3d music software: create, listen, explore
As a sound lover and music producer, I've always been fascinated by how technology can push the boundaries of sound.
One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the growing potential for 3D music software. As computing becomes more powerful and available, new doors are opening in the possibilities of music production in the 3D realm.
I've dedicated myself to making 3D music production accessible to everyone, with my software project Audiocube. Driven by my passion for exploring the possibilities of spatial audio and 3D audio.
In this blog, I'll explain what Audiocube is, and how I'm designing it be be a 3D music software powerhouse. Then we'll look at some broader discussions on the topic of
Overview - 3D Music Software
3D music software enables the creation and listening of music with a more immersive, spatial sound experience.
While this field is emerging, most existing tools are complex and geared toward advanced users.
I developed Audiocube to simplify 3D audio production, offering a more intuitive way to explore sound in a three-dimensional space.
Audiocube is a fully spatialized 3D audio workstation, allowing users to craft immersive soundscapes and music with realistic acoustic simulation.
Audiocube - Standalone 3D Music Software
As a professional sound designer and audio engineer, I often found myself frustrated with existing workflows for creating immersive audio.
While working on an audiobook project that required detailed ambient environments and realistic soundscapes for the narrator's voice, I realized that no tools provided the level of acoustic control I needed.
I wanted something that allowed precise control over sound placement in 3D, monitoring of real-time changes, and the ability to create custom, realistic environments. Something that could be used to create, mix, master, compose, and experiment with music in a 3D space.
When I couldn't find a solution, I decided to build one myself.
This was the beginning of Audiocube - a project which has taken over 4 years and countless hours of learning, experimenting, and hard work to bring to life.
My background was in music production, not software development… but I was determined to make my vision a reality.
I'm now proud to share Audiocube in a relatively polished state. I think it's easily one of the most advanced, unique, and powerful pieces of 3D music software - and it's got plenty of room for expansion.
Being standalone (and not a vst plugin) it means that it can be used in a bunch of ways that would not be possible in traditional DAWs and plugins.
Here is some more info about the software…
Audiocube’s Unique Spatial Audio Features
Audiocube offers a unique set of features that sets it apart in the 3D music software world.
Intuitive 3D interface: Audiocube's user-friendly design makes it easy to explore and manipulate sound in a three-dimensional space. The interface provides an immersive environment where sound design becomes more intuitive and interactive.
Powerful sound positioning and movement tools: Audiocube lets you position sounds anywhere in 360 degrees, with precise control over movement and spatial effects like reverb and occlusion. Real-time spatial automation adds dynamism and depth to any project.
Integration with existing Audio Library: Audiocube seamlessly integrates with your audio library, allowing you to expand your current workflow without sacrificing familiar tools and processes.
Built-in Sample Pack Installer: The internal sample library installer givesy ou instant access to a huge range of sounds, from instruments like drums, basses, and keys, to found sounds and a enormous collection of field recordings and ambience.
Real-time acoustic simulation: With reflections, distance attenuation, and binaural HRTF processing, Audiocube allows for precise, life-like sound reproduction that mimics real-world acoustics.
Designed for 3D: Unlike the majority of audio software out there, Audiocube is specifically designed for 3D interaction, control, and processing. This is at the heart of the project. It's not an afterthought. Because the engine is built from the ground up to revolve around 3D audio, it enables things that aren't possible in traditional audio tools and older versions.
Community-Led Development: As a solo developer, I want to make sure that I take ideas from the community to drive the future direction. This has led to many new features being added based on user requests, for instance, I've added support for output recording, binaural processing, and flexible mixer routing. I'm currently working on integrating multi-channel output, and the ability to use a microphone input.
Whether you're designing spatial sound effects, or mixing a full track, Audiocube is the ultimate 3D music software tool. It has everything you need for a wide range of audio workflows - both 2D and 3D.
What is 3D Music Software?
At its core, 3D music software allows us to work with sound in a fully immersive space, breaking free from the limitations of traditional stereo audio.
