Orbit

Glossary ​

Quick definitions for terms you'll encounter when working with Orbit and ADM files.

File formats & standards ​

  • ADM: Audio Definition Model, metadata describing immersive audio components.
  • ADM BWF: Broadcast Wave file with ADM metadata, the standard master format for immersive audio.
  • BWF: Broadcast Wave Format, standardized WAV file container.
  • AXML: Audio XML metadata embedded in ADM BWF files.
  • CHNA: Channel mapping metadata in ADM BWF files.

Audio components ​

  • Bed: Channel-based audio elements that anchor the mix (e.g., dialogue, music stems).
  • Object: Independently positioned audio element with automation (e.g., moving effects, point sources).
  • Programme: The complete deliverable, containing beds and objects.
  • DirectSpeakers: ADM term for bed channels mapped directly to speaker positions.

Spatial audio ​

  • 7.1.4: Twelve-channel layout: eight ear-level channels (L/R/C/LFE/Ls/Rs/Lrs/Rrs) plus four overhead channels (Ltf/Rtf/Ltr/Rtr).
  • Binaural: Headphone rendering of spatial audio using HRTF processing.
  • HRTF: Head-Related Transfer Function, simulates how sound reaches your ears from different directions.
  • SOFA: Spatially Oriented Format for Acoustics, a standardized file format for storing HRTF measurements. Orbit supports loading custom SOFA files for personalized binaural rendering.
  • Fold-down: Reduction of multichannel audio to stereo for compatibility.
  • Stereo: Two-channel audio (left and right).

Playback & monitoring ​

  • LFE: Low Frequency Effects channel (subwoofer).
  • Automation: Time-based changes to object position, gain, or other parameters.
  • Timecode: The time position within the programme.
  • VBAP: Vector Base Amplitude Panning, distributes sound across speakers.
  • Direct routing: Maps bed channels directly to their labeled speakers without panning.

Quality control ​

  • QC: Quality Control, the process of verifying deliverables.
  • LUFS: Loudness Units relative to Full Scale, standardized loudness measurement.
  • True Peak: Maximum sample value after oversampling, used to prevent clipping in digital-to-analog conversion.
  • Integrated LUFS: Average loudness over the entire programme.
  • Momentary LUFS: Loudness measured over 400ms windows.
  • Short-term LUFS: Loudness measured over 3-second windows.

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