ORPHEUS · Project

Personalized Audio Broadcasting That Adapts to Every Listener and Device Automatically

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Imagine listening to a football match on the radio and being able to turn up the commentator, mute the crowd noise, or switch to your team's home commentary — all from your phone. ORPHEUS built the entire production-to-listener chain that makes this possible by treating every sound as a separate object rather than mixing everything into one fixed track. Broadcasters like BBC and others tested this in real live productions, proving it works at scale without extra cost. The result is audio that reshapes itself to fit your preferences, your device, and even the room you're sitting in.

By the numbers

EUR 3,998,730

EU funding for complete end-to-end audio chain development

consortium partners across the value chain

countries represented (DE, FR, NL, UK)

SMEs in the consortium

40%

industry partner ratio in consortium

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Broadcasters and audio platforms today produce a single fixed audio mix that sounds the same for everyone — whether you're on headphones, a car stereo, or a smart speaker. Listeners cannot adjust commentary levels, switch language tracks on the fly, or get audio optimized for their specific device and environment. This one-size-fits-all approach limits engagement and forces expensive manual repurposing for different platforms.

The solution

What was built

ORPHEUS built a complete end-to-end object-based audio chain spanning capture, mixing, monitoring, storage, archiving, play-out, distribution, and rendering. Concrete deliverables include final object-based renderers, user interfaces for personalization and interaction, a live IP-based production environment, and reference audio processing software with guidelines for production — totaling 20 deliverables plus a published reference architecture.

Audience

Who needs this

Public and commercial radio/TV broadcasters upgrading to IP-based productionAudio streaming platforms seeking interactive listener featuresPro audio software companies building next-generation production toolsSmart speaker and automotive audio system manufacturersSports and live event production companies wanting personalized audio feeds

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Broadcasting & Media

enterprise

Target: Radio and television broadcasters

If you are a broadcaster dealing with the challenge of delivering compelling audio across smartphones, smart speakers, cars, and living rooms — this project developed a complete object-based audio production and distribution chain with 20 deliverables including live production tools, renderers, and user interfaces. It lets you produce once and automatically adapt audio to every platform, cutting repurposing costs while giving audiences interactive, personalized listening.

Streaming & Podcasting

mid-size

Target: Audio streaming platforms and podcast networks

If you are a streaming platform struggling to differentiate your listener experience from competitors — ORPHEUS built reference renderers and user interfaces that let listeners personalize audio mixes in real time. Tested across a 10-partner consortium spanning 4 countries, these tools enable interactive features like adjustable commentary levels and spatial audio that increase engagement and reduce churn.

Pro Audio & Production Tools

any

Target: Audio software and hardware manufacturers

If you are an audio technology company looking to build products for the next generation of broadcasting — ORPHEUS published a reference architecture and open guidelines for implementing object-based audio chains. With IP-based live production environments already demonstrated and 4 SMEs in the consortium, this is a proven blueprint you can integrate into capture, mixing, monitoring, and rendering products.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement object-based audio in our production workflow?

The project was funded with EUR 3,998,730 across 10 partners to build the entire end-to-end chain. The objective explicitly states the aim is to bring object-based content to mass audiences at no added cost, meaning existing broadcast infrastructure can be adapted rather than replaced. Specific per-unit licensing costs are not detailed in available project data.

Can this scale to serve millions of listeners simultaneously?

Yes — scalability was a core design goal. The project developed workflows and components specifically designed to scale up for cost-effective commercial production, storage, play-out, and distribution. The live production environment was demonstrated using IP-based infrastructure, which is inherently scalable.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

The consortium includes Fraunhofer, which is known for audio codec licensing (MP3, AAC). The project published a reference architecture and guidelines for implementing object-based audio chains. Specific IP and licensing terms would need to be discussed with individual consortium partners, particularly Fraunhofer as coordinator.

How does this integrate with our existing broadcast systems?

ORPHEUS was designed for real-world integration, not just lab demos. The deliverables include a live production environment using IP-based infrastructure, which aligns with modern broadcast facility upgrades. The reference architecture and guidelines provide a concrete roadmap for integration with existing capture, mixing, monitoring, and distribution systems.

What standards does this follow?

Deliverable D3.5 specifically addresses audio processing based on broadcast quality standards. The project aligns with the move toward IP-based broadcasting infrastructure. Based on available project data, the work feeds into emerging object-based audio standards for European broadcasting.

Is this proven in real broadcast conditions?

Yes. The consortium demonstrated close-to-market workflows proving economic viability. The final deliverables include a live production environment, final object-based renderers, and user interfaces tested in mock-up scenarios representing real broadcast use cases.

What ongoing support is available?

The project ended in May 2018, but Fraunhofer and the 4 industry partners continue to be active in audio technology. The published reference architecture and 20 deliverables provide comprehensive documentation. SciTransfer can help connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific needs.

Consortium

Who built it

The ORPHEUS consortium of 10 partners across 4 countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, UK) is unusually well-balanced for commercialization. With a 40% industry ratio and 4 SMEs alongside 3 research organizations, this was clearly designed to move beyond the lab. Fraunhofer — the world's leading applied research organization and the group behind MP3 and AAC audio codecs — coordinates the project, lending serious credibility to the audio technology. The mix of broadcasters, technology providers, and research institutes means the entire audio value chain from production to consumption was represented, reducing the gap between research output and market-ready products.

B-COMparticipant · FR
INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE ET DE COORDINATION ACOUSTIQUE MUSIQUE - IRCAMparticipant · FR
INSTITUT FUR RUNDFUNKTECHNIK GMBHparticipant · DE
BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATIONparticipant · UK
EURESCOM-EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC STUDIES IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS GMBHparticipant · DE
BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNKparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

Fraunhofer is the coordinator — SciTransfer can identify the right contact within their audio research division for your specific use case.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how object-based audio technology could work for your broadcast or streaming platform? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the ORPHEUS team at Fraunhofer and provide a tailored brief matching this technology to your specific needs.

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