StormAudio Unleashes Firmware 4.0, Including Dirac Live Bass Control Add-On Support And Roon Compatibility

April 22, 2020

Brand-new Firmware 4.0 retains the StormAudio intuitive and flexible concept but adds even more advanced performance and is the first on the market enabled with Dirac Live’s latest technologically advanced bass management add-on module, the Dirac Live Bass Control. The signature seamless StormAudio experience is now better than ever.

StormAudio is pleased to announce that the company’s new Firmware 4.0 is available for download today. It comes pre-installed in every StormAudio Immersive Sound Processor MK2 device; existing MK1 users can download and update their device to run this firmware version at no additional cost. Firmware 4.0 packs updated immersive audio capability to continue delivering the leading industry standards to all StormAudio ISP users. StormAudio is proud to be the first on the market to feature the latest Dirac Live Bass Control module, a cutting-edge bass management tool for enhanced cinema experiences. Other key new features include a redesigned Speaker Configurator for more flexible configuration possibilities and integration of the Roon music management system to bring music as well as cinema enjoyment to the home. All features are designed to improve the entire configuration and calibration process for the best possible home media entertainment results. The firmware can be downloaded from the company’s brand new website, stormaudio.com.

Comprehensive Industry-Leading Immersive Audio Capability

Firmware 4.0 includes updated solutions for installations of the foremost immersive audio formats. Any ISP that runs Firmware 4.0 can now support Dolby Atmos layouts of up to 13.1.10 and additional screen center, rear surround, front and rear height channels for greater immersivity. For other setups where installation of Dolby Enabled speakers are used, these can now also be configured and managed with this new firmware version.

Auro Technologies has made improvements to its Auro-3D codec, which is uniquely available in StormAudio’s Firmware 4.0. The new codec will analyze the speaker layout installed and will now make use of the rear channels in the layout when playing back native Auro-3D 9.1/11.1 content. Also updated is the Auro-Matic upmixing algorithm, with more refined dialog management on a 2 channel stream for improved handling of legacy sources.

In addition to these immersive audio updates, DTS:X Pro capability will be added in the next upgrade of the Firmware 4.0, coming soon in the upcoming months.

Premiering Technologically Advanced Dirac Live Bass Control

The existing Dirac Live Room Correction calibration performance and results have been much lauded by ISP MK1 users, and now, StormAudio continues this important partnership by being the first to introduce Dirac Live’s all-new Bass Control add-on module in Firmware 4.0. The StormAudio engineering team has completely redesigned the bass management mechanism for improved performance and implementation of Dirac’s latest technology.

“With the new Dirac Live Bass Control, combined with Dirac Live Room Correction, StormAudio will have the most modern, efficient and easy-to-use room acoustics solution on the market,” states Niklas Thorin, Dirac’s General Manager of High Performance Audio. “It is always a pleasure to work with such a professional company and development team that have once again delivered on this implementation in record time.”

The Dirac Live Bass Control add-on is a sophisticated module based on machine learning for analysis of the behavior of any speaker type used, optimizing the system bass response for all speakers and subwoofers in the room. The advanced algorithm allows for smoother bass reproduction in the crossover area and even flexibility in the subwoofer placement, overcoming constraints in a room that might compromise the bass reproduction. All this is possible for an unlimited number of subwoofers, allowing full control for the best power and impact.

“The calibration and equalization process is a crucial part of the home theater set-up; we are proud to work closely with Dirac to deliver their high-performing new technology for free to our users,” says Olivier Thumerel, CEO of StormAudio. “All our work is developed with the client experience in mind, so we have decided to bear the cost and offer this Dirac License with no additional fee for all our end users so they can enhance their installations, easily, and worry-free.”

Additional Key Features

Other key features include a re-designed GUI for StormAudio’s Speaker Configurator. The concept behind the design maintains StormAudio’s user-friendly interface that is intuitive yet flexible and powerful enough for in-depth configuration. The features have been further improved in Firmware 4.0 to allow more detailed and precise definition for each speaker layer. With more sophisticated speaker management capabilities, including multi-way speaker management, up to 4 ways in all layers and per speaker and subwoofer replication management, the Speaker Configurator gives the freedom to make the best possible settings for any theater installation.

Another completely fresh addition to StormAudio’s capabilities is the Roon end-point integration with ISP devices. It makes navigation and listening experience more enhanced and streamlined; all you have to do is select between cinema or Roon playback just by choosing the audio input.

Availability

Firmware 4.0 is pre-installed on all StormAudio MK2 devices and is also compatible with the entire MK1 range (ISP Processors and I.ISP Receivers). Download for free via the Client Portal on the StormAudio website. Additional features, including DTS:X Pro and StormAudio Expert Bass Management, will be available over the upcoming months, all available as free software upgrades.

Firmware 4.0 was designed to complement StormAudio’s new MK2 processor/preamp range. The whole MK2 range is now available and shipping. The range includes 16, 24 or 32-channel analog versions as well as a 32-channel digital AES version.

For more information, including details on how to download and install Firmware 4.0, contact your local distributor, dealer or representative, or email info@stormaudio.com.