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Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - Immersive Audio Engulfs Listeners

Imagine sitting in an intimate jazz club, with the sounds of a saxophone, piano, and upright bass washing over you. The notes seem to dance around you, transporting you into the music. This feeling of being surrounded by sound is known as immersive audio, and it's changing the way we experience music, movies, games, and more.

Immersive audio aims to fully envelop the listener in a multidirectional soundscape. Rather than hearing audio from left and right channels only, immersive technology adds height and depth. This creates the illusion that sounds are coming at you from all directions, even above and below. The effect is mesmerizing.

According to Robert Stuart, a pioneer in surround sound, immersive audio "gives you the uncanny experience of feeling like you're somewhere you're not." When listening to immersive music recordings, many report feeling as if they've been dropped into the middle of a live performance. Tiny details that are typically lost, like a musician's breathing or the squeak of fingers on guitar strings, suddenly become highlighted.

This new world of spatial audio is possible thanks to next-generation formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony 360 Reality Audio. These technologies allow sound engineers to mix in 3D space, pinpointing exactly where each element should be placed. The rise of VR and AR has also driven immersive audio's growth, as it's key to creating believable virtual worlds.

While surround sound systems have existed for home theaters for years, the ability to deliver immersive audio over headphones is a newer revelation. Binaural rendering aims to mimic how sounds hit the left and right ears naturally, resulting in stunning realism through basic headphones.

As immersive audio becomes more accessible, creatives are finding innovative ways to utilize its power. Musicians like Beck have composed albums in Atmos, with tracks that quite literally surround you. And movie studios are releasing major films with immersive mixes, drawing audiences into fantasy worlds.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - Binaural Beats Mimic 3D Sound

Binaural beats are an auditory illusion that can induce a hyper realistic three-dimensional listening experience, even through regular stereo headphones. The effect works by playing slightly different frequencies in each ear, typically in the range of 30 to 400 Hz. The brain then perceives the difference between the two tones as an entirely new frequency called the binaural beat. For example, 400 Hz played in one ear and 410 Hz played in the other will produce a binaural beat of 10 Hz that the brain registers as a distinct rhythm.

These phantom beats have the incredible ability to synch up neural activity, triggering altered states of consciousness related to meditation, relaxation, and even psychedelic experiences. Listeners report hearing binaural beats as more of a "shimmering presence" within the head rather than an actual tone. The 3D effect comes from the brain's interpretation of the stereo panning and phase differences between left and right channels. Sounds seem to swirl around your head, move from front to back, and shift in distance.

Many artists and producers have experimented with binaural beats to induce trippy, three-dimensional soundscapes. Robert Monroe, a paranormal researcher, pioneered the use of binaural beats in the 70s to induce out-of-body experiences. The sensation of traveling through space or floating outside one's body was achieved by carefully sculpting beats that move from one ear to the other. Psychedelic bands like Shpongle utilize panning binaural beats in their music to disorient listeners and enhance the otherworldly vibe.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - 360-Degree Audio Places You in the Scene

360-degree audio, also known as spatial audio, creates the illusion that sounds are occurring all around you, mimicking how we perceive audio in the real world. This enveloping experience transports listeners right into the middle of the action, making it one of the most immersive formats available.

Unlike stereophonic sound that relies on left and right channels, 360 audio adds front, rear, above, and below channels. Additional speakers or virtual channels mapped to headphones surround the listener with a spherical "soundfield." Voices, instruments, and effects can be positioned at any point within this field, allowing engineers to paint an intricately detailed sonic landscape.

Listeners have described the 360 effect as revelatory, saying it feels like the audio equivalent of VR. You're no longer just hearing something, you're inside of it. Tiny audio cues seem to flutter by from all directions, creating an ultra-realistic sense of space. Sony 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos are two popular formats taking advantage of this technology.

360 audio shines when listening to large ensemble performances where each musician has their own spot on the stage. An orchestra piece will envelope you with the layered sounds of wind, brass, percussion, and string sections. The experience whisks you away from your living room to a concert hall filled with activity.

For live concerts, 360 audio can provide crowd presence and venue ambience in addition to pinpoint instrument placement. This adds to the feeling of "being there" at a show. Artists like Maroon 5 and Coldplay have created 360 concert experiences to share their performances.

Gaming and VR are other verticals benefiting from 360 audio's ability to immerse users in fictional worlds. Sounds of flying bullets, footsteps, and dialogue appear to originate from their actual locations within the virtual environment. This boosts the sense of presence and adrenaline.

While 360 playback requires an advanced speaker setup, new techniques allow for similar effects using regular headphones. Facebook 360 and YouTube support 360 videos with ambisonic audio converted to binaural, delivering immersion without bulky equipment.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - Holographic Audio is the Future

Holographic audio represents the cutting edge of immersive sound, using complex phase information to recreate a lifelike acoustic environment. This emerging format has the potential to deliver unmatched realism and take listeners into the next dimension of musical enjoyment. The reason holographic audio is so revolutionary ties back to how human hearing works.

