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WHAT IS SPATIAL AUDIO?
Spatial audio is a groundbreaking audio technology that creates a three-dimensional sound experience, allowing listeners to perceive sounds coming from all directions, not just from the left and right as in traditional stereo sound. By replicating the way we naturally hear sound in real life, spatial audio adds depth, directionality, and a true sense of space to audio content, making the listening experience more immersive and engaging.
Spatial audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and others, utilise object-based audio. This technology enables sounds to be placed and moved within a 3D space, providing a more precise and dynamic listening experience. Unlike traditional stereo, which is limited to two channels, spatial audio allows for accurate sound placement—whether it’s in front, behind, above, or below the listener—creating a sense of immersion and realism.
The adoption of spatial audio has rapidly expanded across various industries, including music, film, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), gaming, and podcasts. This technology allows creators to craft highly realistic and engaging audio experiences that captivate audiences in entirely new ways. Spatial audio is now supported across a wide range of devices, including headphones, soundbars, home theatre systems, and cars, all designed to deliver an immersive sound experience.
The world of audio technology is evolving at an incredible pace, driven by advancements in music, video streaming platforms, gaming, and virtual reality. In recent years, spatial audio has revolutionised how we create, consume, and experience sound. Industry leaders like Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, Google, Ircam and Fraunhofer have developed technologies that make mixing, playback, and listening to spatial audio accessible and widespread. These innovations allow listeners to experience sound as though it surrounds them, simulating the natural, three-dimensional way we hear the world around us.
With the growing availability of spatial audio on major digital streaming platforms (DSPs) such as Apple Music, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Deezer, Netflix, Apple TV, we are entering a new era of music consumption—one that is more immersive, dynamic, and engaging than ever before. The ability to experience music in spatial audio is becoming increasingly common, further enhancing the listening experience and offering unprecedented opportunities for artists, creators, and consumers alike.
OBJECT-ORIENTED MIXING
Object-oriented spatial mixing is a technique that allows audio elements to be treated as individual "objects" within a 3D sound space, enabling precise control over the placement, movement, and behavior of each sound element in the mix. This approach is fundamental to immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Unlike traditional stereo or multi-channel mixing, where sound is typically confined to a fixed number of channels (left and right for stereo or a set of speakers for surround sound), object-oriented mixing allows for each sound to be positioned and moved in three-dimensional space. In this system, audio is no longer tied to static speaker channels; instead, sounds are placed within a 3D environment, which can be above, below, in front, behind, or even moving around the listener.
The key benefits of object-oriented spatial mixing include:
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Precision in Sound Placement: Each sound can be positioned in any direction or at any height relative to the listener, creating a highly immersive and dynamic audio experience.
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Movement and Animation: Sounds can move smoothly through the 3D space, mimicking real-world movement. For instance, an object can move from one side of the listener to the other, or even pass overhead, with precise control over the speed and trajectory of the movement.
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Flexibility for Playback: Because the audio objects are not tied to specific channels, they can be rendered to suit any listening environment—whether it's headphones, a home theater system, or an advanced surround-sound setup. This flexibility allows the same spatial mix to be enjoyed on various devices, providing an optimal experience across platforms.
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Enhanced Depth and Clarity: By separating individual sound elements and placing them strategically in 3D space, the overall mix becomes clearer and more natural. It adds depth, creating a sense of the listener being within the sound field, rather than just hearing it from a fixed source.
In the context of music production, object-oriented spatial mixing allows sound designers and producers to experiment with the way sound interacts with space. In film and video game sound design, it creates more realistic and engaging soundscapes. This technology is also transforming how live performances, podcasts, and audiobooks are mixed, offering new creative possibilities for artists and sound engineers.