Brandenburg Labs Okeanos Pro – Virtual Multichannel Monitoring via Headphones

Brandenburg Labs GmbH is a technology-driven company focused on immersive audio reproduction specifically optimized for headphone listening. Based in Ilmenau, the company builds on decades of scientific research in spatial audio and perception. With Okeanos Pro, Brandenburg Labs addresses professional users who require reliable multichannel monitoring without the constraints imposed by room acoustics, speaker placement, or complex physical installations.

Key Facts

• Professional headphone-based system for immersive multichannel monitoring
• Virtual reproduction of up to 16 discrete loudspeaker positions
• Designed for music production, post-production, education, and research
• Supports common surround and immersive audio formats
• Based on Brandenburg Labs’ proprietary Deep Dive Audio technology
• Audio-over-IP connectivity via Dante or Ravenna
• Includes dedicated rendering hardware and head-tracking system
• Recommended retail price: € 5.000,-

Virtual Loudspeaker Monitoring Instead of Physical Setups

Okeanos Pro follows a software-centric monitoring concept that replaces physical loudspeakers with virtual sound sources rendered over headphones. According to the manufacturer, these virtual speakers replicate position, radiation behavior, and spatial perception of real loudspeakers within a three-dimensional listening environment.

From a practical perspective, this allows users to work with complex surround or immersive layouts without modifying their room or installing speaker arrays. Switching between different multichannel formats and layouts is handled within the software environment and can be performed quickly, making the system suitable for dynamic production workflows.

Deep Dive Audio Technology and Directivity Control

At the core of Okeanos Pro lies Brandenburg Labs’ Deep Dive Audio technology, which aims to reproduce real acoustic environments over headphones with high spatial precision. A key component is the Directivity Transfer Function Editor, allowing users to define and modify the radiation characteristics of virtual loudspeakers.

Directivity can be specified across six primary axes-front, rear, left, right, above, and below. Intermediate angles are interpolated in 10-degree steps, resulting in full 360-degree coverage. This enables engineers to simulate different loudspeaker types or monitoring scenarios without changing physical hardware, supporting comparative listening and flexible evaluation.

Integration into Professional Studio Environments

Okeanos Pro is designed to integrate into existing professional studio infrastructures. Connectivity is provided via standard Audio-over-IP protocols such as Dante or Ravenna, depending on system configuration, allowing seamless integration into network-based production environments.

The system includes a preconfigured rendering unit responsible for calculating the virtual loudspeaker environment. Head tracking is implemented using an HTC Vive-based tracking setup, ensuring that head movements are accurately reflected in the spatial audio reproduction, preserving localization and spatial stability during operation.

Platform Perspective and Future Development

Brandenburg Labs positions Okeanos Pro as part of an expandable platform rather than a fixed, closed solution. Planned developments include support for multiple simultaneous listeners and customizable Head-Related Transfer Functions. These extensions are intended to improve personalization and enable collaborative use cases in shared production environments.

Price and Availability

The Brandenburg Labs Okeanos Pro is offered at a recommended retail price of € 5.000,-. Availability is aimed at professional users and distribution is handled directly through Brandenburg Labs. Prices are stated by the manufacturer and may be subject to shipping costs and applicable taxes.

Conclusion

With Okeanos Pro, Brandenburg Labs addresses a central challenge in modern audio production: the complexity and cost of traditional multichannel monitoring systems. The headphone-based approach offers a flexible and location-independent alternative for immersive audio workflows. Whether it becomes a complement to or a replacement for physical loudspeaker setups will ultimately depend on real-world adoption and integration into professional production practices.

Technical Specifications