3D DAW - Produce Music in 3D With Audiocube
Over the past 30 years, we've witnessed some of the most significant technological advancements in human history, revolutionizing nearly every aspect of our lives - including the way we create and experience music.
The evolution of technology has gone hand in hand with the development of music. As a passionate music producer, audio engineer, and digital technology enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of digital music production. This curiosity ultimately led me to create Audiocube - a groundbreaking 3D DAW.
In this article, I’ll dive into what a 3D DAW is, why I was motivated to create one, and how you can start using it to revolutionize your music production process.
TL;DR - Audiocube, The 3D DAW
A 3D DAW is software designed to create music and sound within a virtual 3D environment.
While traditional 2D DAWs like Ableton, Logic, and FL Studio dominate the industry, 3D DAWs are relatively unexplored and offer unique possibilities.
My drive to create Audiocube stemmed from a desire for more advanced spatial audio tools and physics-based sound production.
With Audiocube, you can experiment and compose music in a fully acoustically simulated, virtual 3D space, unlocking new dimensions of creativity and sound design.
What is a 3D DAW?
Most of you are likely familiar with the concept of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) - software platforms designed for recording, editing, post production, and creating music and sound. However, the idea of a 3D DAW might be something new to you.
The first traditional 2D DAW, Soundstream, was released in 1977. Although today's DAWs have evolved dramatically since then, the foundational principles remain the same.
Today, household names like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Pro Tools, Reaper, Cubase Pro, Magix Sequoia and Audacity dominate the audio production landscape.
These programs are powerhouses for audio production, each offering a similar core feature set. At their heart, they allow you to record, edit, process, and export audio. Beyond that, they often include advanced capabilities like virtual instrument hosting, powerful sequencing tools, hardware integration, and customizable effects and routing.
However, these are all 2D DAWs. While you can find plugins and tools that mimic 3D audio effects, these programs aren’t truly designed for 3D audio production in your recording studio.
So, what exactly is a 3D DAW?
A 3D DAW is a Digital Audio Workstation that goes beyond traditional audio production by allowing you to create and manipulate sound within a 3D environment. It typically features a 3D interface and incorporates spatial audio processing, offering a more immersive experience.
3D DAWs are not specifically well defined. For example, is it just a set of 2D interfaces in a 3D environment (like using Ableton in a VR headset). Or is it something closer to a game-engine style 3D world with virtual audio devices and acoustic simulation? I think this is a more accurate definition. It should mimic the way audio production works in the real world - like having placeable sound sources.
While 3D DAWs are still emerging as conventional audio production tools, they bring unique advantages to the table. They might not be ideal for all traditional audio editing tasks, but in scenarios where spatial sound design and immersive audio are key, a 3D DAW can offer possibilities that 2D DAWs simply can't match.
What can 3D DAWs do that 2D DAWs can’t?
Working with audio in 3D unlocks a whole new dimension of creative possibilities. While you might not turn to a 3D DAW for traditional tasks, these tools offer several powerful and unique functions that go beyond what 2D DAWs can achieve:
Immersive Audio Spatialization and Placement: Create realistic 3D audio environments, allowing precise control over the spatialization of audio sources. This feature is essential for developing immersive soundscapes where sound moves and interacts within a virtual space.
Physics-Based Sound Interaction: Leverage game engine-like simulations to interact with music and sound in innovative ways. Incorporate physics, collisions, and virtual placements to simulate real-world acoustics and object interactions, adding a new layer of realism to your compositions.
Advanced Spatial Audio Processing: Experiment with advanced spatial audio techniques like binaural sound, Ambisonics, and 360-degree audio, which are crucial for VR, AR, and immersive media production.
Dynamic Sound Environments: Create environments where sounds change dynamically based on the listener’s position, orientation, and movement within the 3D space, offering a highly interactive and engaging audio experience.
Visual Sound Design: Use a 3D interface to visualize and manipulate sound elements in three-dimensional space, making it easier to understand complex sound interactions and placements.
Multi-Dimensional Mixing: Move beyond the limitations of traditional stereo or surround sound mixing by placing audio sources in a fully three-dimensional field, providing greater depth and spatial accuracy in your mixes.
Interactive Music Composition: Compose music that reacts to real-time changes within the 3D environment, allowing for more interactive and adaptive soundscapes that respond to user input or environmental factors.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Integration: Seamlessly integrate your audio projects with VR and AR platforms, where 3D audio is a crucial component of creating immersive experiences.
A List of 3D DAWs and 3D Audio Software
While there are countless well-known traditional 2D DAWs, the list of true 3D DAWs is much shorter and lesser known.
I’ve spent a lot of time researching the options here, (I ended up making my own…) so I’ve put this list together of some of the best 3D DAWs available.
1) Audiocube.app
Ok, I know this is biased since I created Audiocube, but I did so for a reason - nothing else met my needs or fulfilled my vision for what a 3D DAW could achieve. I drew inspiration from industry-standard DAWs like Ableton Live and combined it with the possibilities of a 3D audio engine to create something truly unique and powerful.
Key Features:
Acoustic Simulation: Build custom sonic environments using adjustable walls, creating a realistic spatial audio experience.
Binaural HRTF: Advanced binaural audio rendering for immersive soundscapes.
Physics-Based Interaction: Incorporate physics, collisions, and virtual placements into your compositions.