With traditional stereo sound, audio is confined to two channels (left and right) giving us some sense of direction but lacking true depth or spatial realism. In contrast, 3D audio adds a new dimension, allowing sound to be positioned not just from side to side, but also from above, below, and all around the listener. This creates a sense of space that is much closer to how we naturally experience sound in the real world.
In technical terms, this is often referred to as spatial audio or immersive soundscapes. These technologies allow us to create an environment where sound moves dynamically, with individual sound sources being placed and manipulated in a 360-degree field. Imagine hearing a bird chirp overhead, a car drive by at ear level, or distant thunder rolling in from behind. This level of control over sound placement enables music producers and sound designers to create far more engaging and lifelike audio experiences.
Producers can experiment with movement, distance, and direction in ways that were previously impossible. This adds depth to soundscapes, making the final product richer and more dynamic, ultimately transforming the way we create and experience music.
Wether you're a professional sound designer, a musician looking to experiment, or simply someone curious about how to create rich soundscapes, 3D music software opens up a world of creative potential.
This new approach to sound design allows us to create immersive audio experiences that go far beyond the limitations of traditional stereo sound.
Instead of just left and right channels, we can now position sounds in a full 360-degree space, giving us the freedom to explore depth, movement, and realism like never before.
How to Listen to 3D Music?
The truth is, you don't need any fancy equipment to listen to 3D music, or audio/music that has been created and processed with 3D audio software. If the audio has been processed well, you can just use any regular speakers or headphones.
In my experience, high-quality speakers and headphones do a better job and sound more realistic. I will also say that headphones are generally more immersive and have better results than speakers - although ultimately it depends on the quality of the playback devices.
Music that's been processed with spatial software can be distributed like any other audio files, so you can listen to it through all the typical platforms like Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, and other file download systems.
Key Features of 3D Music Software
The magic of 3D music software lies in the ability to manipulate sound within a truly immersive environment.
Unlike traditional DAWs, where sounds are locked to stereo channels, 3D software allows for sound object manipulation in a 3D space. This means each sound element can be positioned anywhere in a 360-degree environment (up, down, left, right, near, or far) giving producers complete control over how their audio interacts within the sound field.
One of the most powerful tools in 3D music software is multi-dimensional panning and sound positioning. Instead of panning sound only from left to right, you can position sounds around the listener in all directions, creating a fluid, immersive experience. This flexibility lets producers create the sensation of movement, such as a sound circling the listener or shifting in space, adding a dynamic quality to the audio.
Real-time spatial effects are another game-changing feature. Tools like reverb, the Doppler effect (which mimics the change in frequency as a sound source moves closer or further away), and distance attenuation (where the sound gets softer the further away it is) add realism and depth to any composition. These effects respond to changes in sound position, making the overall experience more lifelike and engaging.
Lastly, compatibility with VR and AR platforms makes 3D music software a vital tool for the future of interactive media. Whether you're creating soundscapes for virtual reality environments or integrating music into augmented reality experiences, 3D music software offers seamless integration, allowing sound to respond naturally to user movements within these immersive spaces.
Benefits of 3D Music Software for Music Producers and Sound Designers
The benefits of using 3D music software are significant and varied.
Create more immersive soundscapes
3D music software allows you to build detailed, realistic audio environments for film, gaming, VR, and AR projects. It's a game-changer for those seeking to transport their audience into a fully immersive world of sound.
Enhance the listener’s experience
With the ability to position sound all around the listener, 3D audio creates a more engaging and dynamic experience. Listeners can feel like they are truly “inside” the sound, increasing emotional impact and creating deeper connections with the audio.
Expand creative possibilities
3D music software lets you experiment with sound in ways that weren't possible with stereo or even surround sound. You can play with distance, direction, movement, and more, giving you new tools for storytelling and artistic expression.
Innovative sound design
The entertainment industry is already embracing 3D audio for cutting-edge projects. In films, it helps create more realistic action scenes. In gaming, it adds depth and realism by matching sounds to player movements. In music, artists are reimagining how instruments and vocals are placed in virtual space, leading to fresh, immersive listening experiences.
