Apple and Samsung are storming the market with head-tracking enabled headphones. Apps for Airpods Pro and Galaxy Buds Pro compatibility are here!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"https:\/\/www.vrtonung.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Spatial_Audio_Apps_1200x630.jpg","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"7327","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"https:\/\/www.vrtonung.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/Spatial_Audio_Apps_1024x512.jpg","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"7329","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[22,23],"class_list":["post-2971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-unkategorisiert","tag-news-en","tag-overview-en"],"acf":{"remove_from_blog_overview":false,"alternative_title":"","previewimg":7325,"text":"Since the establishment of VR glasses as serious playback devices in the entertainment industry, head tracking technology has found a wide range of applications. In today's tech-savvy world, 3D spatial audio apps are revolutionizing the way we perceive and hear sound, creating a truly immersive audio experience.\u201d\n\nThe potential of 360\u00b0 sound is far from exhausted, and recent developments in the field of spatial audio showcase its capabilities. Spatial audio technology has come a long way, and these apps are at the forefront, supporting dynamic head tracking and bringing audio to life like never before. \n\nWith the introduction of head tracking enabled headphones and pods, the two big players Apple and Samsung are taking a giant step towards establishing 3D audio in the consumer market \u2013 out of its niche existence.\n\nThe following article will give an overview of the currently most important and popular apps for the playback of spatial audio via handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets.\n\n###Update\n- 21\/04: M1 MNTR CTRL (Mach1 Spatial) has been added to the list of apps for Apple Airpods Pro and Bose AR.\n- 21\/06: Sony WF-1000XM4 true wireless headphones for 360 audio reality added.\n- 21\/08: [link id=\"5913\" text=\"Netflix\"] now supports Spatial Audio with Airpods Pro for Apple \n- 22\/01: Article extended into article about [link id=\"3045\" text=\"AR 3D Audio Headphones\"] and [link id=\"4216\" text=\"dynamic head-trackers\"]\n- 23\/03: Immersive Audio Experience \"Ammersive\" added. Aswell as Portal - Immersive Escapes to the apps supporting spatial audio on Airpods\n\n##Headphones with tracking like a VR headset\n\nFirst of all, I think it's important to lay out the basic way these applications for using spatial audio work. Not just from a technological perspective, but from a conceptual one. This is to prevent the \u2018wrong' use of this technology and accompanying disappointments.\n\nAlso, the terminology surrounding immersive audio technology is currently being thrown around wildly. Apple talks about 3D spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. Samsung talks about a 360 audio function with an intelligent motion-tracking sensor. Bose AR even talked about Augmented Audio Reality (ARR) back then.\n\nBut everyone is ultimately talking about immersive, cinema-like surround sound that detects the direction of the headphones' gaze. A spoiler directly related to the topic of movies: the manufacturers currently activate the function almost exclusively in combination with moving images. \n\nHowever, there are great applications that also work without pictures, for example [link id=\"2786\" text=\"3D podcasts and audio plays\"]. Or immersive 3d music with Dolby Atmos that I will talk about later.\n\n###Head tracking: the dynamic head movement\n\nDynamic head tracking is at the heart of spatial audio technology, ensuring that the audio follows your head movements, creating a truly immersive environment. In order for head tracking to work in terms of freedom of movement in a virtual sound scene, a reference point is needed. \n\nAdditionally to the audio device, this framework is provided by the smartphone or tablet. The headphones, therefore, know from the position of the playback device from which direction the sounds should come. Dynamic head tracking is a crucial element of spatial audio, allowing for an immersive audio experience that adapts to your movements.\n\nBut be careful, this does not mean that the sound only comes from the direction of the cell phone; as just mentioned, this only serves to calibrate the sound scene. This way you can make sure that, for example, sounds that should come from the left really do come from the left.\n\n###Technology is fun ... when it works\n\nThe crucial aspect for using head tracked- said headphones is the software, i.e. the smartphone apps and the right operating system. Even if standard headphones are sufficient for a static, spatial 3D audio impression. For head tracking, it must be ensured that the corresponding apps also support spatial audio.