Audio In 3D - Experience With Audiocube
3D audio and immersive audio are two terms that you may have seen a lot more frequently in recent years - there is widespread adoption of interest in creating and experiencing them.
I've always had an interest in exploring immersive and 3D audio - basically anything that expands beyond the traditional stereo sound format. I've spent a lot of time creating immersive soundscapes over the years, and I'm really excited by what is becoming available for both creators and listeners.
This article is a deep dive into the topic of 3D audio - I'll explain exactly what it is, and I'll show you how you create and experience audio in 3D!
In This Article...
I'll explain exactly what 3D Audio is.
I'll show you how you can listen to audio in 3D.
You'll learn how you can create audio in 3D.
Discover how Audiocube is a powerful solution for creating immersive audio.
What is 3D Audio?
3D audio, sometimes called spatial audio, is a sound reproduction technique that creates the illusion of sound coming from specific directions and distances around the listener, replicating how we naturally hear sounds in the real world. It expands upon traditional stereo formats to create more immersive sound experiences, offering sound localization in a virtual three-dimensional space.
The exact way 3D audio is implemented often depends on the final listening format and medium. For example, you can use complex, multi-speaker surround sound systems, or you can even experience 3D, immersive music just using headphones alone with advanced technology like binauralization.
Unlike standard stereo audio, which simply places sounds between left and right channels, 3D audio can position sounds in front, behind, above, below, and at varying distances, providing a more immersive listening experience.
3D audio typically achieves this using:
Binaural Recording: Captures sound using specialized microphones placed at ear-level, mimicking how ears perceive sound naturally.
HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function): Mathematical models that simulate how sound interacts with the human head, ears, and torso to help position sound sources accurately.
Ambisonics: A full-sphere surround sound technique that encodes audio in three dimensions, making it compatible with various playback systems and headphones.
Dynamic Head Tracking: Adjusts audio positioning in real-time based on the listener’s head movements, further enhancing realism.
3D audio is widely used in:
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
Video games and interactive experiences
Cinema and television
Music streaming services (like Apple Music with Dolby Atmos)
Communication platforms (for virtual meetings and social experiences)
Ultimately, 3D audio creates a highly immersive and realistic sonic environment, improving engagement, presence, and emotional impact in media experiences.
How Does 3D Audio Work?
3D audio works by mimicking the way humans naturally hear and process sound, creating an immersive experience that makes audio feel like it's coming from specific directions and distances around you.
Here's how it works step-by-step:
1. Capturing or Synthesizing Audio
Binaural recording: Uses microphones placed in ear-like positions on a dummy head to capture sound exactly how human ears perceive it.
Synthetic spatialization: Uses software algorithms to artificially position sounds in a virtual 3D space.
2. Applying HRTF (Head-Related Transfer Function)
HRTFs are mathematical models that simulate how sounds are filtered and changed by the human head, ears, and shoulders.
When a sound reaches our ears, subtle differences in timing, volume, and frequency inform our brain about where the sound originates (above, below, front, behind, etc.).
3. Ambisonics and Spatial Encoding
Ambisonics is a technique for encoding audio in a spherical format, capturing audio from all directions.
It allows flexible decoding and playback through various audio systems, including headphones and multi-speaker setups.
4. Dynamic Head Tracking
Many advanced systems use sensors or camera tracking to detect your head movements.
When you turn or tilt your head, the soundscape dynamically adjusts, maintaining a realistic spatial illusion.
5. Playback through Headphones or Speakers
Headphones: The simplest way to experience 3D audio. The audio signals for each ear differ slightly, creating the illusion of 3D space.
Multi-speaker setups: Systems like Dolby Atmos or immersive speaker arrays can physically place audio sources around the listener, enhancing realism.
There are multiple formats and systems for experiencing spatial audio - for more information, check out my full deep dive on Spatial Audio Formats
How To Listen To Audio In 3D
I've always been fascinated by the way 3D audio can transport you to a whole new sonic world, and I want to share some down-to-earth tips on how you can experience it too.
1. Start with the Right Gear
For me, the journey begins with picking the right equipment. I usually opt for a good pair of headphones that support binaural audio—they do wonders in creating that lifelike soundscape. If you prefer speakers, consider a setup that supports Dolby Atmos or similar 3D sound formats. Just make sure your device (whether it's your phone, tablet, or computer) is capable of processing spatial audio.
2. Discover 3D Audio Content
The next step is finding content that's mixed in 3D. I love exploring:
Streaming Platforms: Services like Apple Music, Tidal, and Netflix now offer content marked as “Dolby Atmos” or “Spatial Audio.” It’s like unlocking a secret layer in your favorite tracks, movies, and shows.
Games & VR Experiences: If you're into gaming or virtual reality, many titles now come with immersive audio that pulls you right into the action.
Live Recordings: Some live events and concerts are captured in 3D audio, which makes me feel like I’m right there in the crowd.
