qualify to download MPEG-H Authoring Suite (MAS) software.
All fields marked with * are mandatory.