\n\nIn the use case, these are mostly various streaming platforms. During my research, I had the feeling in some user reports that it is not always clear that there has to be compatibility here. \n\nTo avoid such discrepancies for the loyal reader of this blog, the following should provide a greater clarity about the hardware and software components. So that nothing stands in the way of a 3D audio experience.\n\n[newsletteroptin text=\"Learn directly about new updates and apps\"]\n\n##What apps support spatial audio?\n\nOn Apple devices the processing sits in the system, so any app playing multichannel or Atmos content benefits. Among those covered here are Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Tidal. Apps that only ship stereo can still be spatialised with the upmix, but that is not the same as a native spatial release.\n\n##Spatial Audio for Apple from the Appstore\n\n[link id=\"3548\" text=\"Apple pioneered spatial audio\"] with head tracking for handheld devices with the introduction of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. With these Apple devices, surround sound formats like 5.1 and 7.1, as well as [link id=\"6191\" text=\"Dolby Atmos\"], are supported. \n\nHowever, this does not mean that every streaming provider that offers surround sound or Atmos is also compatible with Apple. The following video gives a short overview of the AirPods Pro. It gets interesting starting at 0:57:\n\n[ytvideo id=\"H0gZ4iQqGJg\"]\n\n###Hardware and software requirements that support spatial audio\n\nApart from the streaming services, the hardware and operating system must also be right. In terms of hardware, you need an iPhone 7 or newer, or an iPad. Also, the operating system iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 is required, but how the technical requirements look in detail you can read [link url=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/de-de\/HT211775\" text=\"here\"].\n\n###User Experience Apple 3D Audio\n\n[ytvideo id=\"VCBSf_AcrkE\"]\n\nIt's always a bit difficult to describe how the sound sounds. Regardless, here a short conclusion from my perspective as a spatial audio engineer:\n\n- The dynamic head detection works well and has an imperceptible latency. This is despite Bluetooth a positive surprise.\n- The usability is very good. You know immediately from the icons whether the function is activated. There even is a small demo to get hooked. If an app supports head tracking, this is also visually reinforced. Samsung has to improve this, but more later.\n- If 3D audio is enabled, the loudness is increased a bit. In addition, the sound is given an artificial room with even more reverb. This might be critical for the sound engineer, but good for the consumer.\n- Although the AirPods Pro sit in the listening channel, the impression of envelopment seems successful. You have the feeling that the sound comes from outside the earphones. The so-called externalization is thus good.\n\n[image id=\"2948\"]\n\n###Overview of compatible apps for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max\n\nFrom AirPods Pro to AirPods Max, these apps are compatible with a wide range of devices, making it easier than ever to experience the benefits of spatial audio.\n\n| App | Description |\n| -------- | -------- | \n| Air Video HD | The app that lets you stream your own videos from your Mac or MacBook to your phone or tablet supports Spatial Audio.| \n| Apple TV App | The in-house streaming service offers a wide range of movies and series in Spatial Audio formats. |\n| Discovery+ | The streaming service for friends of non-fictional entertainment also offers Spatial Audio content in combination with AirPods. |\n| Disney+ | Disney Plus also offers spatial audio experiences in combination with AirPods, for example with the blockbuster Avengers: Endgame or the hit series The Mandalorian. |\n| File Explorer | This data management app works like a cloud and thus allows data playback on different devices. For audiovisual content, Spatial Audio formats are supported, and was able to successfully create a 5.1 surround demo as a video |\n| Foxtel Go | The Australian Internet TV service, which offers some live channels as well as some video-on-demand content, also works with Apple's Spatial Audio feature. |\n| HBO Max | The video-on-demand service provider HBO Max also uses Spatial Audio support. |\n| Hulu | The now very popular streaming provider Hulu offers content in the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound format supported by Apple. |\n| Plex | Plex is a client-server media playback system that can access different content like video, audio, and photos. For the Spatial Audio feature to work here, \"Old Video Player\" must be enabled in the preferences. |\n| Peacock | The streaming service Peacock also uses spatial audio content. |\n| Paramount+ | The recently renamed streaming service from CBS All Access to Paramount Plus also supports Apple's Spatial Audio feature. |\n| Vudu | The video-on-demand service provider offers content in Apple-supported spatial audio formats Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Atmos. |\n| Spatial Scenes | The Spatial Scenes app offers a variety of spatial soundscapes. Designed for the iPad, the app also supports spatial audio playback via AirPods. |\n| Tidal | The premium music streaming service Tidal offers high-resolution music in stereo as well as some tracks mixed in 3D audio (see [link id=\"2744\" text=\"Music Streaming Blog\"]). Corresponding songs are also supported by Apple. |\n| Netflix | Actually, Netflix doesn't belong on this list (yet?). Earlier this year, the [link url=\"https:\/\/www.chip.de\/news\/Netflix-testet-neues-Feature-Apple-Fans-duerfen-sich-freuen_183235906.html\" text=\"rumor\"] emerged that Netflix and Apple were working on 3D audio support for the AirPods. However, this has since been [link url=\"https:\/\/www.macerkopf.de\/2021\/02\/23\/netflix-kein-3d-audio-fuer-airpods\/\" text=\"revised again\"]. Update 21\/08: Now the time has come, 3D Audio is slowly being rolled out by Apple. Dolby Atmos already provided the basis as I saw coming, yeah! |\n| M1 MNTR CTRL | Mach1 Spatial enables head-tracking for Apple wearables and Bose AR|\n| Portal immersive Escapes | ausgezeichnet als \"App des Tages\" vom Apples App Store. With just a few clicks, you can virtually travel the world |\n\n[image id=\"2984\"]\n\n##360 Audio for Samsung from Google Playstore\n\nShortly after Apple's AirPods, Samsung sent the Galaxy Buds Pro into the race. They are using Dolby Head Tracking technology (TM). What is Spatial Audio for Apple is 360 Audio for Samsung \u2013 two terms for the same concept.\n\nHowever, the devil is in the details. Currently, the Spatial Audio works automatically with every video. This means that even if the video only contains mono or stereo sound, the sound is artificially virtualized. Thus, you can hear the sound clearly directed from the cell phone. \n\nBut it's not an immersive, enveloping sound like the Apple Airpods manage. So it doesn't benefit from multi-channel surround \u2013 or 3D sound. Which is a pity that I feel like will be fixed in the future.\n\nOf course, to take advantage of this innovative technology in the first place, the hardware and software have to be right. 360 Audio works on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets with the latest One UI 3.1 operating system. How to listen to the 360 Audio function can be found [link url=\"https:\/\/www.samsung.com\/de\/support\/mobile-devices\/galaxy-buds-pro-360-audio\/\" text=\"here\"].\n\nThe feature was initially announced exclusively for new models like the Galaxy S21. However, shortly after, the new operating system was also rolled out for my S10 and I can now also listen to media in 360 audio.\n\n[ytvideo id=\"e27dJNhB3g0\"] \n\n###Youtube, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. support spatial audio technology?\n\nAs mentioned, the Galaxy Buds do not enable 3D audio in the sense of 360\u00b0 sound. The general advantage of this approach is that sound virtualization works with all sound sources. Thus, the function is activated as soon as audio or video content is consumed on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or wherever.\n\nFor example, I was on my phone listening to a podcast and scrolling through social media. As soon as a video popped up in my news feed, the 360 audio automatically activated. Then I heard the podcast suddenly switching from stereo to spatial audio. \n\nAs well as the video that was then spatialized playing simultaneously. This is a good way to hear what the function does with media in the first place.\n\nHowever, there is a good chance that this will be improved. Basically, the Galaxy Buds Pro have the same hardware like the Apple Airpods. The platforms also usually use Dolby Atmos or comparable multi-channel audio formats in the backend. So, we can be curious.\n\n[image id=\"2946\"]\n\n##Apps with 3D audio but without head tracking spatial audio support\n\nAlthough the focus of this article is on head tracking, a few more apps should be mentioned here that do not support these settings, but can still provide immersive listening experiences.\n\nThis is the soft entry into immersive 3D audio, for all standard stereo headphones. The sound here is binaural, accessible for everybody.\n\n###Headspace\n\nThis app offers guided meditations and mindfulness exercises for better sleep. Also, there are sound worlds with 3D recordings of the \u201cmost beautiful places in the world\u201d. e.g. stream, rain, mountain stream, forests, oceans, and so on.\n\nUnfortunately, the recordings are huge files with 45-500 minutes. So most of the time 800MB have to be downloaded first, which definitely gets in the way of relaxation.\n\n###Synctuition\n\nSimilar to Headspace, Synctuition is an app for relaxation and meditation. But here they didn't just use dummy head recordings for the binaural sound. Music was also added and mixed into the space using spatialization tools.\n\nSo an entire sound experience was created and combined with binaural beats, which I will take a closer look at at some point. These audio experiences take 25 minutes and also a significant loading time. This could also be done better. But we are getting there.