When sound waves reach our ears, the brain processes cues like interaural time difference, intensity, and phase patterns to determine a sound's physical location. Holographic audio aims to replicate all of these natural localization cues to trick the brain into perceiving distinct sound sources placed throughout a 3D space. This goal separates it from conventional stereo and even surround formats.

At the heart of holographic audio are advanced signal processing techniques that encode source material with intricate phase and depth information. This "holographic" data morphs the sound to mimic real acoustic spaces down to precise timing reflections and echoes. Specialized speakers or headphones equipped with head-tracking then decode this data to immerse listeners in a hyperrealistic soundscape outside the head.

Many who have experienced demonstrations of holographic audio describe it as "magical," with instruments and vocals sounding closer than ever before. Each element shimmers in its own space, making listeners feel they can reach out and touch individual performers. There is a clear sense of sounds existing in the room rather than being piped in through speakers or headphones.

While holographic audio is still in developmental stages, early implementation shows phenomenal promise. Creative labs like Sonic hologram specialize in digitally processing performances to add immersive depth and presence. One composer discussed hearing a vocalist with holographic effects become "a living, breathing person" right before him. Classical recordings take on new life as virtual concert halls materialize note for note.

Since this technology works by duplicating the acoustic environment, some claim holographic audio could even replicate the feeling of live shows and venues. Imagine reliving legendary concerts or stepping onto the stage of your favorite artist. The ability to capture and playback performance spaces with such accuracy could preserve beloved musical moments like never before.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - VR Headsets Add Visuals to 3D Sound

The rise of virtual reality headsets provides the perfect partner for next-generation 3D audio, uniting immersive sights and sounds to create fully believable virtual worlds. VR visuals already aim to surround users, making them feel present in digital environments. Pairing this 360 degree video with spatial audio that mimics real world acoustics takes the experience to another level. Together, these technologies can trigger powerful sensations of being transported.

VR platforms like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are leading the charge in multi-sensory immersion. Their headsets track head motions and render visuals that respond in real-time, giving users the illusion of existing within a virtual simulation. Turning one's head reveals new perspectives just as in real life. Hand controllers also allow for natural interaction with virtual objects. On the audio side, built-in spatial processing converts surround-mixed audio into binaural stereo optimized for headphone listening. This adds sonic depth and realism to match the 3D visuals.

Testers have described entering VR with spatial audio as feeling detached from the physical world. Sounds take on an "out of head" quality and seem to originate from distinct points in space matching their visual sources. For example, a virtual bird chirping overhead is both seen and heard as above you, increasing its believability. The acoustic environment also changes dynamically as the user explores, with occlusions and reverberation transforming to match the virtual space. This keeps the mind convinced despite subtle visual limitations.

For many, combining immersive 3D audio with VR elicits deeply emotional responses not achieved through visuals alone. Listeners report cold chills, goosebumps, even physical dodging of objects during intense VR gameplay. The instinctive reactions demonstrate how convincing this pairing can be for our senses. Some theorists propose that since hearing evolved first, realistic spatial audio triggers primal parts of our brain in ways vision cannot alone. This underscores the importance of sonic immersion in crafting the most impactful virtual experiences possible.

VR gaming often aims for maximum sensory assault, but meditative apps are also utilizing 3D audio's power. Relaxation environments with soothing music, rippling water, or ASMR sounds enfold users, easing anxiety. The delivery of peaceful auditory stimuli directly into the ears enhances the calming effect. For psychedelic VR apps, trippy visuals fuse with music that seems to cascade around users, intensifying the experience. VR paired with spatial audio has untapped therapeutic potential from pain management to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - Spatial Audio Goes Mainstream

Spatial audio, or 3D surround sound, is transitioning from a niche format to a mainstream sensation that anyone can experience. Thanks to spatial audio support from Apple, Amazon, and other Big Tech players, consumers finally have easy access to immersive listening using everyday devices.

For years, enjoying surround sound required costly speaker setups filling living rooms. But spatial audio allows for similar 3D effects using just headphones by rendering sounds as if they're occurring around you rather than pumped in through earbuds. Apple Music introduced support for Dolby Atmos Music in 2021, unlocking spatial audio for over 75 million subscribers. Users worldwide suddenly found themselves enveloped in music from Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and other artists releasing special Atmos mixes.

Amazon Music also joined the spatial party recently with launches of Sony 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos Music. Spatial audio tracks on Amazon Music are encoded for optimal playback on Echo Studio speakers that simulate 3D sound. Of course, listeners can get in on the fun using any old headphones too. Amazon said Atmos Music will make customers feel like "the barriers between them and the music they love have been lifted."