How to Use Audiocube to Make Music in 3D
While Audiocube is visually and functionally very different to traditional audio software, it still has a familiar workflow, and includes many of the traditional tools.
Here are some step-by-step instructions to show you Audiocube's basic workflow.
Download Audiocube and open the app - You can start using it for free, but you'll get the best experiences with a paid account. Once inside, create a new project.
Import Audio Files - Use the Browser Tab to import sounds into your Audiocube library, which can be accessed from any project. You can add any .wav or .mp3 file. You can also download sounds from the sample pack installer.
Add Sounds to Project - Now you can start dragging and dropping files from the library into the 3D stage. You can use the standard Sampler device, or create Emitters for some more complex physics & collision-based interaction.
Move & Place Devices and Listening Position - Next, drag devices around the stage to control their specialization. This gives you full control over their left/right, up/down, and front/back placement, so you can precisely specify where the sound originates for the listening positions. Use the audio range editor to control the min and max distance of sound propagation.
You can move the camera/listener around the scene freely too, and monitor the sonic results in real time.
Apply Effects and Acoustic Settings - Now is a good time to start processing the sounds in more detail. Audiocube comes with a range of built-in effects that can be applied in multiple stages. It also includes a routable mixer and some final-stage mastering effects. The acoustic effects window gives you more control over how the acoustics are simulated in the scene, which you can hear in real time.
Create Acoustic Environments - Use Soundwalls, combined with the enabling of reflections and occlusion in the acoustic settings, to create custom acoustic spaces. Place, scale, and rotate the walls to create rooms of your desired size. The Binaural engine will process sounds realistically to reflect the tone of the acoustic environment you've created.
Sequence and Play - Depending on what type of project you are working on, there are a few different methods for sequencing and triggering sounds in Audiocube. You can use the timeline sequencer for a familiar sequencing method, or get experimental with Ticker Devices
Record and Export - After you've finished building your scene, use the output recorder to capture and save the final audio results and create a high-quality .WAV file to use in other software, or to listen back to directly.
This is just one possible workflow for using Audiocube, and in reality, there are many other possibilities and deeper features.
For example, if you want to create music generatively, by building self-perpetuating and modulating systems, this can easily be done in Audiocube using the tickers, collision, emitter randomization, and other features.
I also didn't touch on the effect zones, which give you some additional control over the audio processing of sound sources in a chosen area.
The best way to experience Audiocube is to try it yourself - which you can using the free trial version!
The Future of 3D Music Software
The future of 3D music software looks incredibly promising, driven by rapid advancements in technology and the growing demand for immersive audio experiences.
One of the biggest trends is the integration of 3D audio with VR and AR platforms, where spatial sound plays a critical role in making virtual environments feel more real and engaging. As VR/AR continues to expand, 3D music software will be at the forefront, enabling sound designers to craft fully interactive, immersive soundscapes.
We're also seeing an increase in consumer-focused spatial audio experiences, like those used in streaming services and mobile devices, which are driving more demand for tools that can create 3D audio content. This trend points to a future where immersive audio becomes a standard part of everyday entertainment, not just a niche tool for professionals.
At Audiocube, we're committed to staying ahead of these trends.
Our vision is to continue evolving the software to provide even more control over acoustic environments, enhance integration with emerging technologies, and ensure compatibility with future immersive platforms.
As the demand for 3D audio grows, Audiocube will keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in music and sound production, empowering creators to shape the future of sound.
In Summary...
3D music software has emerged as an essential tool for modern creators. It transcends the limitations of traditional stereo sound, offering a new realm where audio isn't just heard - it's experienced. By harnessing the power of spatial audio, we can craft immersive soundscapes that bring a new level of depth and realism to music, film, gaming, and virtual reality.
I've seen firsthand how 3D audio can transform a project, making it more engaging and impactful. That's why I developed Audiocube - to make this cutting-edge technology accessible to everyone.
Ready to elevate your audio creations? I invite you to try Audiocube and experience the difference it can make in your work. Visit our website to download a demo or learn more about how Audiocube can revolutionize your approach to sound design.
Explore Audiocube here: www.audiocube.app