\n\n###Audible Reality\n\nAudible Reality offers the possibility to turn spatial audio and play stereo music, for example via Spotify, in a different spatial context. The music is played in a virtual space, which is called \u201cvibes\u201d in the app. The whole thing is reminiscent of the YouTube hype around [link id=\"871\" text=\"8D Audio\"]. \n\nSimilar sound colorations can be found here, such as bass-boosted music.\n\nI think the sound personalization aspect is great, but unfortunately, the stereo suffers a lot here. Phasing artifacts can be heard. Sonarworks' approach with Sound-ID is better thought out here.\n\n###Waves NX\n\nEven though we've just ticked off the topic of head tracking, there's a little oddball. The audio software manufacturer has its own app that can be combined with any headphones. So you can not only connect the hardware head tracker with the computer. Via Bluetooth, this is ready for use with the smartphone.\n\nFinally, you can listen to music or your own audio in the app. Matching the Nx Virtual Mixing Room, the stereo sound in supported app now sounds as if you were sitting in Abbey Road Studio 3. However, multi-channel 5.1 surround sound has not been implemented here, as it is in the DAW plugin.\n\nThere are even dedicated headphones that have the head tracker built into the device. The Audeze Mobius 3D Headphones. So in principle, exactly what Apple did with the Airpods Max \u2013 only years later \ud83d\ude09\n\n###Artist Connection\n\nHere, too, a small special role for Sony [link id=\"3813\" text=\"360 Reality Audio\"]. Again, the idea is to immerse and directly dive into the sound. More precisely into music, because here artists are also in the foreground. This is produced with Sony's own tool, the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite. Tidal carried the format until 24 July 2024; today 360 RA is mainly found on Amazon Music Unlimited. \n\nThere are also dedicated headphones here to further enhance the sound experience: The Sony 1000XM2, wireless headphones with noise canceling. Or the Sony WF-1000XM4 in-ears true wireless headphones.\n\n###Ammersive\n\nWith its potential to reduce stress and anxiety, improve cognitive performance, and provide a sense of relaxation and calm, an ambient immersive soundscape can be a powerful tool. Further research is being conducted as we strive to gain deeper understanding of this process in search of more holistic solutions for managing mental well-being.\n\nAmmersive is an app that facilitates such incorporation of unique immersive audio experiences with ease. Ambient immersive soundscapes are created with spatial audio, which creates a \u201c3D\u201d listening experience, allowing users to feel as if they are actually in the environment being represented.\n\nHowever, not all individuals may experience the same effects from soundscapes. It is important to take into account individual responses when listening and to give yourself permission to stop listening at any time if the sounds make you uncomfortable or trigger an unwanted response. \n\nIt is worth exploring both ambient sounds and immersive soundscapes as they can have therapeutic effects cited by many studies.\n\n###Music streaming services\n\nMeanwhile, some music streaming platforms offer music in Dolby Atmos or 360 Reality Audio. Here, we would like to refer to this [link id=\"2281\" text=\"blog entry\"].\n\n##Recap and action!\n\nAs you can see, there are now really many ways to enjoy spatial audio content. Fortunately, most of the already very popular streaming services recognize the potential of immersive listening experiences. Hopefully, head tracking compatible headphones will find favor. \n\nBecause in combination with all the apps and streaming hype, this could be the biggest chance yet for 3D audio to finally find its rightful recognition in the market!\n\nBut the right technology also needs the right content. No matter whether Apple Airpods-Pro or Samsung Galaxy Buds-Pro. Up to now, existing material has often been \u201cconverted\u201d into corresponding spatial audio formats, or upmixed. \n\nThe success of spatial audio technology depends on both hardware and content, and I hope this article highlights the need for creative content specifically designed to leverage the technology's capabilities.\n\nBut the true potential of spatial audio lies in creating content specifically to get the best out of the technology with creativity. Spatial audio and head tracking technology have the potential to revolutionize the way users consume audio content, creating a more immersive and engaging experience. \n\nAnd that's exactly my job here at VRTonung, if you want to learn more about it or even already have ideas in mind, don't hesitate to get in touch!\n\n###Let's talk about your project\n\nWant to mix or master your music in 3D and need support along the way?\n\n[link id=\"155\" text=\"Get in touch \u2192\"]\n","related_articles":[2828,2652,7125,2744,3045,6939]},"yoast_head":"\n