Early adopters relish spatial audio for its uncanny realism and say it's like hearing music for the first time again. Instruments sparkle above, while vocals caress both ears intimately. There's a sense of space between sounds that stereo can't match. Other listeners say streaming songs in Atmos is addictive and makes them favor spatial releases.

Gaming is another everyday area benefiting from spatial audio's mainstream migration. Sony added 3D audio support to the PS5 console to make gameplay more immersive. Sounds like enemy footsteps and gunshots now seem to come from accurate points as players look around 3D environments. Haptics and controllers that vibrate in time with spatial audio also boost the realism. No longer relegated to theme park rides or tech demos, 3D sound can now be experienced during nightly Call of Duty matches.

Of course, surround sound movies and TVs continue gaining devotees too as home theater systems add more height and rear channels. Netflix and Disney+ stream popular shows in Dolby Atmos, placing dialogue and effects precisely around viewers. Especially for action flicks, spatial audio makes every explosion, crash, and punch land with eye-popping realism.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - Ambisonics Capture Real World Acoustics

Ambisonics is a relatively new technology that aims to capture and reproduce audio’s complex spatial signatures in order to immerse listeners in authentic acoustical environments. This matters because sound waves in the real world bounce off objects and interact with environments in incredibly nuanced ways. Standard stereo audio fails to convey this level of realism. But ambisonics gives sound engineers unprecedented ability to sample spaces and spatialize audio with lifelike presence.

At its core, ambisonics relies on a technique called spherical microphone arrays. These spherical rigs house multiple inward-facing capsules that pick up sound coming from every direction. Advanced processing converts the RAW channel info into an ambisonic soundfield – a rich spatial representation of the recording environment. This soundfield data encodes elements like reverberation, room tone, and directional cues that are lost with typical miking.

What excites audio pros most about ambisonics is its potential to capture one-of-a-kind spaces that would be impossible to recreate from scratch. Concert halls, cathedrals, and other acoustically unique venues could live on forever once sampled ambisonically. Engineers anticipate using the technology to create vast libraries of spatial audio imprints from famous locations.

One ambisonics pioneer, John Connolly, described how the format could “bottle the experience” of beloved, potentially endangered, performance spaces. He was brought to tears listening to a choir perform in an ambisonic capture of a revered church. Although he was sitting in a blank studio, Connolly felt transported to that awe-inspiring sanctuary. This emotional response highlights the haunting realism ambisonics can achieve by sampling real-world acoustics.

Of course, creative mixing is still required to position specific sounds within the ambisonic space. But this allows engineers to place instruments and vocalists inside the listener’s head, rather than played back “through speakers.” Reviewers have commented on the uncanny illusion of performance elements existing within captured acoustic environments.

Podcasts in Surround Sound? The Rise of Ambisonic Audio Takes Listening to New Dimensions - Objects Move Around the Listener

One of the most startling effects made possible by spatial audio is the illusion that distinct sound objects are moving freely around the listener's head. While surround sound allows for directional placement, next-generation 3D audio takes it further by giving sounds motion and trajectory as they travel through space. This adds immense realism that sparks visceral reactions.

According to composer and researcher Natasha Barrett, spatialized sound objects that are "set in motion" captivate us perceptually because they mimic how we listen and exist in reality. In nature, sounds rarely stay stationary. And our brains unconsciously track moving sound sources to localize them spatially as they zoom by. 3D audio leverages this by making sounds traverse the sound field, occasionally even orbiting listeners.

Many describe the experience of holographic audio objects circling them as utterly surreal. The sound image appears untethered to any device, vividly alive. This free motion creates a strong illusion that sonic entities inhabit the room. During music playback, melodies take on almost tangible qualities, vibrations felt as they swoop overhead. Listeners instinctively track ricocheting audio objects with abrupt head turns. Eyes dart around fruitlessly searching for sources.

VR and AR use moving spatialized audio extensively since realism equals greater user presence. In VR games, localized effects like bullets speed past ears, cuing players to whip around and return fire towards the sounds’ simulated origin points. The trajectory and velocity data make projectiles truly frightening as they barely miss clipping the head. Immersive podcasts likewise use motion to involve users. Imagine characters whispering plot details while slowly pacing around you. Sennheiser's AMBEO AR platform generates scenes with moving audio to foster interactive storytelling.

Binaural rendering brings motion effects to everyday headphones by simulating how sounds transition around the head. For example, a singing bowl strike will start at ear level on one side then gradually orbit the listener as its tone fades. This movement adds natural complexity, tricking our spatial hearing. Motion also builds momentum during transitions between sections of a song. Swooping a chorus in from behind after a verse connects segments multidimensionally.