Spatial Audio Consulting: Speaker (Talks, Jury, Keynote)

After a few years in the VR world, I constantly notice that the auditory part is still chasing after the visual. That’s why I decided to make the whole topic of 3D audio, immersive sound or whatever you like to call it, more tangible as a speaker who is extremely knowledgeable about the latest technology in this field.

It’s great and all when I know how nice it is, but at the end of the day, it would be better if everyone else knew. No matter if content creator, VR director, B2B or consumer area.

My mission is to sensitize people to three-dimensional listening experiences and to explain the opportunities so that the potential of immersive media can be exploited.

Meanwhile, there are several events in the virtual reality scene, TV/media landscape, and the sound engineer community.

I regularly take part and give lectures as a speaker in order to get to know the needs of the different user and user groups on the one hand and to be able to break down the advantages of 360° sound in an understandable way on the other hand.

In addition to the workshops I give, presentations are an entertaining way to show a topic to a larger audience, which otherwise cannot be made so easily accessible. Therefore I like to sit in a jury like the AES Dublin or was a mentor at the xR Creator’s Lab for instance.

What is a Speaker?

Definition and Role

A speaker is an essential component of any audio system, responsible for converting electrical signals into sound waves that our ears can detect. In essence, a speaker is a transducer that transforms electrical energy into acoustic energy, allowing us to hear our favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks.

The role of a speaker is to accurately reproduce the audio signal, providing a clear and immersive listening experience. Whether it’s the deep bass of a drum, the crisp highs of a violin, or the nuanced tones of a human voice, speakers bring sound to life, making it possible for us to enjoy a wide range of audio content.

I was speaker at those events

Now also in my event calendar

Here are some events, where I was allowed to illustrate my favorite topic 3D-Audio in VR or similar as a speaker:

• “Manufacturing Sound for VR” – World Conference on VR Industry (WCVRI), Nanchang China
• “Sound for VR” – World XR Forum, Crans-Montana Schweiz
• “Sound for Extreme 360° Productions”, International Conference on Spatial Audio (ICSA) Ilmenau
• “3D Audio für Alle” – MUCBOOK Bloggermarket 2018, Munich Creative Business Week
• Tonmeistertagung 2018 TMT30: “360° Heatmap” Paper Session + “360° Sound Extreme”, Schoeps Workshop
• “Wie VR-Sound immersives Storytelling lenkt” – Medientage 2018, Immersive Media Area
• “360° Sound – wie Surround, nur krasser!” – Medientage 2017, Mediencampus
• “Music and Sound Design for Neurofeedback (EEG)”- International Conference on immersive and interactive Audio
• “Sound for Extreme 360° Productions” – AES Dublin 2019 + Jury “Sound for Visual Media”
• “Sound for challenging 360-degree productions” – AES International Conference on Audio for Virtual and Augmented Reality
• “Immersive Audio for Reality or Virtual Reality?” – AES Milan 2018
• “360° Sound Heatmap Case study” – Sounds in Space 2018 University of Derby
• “How VR-Sound drives Immersive Storytelling” – VRBLN Focus: VR and Audio VR MeetUp Berlin
• “Cinematic VR vs. Interactive Audio” Game Audio Meetup München – SAE München
• “Introduction to 360° Audio for VR” – VR 360° Video Meetup #7, VR / AR / 360 Meetup Munich

These events have showcased the creative potential of 360 Reality Audio in various innovative applications.

Source

World Conference on VR Industdy, China
ICSA Ilmenau
World XR Forum, Crans-Montana
Bloggermarket
Tonmeistertagung 2018
Medientage 2018
Medientage 2017
AES IIA
AES AVAR
AES Milan
Sounds in Space 2018 University of Derby
VRBLN Focus: VR and Audio
Game Audio Meetup München
VR/360 MeetUp München

Immersive Audio Technology

Overview and Applications

Immersive audio technology is a cutting-edge innovation that revolutionizes the way we experience sound. By creating a three-dimensional audio environment, immersive audio technology surrounds the listener with sound, providing a more engaging and realistic experience.

This technology has numerous applications, including music production, film and video game sound design, virtual reality, and even home theater systems. Imagine being in a virtual reality game where you can hear footsteps approaching from behind or watching a movie where the sound of rain seems to come from all around you.

Immersive audio technology has the potential to transform the way we interact with sound, making it a crucial aspect of modern audio technology.

The Role of Speakers in Immersive Music

Creating Immersive Music Experiences

Speakers play a vital role in creating immersive music experiences. By accurately reproducing the audio signal, speakers can transport listeners into a new dimension of sound. Immersive music experiences rely on speakers to deliver a 360-degree sound field, surrounding the listener with sound and creating a sense of presence.

Sound engineers use speakers to craft immersive music experiences, carefully calibrating the audio signal to create a realistic and engaging sound environment. With the rise of virtual reality and spatial audio, speakers are becoming increasingly important in creating immersive experiences that simulate real-world environments.

