Immersive Audio
Listen up, its coming from all around
“…Im a Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio skeptic, and I yet, I have a profound duty to show why we cannot ignore how great experiencing new music this way!”
-Calvin Venus
Lets start with WHY, (not WHAT)…
My fellow ToneCrafter, chances are you are here in the hope to fill out gaps in your knowledge concerning this subject. Allow me to insert that I’m not paid for these thoughts on immersive audio, however im compelled to at least share my thoughts on the subject. After all, Im an audio engineer; born to serve by nerding-out creatively using technology of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Im equipped to provide services for you to continue to entertain your audience. So let’s start with a quick origin story…
My romantic connection to music began In the mid 80s in London, England. This mystical art form was primarily delivered via the radio and tape deck on my stack system, the love grew into a vinyl collection and was shared in the DJ booth London’s vibrant bars, clubs and festivals through the late 90s. Rapid expansion and enjoyment continued well into the early 2000s on a disc-man, mini-disc player and then the iPod. No matter the decade the soundtrack to my life was literally in stereo. SO, I remain a Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio and Surround Sound skeptic, and I yet, I have a profound duty to show why we cannot ignore how great experiencing new music this way!
Every week someone like you asks one of the following weird and wonderful questions…
“Do I really need Dolby Atmos?”
“Can you deliver a Spatial Audio Mix?”
“Do you think this is just a gimmick?”
Here I will share my thoughts, attempt to answers the common questions and allow you to hear some examples so you can judge for yourself! Oh and let me begin by saying this…
My fellow ToneCrater, you are in the entertainment business, whenever we see rapid development, adoption and universal standards in our industry we ought to pay close attention. Im not suggesting we blindly accept what’s happening, at least know if what’s coming THEN see if this applies to you or not.
So here we go, lets start with some simple facts, what is immersive audio?
Immersive audio is a type of sound that makes you feel like you're in a 3D sound space. It's also known as spatial audio, 3D audio, or 360° audio.
What are the main immersive audio types?
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is largely an agnostic surround sound technology protocol that creates a three-dimensional audio experience by adapting multiple audio channels and feeding it to various playback services like Netflix and experience them on devices such as Sonos Arc.
Apple Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio is another surround sound technology that recreates a three-dimensional audio experience by adapting multiple audio channels and feeding it to any enabled Apple playback service, like Apple Music, Apple TV and devices like Apple HomePod and AirPod Max.
Stereophonic audio
Stereo (stereophonic) sound is achieved by using two audio channels feeding 2 separate speakers. This creates a more three-dimensional sound with two equally place speakers with your head situated in the middle. This experience creates a ‘phantom middle speaker’ creating center information.
You mean to tell me that even stereo sound is immersive audio?
Well YUP!
….and that is where some of the the confusion may originate. We ought to view the new immersive audio types as differing type of audio experience. Essentially Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio add height and rear information into your three-dimensional experience.
Now for the fun part, grab a pair of headphones and experience 3D sound right here, right now…
In the 12 min video, you will get a unique immersive experience binaurally (with two audio speakers) .
NOW, JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!
Put on your headphones
Click on the Dolby Atmos logo image below
And now experience surround sound in ways you never have before then come back here to read on.