3. Tweak Your Settings
Once you’ve got your content, it’s all about the setup:
Activate Spatial Audio: I make sure to dive into my device's audio settings or the app settings to turn on features like “Spatial Audio” or “Dolby Atmos.” This little tweak makes a huge difference.
Optimize Your Listening Space: Whether I'm using headphones or speakers, I like to set up in a quiet space. This minimizes background noise and really lets the 3D effects shine through.
4. Get Comfortable and Experiment
One of the best parts of 3D audio is its versatility. I love to:
Play Around with Different Content: From rock to classical, each genre offers a unique spatial experience. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what feels best for you.
Personalize Your Experience: Some apps let you adjust the spatial settings. I often spend a few minutes fine-tuning these options until I get that perfect immersive feel.
How To Create Audio in 3D Using Audiocube
As someone who loved to work with spatial audio in 3D, I often found myself limited and frustrated by the available tools. I found that plugins were good, but often very fiddly to make complex scenes, and presented a range of other issues.
Additionally, many formats and technologies like Dolby Atmos were very expensive and inaccessible.
These problems (and more) drove me to create my own 3D audio software - Audiocube, the 3D DAW.
I designed this to be an all-in-one 3D audio powerhouse. It's standalone software, which opens up a bunch of technology that wouldn't be possible in plugin format - allowing for a more cohesive creation, and sonic, experience.
Creating 3D Audio in Audiocube: Step-By-Step
These steps show you how to create 3D audio and explore spatial music production techniques using Audiocube.
This is a short guide, so make sure you check out the Audiocube User Manual for more information.
Download Audiocube - You can get started with the free version, or buy the Lifetime Pro Licence to unlock the full feature set.
Create a new project - After opening Audiocube, pick a project template, or start with a blank.
Import audio - Add audio files to your library, or use the internal sample pack downloader to download our core sample libraries.
Create Devices - Now you can drag and drop samples to the 3D scene to start creating audio objects. There are 7 different devices, each with unique functionality
Place & Move Sounds - Easily move sounds around the scene to create the type of immersive experience you want to design. You can even use the spatial automation function to create paths for devices to move through over time.
Create Rooms & Spaces - Using the Soundwall device, you can create custom virtual acoustic environments with realistic simulations for reflections, occlusion, and more. This means you can build custom spaces and place sounds around them at will.
Experiment with Effects - Get creative with the multi-layered effects, using proximity and spatial effects for more coloration and uniqueness in your sound design.
Record and Export - When you're happy with your project, use the recorder to capture the output to an HD .WAV with all spatialization baked in. You can also tweak the acoustic engine to activate the HRTF binauralizer, giving listeners even more accurate spatial cues.
As you can see, Audiocube makes it easy for both audio engineers and casual music lovers to create and experience sound in 3D. You can use it to build virtual worlds with organic, evolving soundscapes and a new level of immersion for your audience to experience music.
Get started for free here - Download Audiocube
This only scratches the surface of what Audiocube is capable of, so look through the full features list or Audiocube YouTube Channel for more info!
Start Making Audio In 3D Now - Download Audiocube
Now you understand how you can experience and create audio in 3D, you probably want to get stuck in and try it yourself. There are many tools out there, but I've made Audiocube as a comprehensive, standalone, and specifically designed piece of software for working with audio in 3D.
Try it yourself for free - Get Started With Audiocube!
I've spent years working on Audiocube (starting from an audio engineering background, not software dev), and I'm really happy with where it's at now. I've integrated a tonne of ideas and features from the community, and I'm commited to making an app that everyone enjoys - so please get in touch if you have any suggestions or requests.
FAQs About Audio in 3D
What is the difference between 3D audio and spatial audio?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, 3D audio specifically focuses on recreating sound from every direction - including above and below - mimicking how our ears naturally hear. Spatial audio is a broader concept that covers any technique used to create an immersive sound environment, which can include traditional surround sound as well as full 3D sound.
What is the standard for 3D audio?
There isn’t a single universal standard for 3D audio. Instead, various formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio are commonly used. Dolby Atmos, in particular, has become one of the most widely adopted formats for delivering immersive, three-dimensional sound.
How do I make my audio 3D?
To transform your audio into a 3D experience, you can:
Use binaural recording techniques that capture sound as our ears naturally would.
Apply spatial audio processing tools that utilize Head-Related Transfer Functions (HRTFs) to simulate directional sound cues.
Encode your audio in formats like Dolby Atmos or Ambisonics, which are designed to create a convincing three-dimensional sound field during playback.
Does Netflix have 3D audio?
Yes, Netflix supports 3D audio on select titles. Many of its original movies and shows are available in Dolby Atmos, offering an immersive listening experience when you use a compatible device and sound system.
How does Apple 3D audio work?
Apple’s 3D audio - marketed as Spatial Audio - leverages advanced audio processing combined with dynamic head tracking. This technology adjusts sound placement in real time based on your head movements, making it feel as if audio is coming from all around you, especially when you’re listening to content encoded in Dolby Atmos.
