What Is Spatial Audio? A Complete Guide

Have you ever wanted to feel inside your favourite movie or video game? Well, that’s precise what spatial audio can do.

Its cutting-edge technology creates a 3D sound experience, making it seem like sounds are coming from all around you.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into spatial audio, how it works, and the amazing benefits it can bring to your audio experience. So, let’s get started!

What is Spatial Audio?

Spatial audio is about creating a 3D sound environment that can be experienced through headphones or speakers.

It uses advanced algorithms to replicate how sound behaves in the real world, considering factors like distance, direction, and reflection.

One of the most notable benefits of spatial audio is how it creates a more immersive and lifelike experience.

By allowing sounds to come from different directions, spatial audio creates a sense of depth and space that is impossible with traditional stereo sound.

This is particularly useful for content creators, as it helps capture their audience’s attention and create a more engaging listening experience.

Another advantage of spatial audio is its ability to pinpoint sounds and voices in a way impossible with stereo sound.

This means that listeners can better distinguish between different sounds and understand speech more clearly, even in noisy environments.

This can be particularly useful for musicians, podcasters, and other content creators who must ensure their message is heard clearly.

How Spatial Audio Works?

At its core, spatial audio relies on the principle of binaural recording, which uses two microphones to capture sound from different directions.

These microphones are placed in a manner that mimics how our ears perceive sound in the real world. This creates a sense of depth and space in the recording, which can be further enhanced using advanced algorithms to replicate how sound behaves in different environments.

Spatial audio can be experienced through headphones or speakers. The spatial audio signal is sent directly to the left and right earpieces when using headphones.

This creates the perception that the sound is coming from different directions, allowing the listener to pinpoint sounds and voices accurately.

Is Spatial Audio Good?

In short, the answer is yes. Spatial audio has a number of advantages over traditional stereo sound, including the ability to create a sense of depth and space, pinpoint sounds and voices with greater accuracy, and provide a more natural and engaging listening experience.

Spatial audio makes the experience more real by creating depth and space with sounds from different directions.

This is useful for content creators to engage their audience. It’s better than regular stereo sound. Spatial audio enhances immersion, making it feel like you’re in action easier. It’s great for gaming and VR.

Find out more about the audio format.

How about Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos?

Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology that provides an immersive and lifelike listening experience by adding height to the soundstage.

When you use spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, it makes the listening experience even better. It does this by adding height to the sound to hear things from above and around you.

This makes it feel like you’re part of what’s happening and makes it even more exciting to listen to.
In addition, Dolby Atmos is supported by a wide range of devices, including home theatre systems, soundbars, and headphones.

This means that regardless of how you prefer to listen to audio, you can enjoy the benefits of Dolby Atmos and spatial audio.

How to get Spatial Audio?

If you’re looking to get started with spatial audio, you’ll need a few things. First and foremost, you’ll need a device that supports spatial audio.

This can include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Next, you’ll need content specifically mixed and mastered for spatial audio.

This can include music, movies, podcasts, and other types of audio content. Many streaming services and content platforms now offer spatial audio content, so check whether your favourite platform supports it.

Finally, you’ll need a pair of headphones or speakers that are capable of reproducing spatial audio. Headphones are often the preferred option for experiencing spatial audio, as they provide a more immersive and accurate listening experience.

How do you turn Apple Spatial Audio on or off?

To turn on or off Apple Spatial Audio on your iOS or iPad device, you can follow these steps:

1. Make sure that you’re wearing your AirPods Pro (1st or 2nd generation), AirPods Max, AirPods (3rd generation), or Beats Fit Pro, and that they’re connected to your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open Control Center on your iPhone or on your iPad.
3. Touch and hold the volume control to turn on spatial audio while you’re playing multichannel content or Spatialize Stereo while you’re playing two-channel stereo content. This also shows you the status icons.
4. When you turn on spatial audio with head tracking, audio adjusts based on your head movement. To turn on spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, tap Head Tracked. To turn on spatial audio only, tap Fixed. To turn off spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, tap Off.

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