The latest on 360 Reality Audio

[_J.G.M_]

360 Reality Audio is the unique audio experience, developed by Sony, that makes listeners feel as if they are immersed in sound from all around them – as if the band they are listening to is in the same room.

The technology has gained attention through successful collaborations with popular artists since its launch, and right now, Sony is building an entire ecosystem to bring the experience to more people all around the world.

So how does 360 Reality Audio work?

Object-based audio technology is used to create a realistic, three-dimensional sound field. If you’ve not yet experienced it, we highly recommend learning more about the technology and hearing 360 Reality Audio for yourself here.

During the content creation stage, location information is attached to each sound source, from the drum to the guitar to the vocals, and placed in a spherical space. That’s what makes listeners feel like they are in the recording studio.

During playback, 360 Reality Audio optimises the listening experience to each individual listener’s hearing characteristics using an advanced algorithm and pictures of their ears, which they can choose to take advantage of with a compatible pair of headphones and the Sony | Headphones Connect app.

By the time sound has ordinarily reached your eardrum, it has bounced off many surfaces, including the walls, floor, or even your own body, subconsciously making us determine where a sound is coming from. 360 Reality Audio uses these characteristics to create the perception that sound is coming from outside the headphones, thus creating a spatial sound field and immersive listening experience.

Working with artists.

We are currently creating an ecosystem for more people to enjoy 360 Reality Audio, from providing the tools and training required for each label’s production studio, all the way through to working to distribute the songs from popular Sony Music Entertainment artists, such as The Chainsmokers and Kane Brown.

Streaming services like Deezer and Tidal are already carrying 360 Reality Audio tracks – so if you’ve tried it out, let us know how it made you feel and how you think it can advance the music industry below.

This article has been adapted from a piece on Sony.net. The original can be found here: https://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/technology/stories/360RA/