Whether it’s a live concert recording or a meticulously crafted studio album, the right speakers can make you feel like you’re right there in the middle of the action, experiencing the music as if it were happening all around you.

Successful Spatial Audio Consulting: Tips for Creating Optimal Soundscapes

What is Spatial Audio and How Does It Work?

Spatial Audio is a technology that allows sound to be experienced in a three-dimensional space. This technique uses audio filters, which are applied differently depending on the components of the audio material.

The unique feature of Spatial Audio is that it simulates the perception of specific instruments, voices, and other sounds coming from all directions and distances.

With this technology, sounds can not only be localized horizontally but also vertically. This sound perception allows for a more realistic reproduction of spaces and the precise placement of sound sources within a room. This makes Spatial Audio an essential technology, especially for immersive VR experiences, 360° productions, and music production.

The Benefits of Spatial Audio

Spatial Audio offers numerous benefits that significantly enhance the listening experience and open up new creative possibilities:

More Realistic Listening Experience: By extending the sound space to a third dimension, the sound becomes livelier and more immersive. The sound perception is more realistic, giving the listener the feeling of being in the space where the sounds are generated.

Better Identification of Voices and Instruments: With better localization of sounds, it is possible to distinguish voices and instruments more clearly, which is especially advantageous in complex sound designs.

Reduction of Stress and Negative Mood: Studies have shown that immersive audio experiences, like those made possible by Spatial Audio, can help reduce stress and improve mood. This has positive effects on general well-being and focus.

New Opportunities for Music Production and Playback: For music producers, Spatial Audio opens new creative horizons. Sounds can be placed precisely in space, thus creating new emotional dimensions in music tracks or film productions.

Technical Implementation of Spatial Audio

Successful implementation of Spatial Audio requires precise technical planning. To create a true 3D sound experience, you need an adequate number of speakers with discrete control, along with an appropriate strategy in the mixing console or through external mix buses.

These allow for optimal distribution of audio signals across the speakers, resulting in perfect spatial sound reproduction.

The more complex the system, the more important it becomes to carefully consider the technical requirements beforehand. There are various formats such as 5.1.4, 7.1.4, and Dolby Atmos that can be used for implementing Spatial Audio. These formats offer different sound possibilities, so the choice of system and speakers significantly influences the final result.

But that’s where the fun begins for me. My experience is especially based on headphones and applications where soundscapes interact dynamically and change during mixing.

Creative Use of Immersive Audio

3D Audio is ideal for events and productions where a significant portion of direct sound reaches the audience. The choice of system and speakers is crucial to maximizing the immersive experience.

Artists can create music using innovative technologies like 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos to craft more engaging and realistic soundscapes. Especially in VR and 360° productions, the creative use of Spatial Audio should be taken into account to enhance the impact of sound and space.

The immersive concept should also be considered when composing music tracks or planning film productions to achieve maximum effect. The technology offers new creative possibilities to shape sound in a way that makes the listener feel like they are in the middle of the action.

Economic Aspects of Spatial Audio

The use of Spatial Audio in events or media production may initially require higher investments. However, due to the increasing demand for innovative audio experiences, these investments are justified in the long run.

The ability to repeatedly offer immersive audio experiences and achieve greater audience engagement makes Spatial Audio a financially rewarding technology.

Especially in the event industry, it is increasingly recognized that Spatial Audio not only improves the listening experience but also creates a new dimension of brand engagement and customer experience. The economic viability of Spatial Audio therefore depends on proper planning and the choice of the appropriate format.

The Future of Spatial Audio

The future of Spatial Audio looks very promising. In the coming years, Spatial Audio will play an increasingly central role in music production, film production, and the development of VR/AR experiences.

The growing demand for innovative soundscapes and immersive media content will lead to Spatial Audio becoming the standard in audio production.

Thanks to its ability to precisely position sounds and enhance the feeling of spatial depth, Spatial Audio will become an indispensable tool in the music and entertainment industries.

Spatial Audio Consulting and Advisory for Sound Engineers

For companies looking to dive into the world of Spatial Audio, we offer comprehensive consulting services. We assist businesses in planning and implementing Spatial Audio solutions, whether for VR productions, 360° events, or innovative music productions.

Our services also emphasize the importance of personalized hearing solutions to enhance the overall audio experience. Our consulting includes:

• Technical consulting and system planning for implementing Spatial Audio

• Advisory on selecting the right audio system and speakers for various applications

• Strategic consulting on utilizing Spatial Audio in formats like Dolby Atmos and Auro-3D

• Consulting for immersive music productions, to use the technology creatively and effectively

• Training and workshops for businesses looking to integrate Spatial Audio and 3D Audio into their productions

Our expertise in immersive audio helps businesses harness the full potential of Spatial Audio and take their productions to the next level. We offer tailored solutions for companies looking to integrate the technology into their projects.

With our Spatial Audio Consulting and advisory services, we help you navigate this cutting-edge technology and reap the benefits of immersive audio production in the long term.