For those unfamiliar with spatial audio, it uses gyroscopes and accelerometers in headphones or compatible playback devices to track your head movements in 3D space. It allows the sound to stay consistent with on-screen action, even as you tilt your head. The technology first appeared in movies with Dolby Atmos, then in home theater systems, and now in music and podcasts.
Streaming
When music lovers listen to their favorite band play live, they want to feel they are in the same room. Streaming services are now making this possible with immersive audio. Unlike traditional stereo sound, which uses left and right speakers to create a mono-sound, spatial audio uses a variety of speakers and can adjust the location of sounds depending on where you are listening. This technology is already being used in movies, music, and videoconferencing. Some technology uses accelerometers and gyroscopes built into those devices to track your head movement.
As you tilt your head, the audio automatically re-directs the sound to make it feel like it is coming from above or behind you. Virtual meetings enable everyone to hear each other clearly and reduce conversation confusion. The 3D spatial audio support is becoming a game changer for streaming services, videoconferencing platforms, and even games, as it makes digital worlds feel more real and brings people together. It’s an exciting development and one that businesses should watch closely. The companies that adopt this technology will have an advantage over the competition. The more realistic, immersive and engaging a digital experience, the more likely consumers will use it.
Videoconferencing
When people participate in a video conference, the sound of their voices can be difficult to discern from one another. Spatial audio makes it easier for participants to pinpoint the sound source, which can affect how much noise a person can tolerate during a meeting. It can also make it easier for people to hear a voice from behind or in front of them. This capability is useful for virtual events, where participants can walk around a digital auditorium and interact with other attendees like at a traditional event. Music streaming services support spatial audio, as do several headsets and speakers.
It’s a great way to get the feeling of being at a concert or live performance and provides a more lifelike listening experience. It can even help users focus, as the sound of music can increase dopamine levels, like how the medication works. A client needs media that has been mixed for the format and a device that supports it to listen to music or view a movie with spatial audio. Streaming apps have content encoded for spatial audio, and Apple has a large selection of headphones and earbuds that support Dolby Atmos.
Audio/Video Ads
Spatial audio gives users a more realistic sense of the space that sound is coming from. That’s why it’s perfect for immersive video content, like films and TV shows. But it’s also a great tool for streaming business services, videoconferencing applications, and even games. Streaming platforms already offer spatial audio experiences for their users.
These services can determine where your head is in the space by using gyroscopes and accelerometers within their headphones or earbuds, and they may modify your listening experience appropriately. But it’s important to remember that this isn’t a magic button that makes all audio better. Applying spatial audio to music not recorded in that format can distract or disorient. Producers and engineers must know how to use spatial audio effectively.
Gaming
Spatial audio is a new technology that helps people get more out of their gaming services and other media. It creates a more immersive experience, making you feel like you are in the same place as the movie, game, or song. It also makes hearing other people’s words easier in virtual meetings. Some spatial audio uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to detect where your head is about the headset or speakers.
The headsets or earbuds can then re-direct sound to match your movements, making it feel like the sounds are around you. It’s a great feature for gamers, as it lets you understand where the sound is coming from in the game, such as an AC unit buzzing in a dark corridor or a gunshot firing nearby.
It’s also used in music, giving you the feeling of being in the same room as the performer. It is especially popular with electronic artists and DJs at large festivals and concerts. It’s also becoming more common in virtual meetings because it makes the sound feel much more realistic, allowing you to better connect with your colleagues. As a result, companies are taking advantage of this new tech by using it in their streaming business services, videoconferencing applications, and games. They are even incorporating it into their audio/video ads to help them stand out from the competition.
