Lose your L and R earbuds
Traditionally, audio has been heard in left and right stereo, but Sony’s spatial sound tech moves sound all around you — behind you and in front, above you and swooshing past. The panelists unanimously agreed this is a huge game changer for both creators and consumers.
“As a DJ, I can make a mix that’s a 360-degree experience,” Rad said. “To be able to create in a new way like that, it’s paramount.”
Willingham explained how spatial sound has opened up the audio landscape for music producers, as well. “If I have a guitar with a lot of low frequencies, I usually want to carve those out so they don’t interfere with the bass,” he said. “But with this 360 technology, I can create that space by placing the guitar sounds behind you and around you.”
From a gaming perspective, May also jumped in. “If you can hear audio cues in 3D, like where the footsteps are coming from, it would be a huge advantage because then you know exactly where to look.”
