PRO AV CATALOG
Barco
Duluth, GA 30097
United States
Auro 11.1, Barco’s next-generation immersive sound technology, creates the most impactful motion picture experience. Its unique three-layer approach allows for an envelopment of sound unmatched by any other system. Since its release in 2010,the fully immersive 3D sound of Auro has been rapidly conquering the Indian movie scene. Both theaters and production studios have embraced the format, resulting in an impressive number of installations so far.
Enhanced cinematic experience
Director Balaji K. Kumar discovered the capabilities of Auro while watching Vishwaroopam, the first Indian movie to feature the new format. After visiting AM Studios, one of India’s most famous recording studios equipped with the Auro-3D® system which includes the Auro processor from Barco, he was immediately sold on it. “I’m convinced audio plays an important role in any movie. It can really change the dynamics and accounts for 50 per cent of the total experience,” Balaji commented. “During the post-production of Vidiyum Munn, I studied different alternatives for the 5.1 channel audio. Auro really stood out. I was impressed by the sound quality, its simplicity and the added value it brings to the entire cinematic experience.”
Abel Garamhegyi, managing director at Barco India explains: “Because the human being is driven by images as well as sound, we are aiming to reach perfection in both and completely immerse the audience. And it seems like we have succeeded: bookings for halls where Auro 11.1 has been installed are much higher. Auro 11.1 is proving to be a very powerful differentiator, motivating people to come together and enjoy an overall experience instead of watching their television sets at home.”
Maximum compatibility
The success of Auro across Indian movie theaters is no coincidence by any means. Apart from the unique immersive sound quality, the system is perfectly compatible with existing 5.1 installations. “The system demands minimal hardware investments and achieves maximum results in 3D sound with a minimum number of speakers,” Garamhegyi explained. On top of that, the platform is capable of supporting future immersive standards as they become available.”
Dynamic soundtracks
Sivakumar Vijayan worked as the audiographer for Vidiyum Munn. “Balaji K. Kumar wanted the sound of the film to be very dynamic, as it has tense moments throughout,” explained Sivakumar. “It had to be an immersive soundscape, enveloping the audience from all directions. In mixing the film’s audio and music, I used the Auro-Matic plugin – a set of upmixing algorithms – quite extensively. Even after folding the audio down to 5.1, it gives you an impressive, enhanced result. I have been in the industry for twenty years and so far I never came across a plugin capable of doing this. It made my job a whole lot easier and definitely added to the intensity of the scenes.”
About the crew
Vidiyum Munn is the first Tamil production by writer, director and visual designer Balaji K. Kumar. The movie tells the dramatic story of four men hunting down two women, each for their own perverse reasons. In the past, Balaji’s Twelve twisted tricks won the Golden trailer award in 2002. In 2007 he received a host of awards for 9 lives of Mara, a cult hit featuring Shakespearian plot twists and a film noir screenplay.
A gold medalist from Sathyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Sivakumar Vijayan made his debut as a cinematographer in Vidiyum Munn. Sivakumar had the privilege of working with P.C. Sreeram for a couple of years before Balaji. K. Kumar spotted him as the right person to handle the camera for Vidiyum Munn.
“Naturally, we are

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