Mixer, Effects, Mastering: Complete audio production suite with mixing and mastering capabilities.
Record Audio Output: Capture and export your 3D audio creations.
Sample Library Support: Import and use your existing sample library and audio tracks within the 3D environment.
New and Evolving: Continually updated software with user feedback influencing new features.
Best For: Experimental music producers, mixing engineers, sound designers, and spatial audio enthusiasts looking for an innovative and flexible 3D audio tool.
2) Dear Reality
Dear Reality is a company at the forefront of the 3D audio and spatial sound scene. They offer several products, primarily as VST plugins for traditional DAWs, which allow for some spatial control over your audio. While these tools can simulate the placement of sounds in a 3D space, they lack comprehensive 3D DAW capabilities like physics interactions or extensive user listening position adjustments.
Key Products:
DearVR Spatial Connect VR: A VR application for immersive 3D audio production, but it requires a VR headset and may be over-engineered for simpler 3D DAW needs.
DearVR PRO: A plugin for 3D audio positioning within traditional DAWs, offering a high degree of spatial control.
Key Features:
Spatial Audio Positioning: Precise control over sound placement within a 3D field.
VR Integration: Full VR support for immersive sound design (in Spatial Connect VR).
User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design for those familiar with traditional DAWs.
Best For: Audio engineers and sound designers who want to incorporate spatial audio into their existing DAW workflows, especially those working in VR or AR environments with direct integration.
3) Sound Particles
Sound Particles is a powerful 3D audio software used extensively in film, TV, and video games. While it’s more of a 3D sound design tool than a traditional DAW, it offers robust features for creating immersive soundscapes. This software allows you to manipulate sound as particles in a 3D space, making it a unique tool for spatial audio creation.
Key Features:
3D Sound Particle System: Use particle-based audio techniques to create complex soundscapes.
Spatial Audio Rendering: Support for Ambisonics, Dolby Atmos, and other spatial audio formats.
Multiple Sources: Manage thousands of sound sources within a single project.
Advanced Automation: Control the movement, interaction, and behavior of sound particles over time.
Best For: Sound designers working in film, TV, video games, or any medium that requires highly dynamic and immersive 3D sound environments.
4) RipX Deep Audio
RipX Deep Audio, developed by Hit’n’Mix, is an advanced audio editing tool that delves into audio source separation and manipulation within a visual, multi-dimensional environment. While not a full-fledged 3D DAW, it offers features that push beyond traditional 2D audio editing by allowing users to deconstruct and reassemble audio in a visually interactive way.
Key Features:
Audio Source Separation: Isolate vocals, instruments, and other audio elements for detailed editing.
Spectral Editing: Manipulate the harmonic and timbral qualities of sound with precise control.
Visual Interface: A graphical interface that allows you to see and interact with different elements of the sound.
DeepRemix and DeepCreate: Tools that allow for the remixing and creation of new tracks by manipulating existing audio in innovative ways.
Best For: Producers and audio engineers looking for advanced audio editing and source separation capabilities with a visually engaging interface.
Audiocube - My 3D DAW
What Can You Do in Audiocube?
Audiocube is a groundbreaking 3D DAW standalone application that allows you to create and manipulate sound in a fully immersive 3D environment. Here’s what you can do:
3D Spatialization: Precisely position and move sounds within a 3D space using real-time acoustic simulations and binaural HRTF processing. Use it to spatialize audio files with ease!
Custom Acoustic Environments: Design bespoke soundscapes with adjustable acoustic variables like reflections, occlusion, and distance attenuation to craft realistic or imaginative audio environments.
Physics-Based Interaction: Utilize game-engine-like physics, allowing sounds to interact naturally with virtual environments—bouncing, colliding, and reflecting as they would in the real world.
Dynamic Sound Design: Create and control sound emitters, samplers, and other devices that respond dynamically to their surroundings, adding a layer of organic interaction to your compositions.
Full Production Suite: Mix, master, and process your audio within the same 3D environment, using a range of advanced tools designed for precision and creativity.
Seamless Export: Capture your work as high-quality .WAV files, ready for use in other projects or platforms.
Why I Made Audiocube
Audiocube was born out of frustration and ambition. I wanted to experiment with spatial audio in ways that traditional DAWs simply couldn’t accommodate.
My interest in computer science, combined with a passion for music production, led me to envision a tool that could simulate acoustic environments and allow for unprecedented interaction with sound.
Inspired by the limitations I faced and the potential I saw in 3D audio technology, I embarked on the journey to create Audiocube—a DAW that opens up new dimensions of sound design and production.
Find out more here: The Audiocube History!
Try Audiocube Free Today!
Ready to explore a new dimension of audio production? Try Audiocube today! Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, Audiocube offers the tools you need to create immersive, spatial soundscapes. Download the free version at Audiocube.app and start pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with sound.
FAQs about 3D DAWs
Q: What platforms is Audiocube available on?
A: Audiocube is available for both Windows and Mac.
Q: Is Audiocube suitable for beginners?
A: Absolutely! While Audiocube offers advanced features for professionals, it is designed with an intuitive interface that makes it accessible for beginners as well.
Q: Can I import my own audio samples?
A: Yes, you can easily import your own audio clips and audio files and use them within Audiocube’s 3D environment.
