Binaural Panning - How and Why To Use It
Binaural panning is an audio processing technique that simulates how our ears and head interact with acoustic waves, in order to create a more realistic sense of space and directionality.
Unlike normal panning, which simply controls the balance of volume between the left and right channels, binaural panning uses algorithms and filters to mimic the way sound waves interact with our ears and head physically.
I'm a huge fan of binaural audio, and I think it gives you so much more control over the immersion and space of your audio mixes. I've also been developing a custom HRTF binauralisation tool to unlock the full potential of this technology.
In this guide, I'm going to explain what binaural panning is and why you'd want to use it, and show you how you can start applying binaural panning to your audio!
In This Article:
You'll learn exactly what binaural panning is, and when to use it.
I'll show you how you can use binaural panning in mixes to create more immersive audio.
I'll share some of my favorite binaural panner tools, both plugins and standalone solutions.
I'll demonstrate the binaural powers of Audiocube, my custom 3D spatial audio DAW.
What is Binaural Panning?
Binaural panning is an audio production technique that creates a three-dimensional listening experience through headphones.
Instead of hearing sounds arranged on a simple left-to-right axis (as with standard stereo), binaural panning aims to replicate how our ears perceive sound in the real world: from in front, behind, above, below, and everywhere in between.
By leveraging the subtle delays, frequency changes, and volume differences that naturally occur between our two ears (known as interaural time and level differences), binaural panning tricks the brain into sensing immersive 3D audio - even with just two channels.
In essence, binaural panning is about adding depth and space to your sound. When done correctly, binaural stereo can immerse listeners in a sonic environment where they can pinpoint arbitrary sound source positions with remarkable clarity.
Whether used in music production, virtual reality, or gaming, binaural panning adds a layer of realism and immersion that conventional stereo setups can’t replicate.
How Does Binaural Panning Work?
Binaural panning relies on simulating how sound waves interact with the head, ears, and body - often referred to as the head-related transfer function (HRTF). Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:
HRTF Modeling - A binaural plugin or psychoacoustic processor applies filters and delays to mimic how your ears and head shape incoming sound. These filters replicate differences in volume, timing, and frequency response that occur naturally as sound travels around the human head.
Interaural Time Differences (ITD) - Imagine a sound coming from the right side of your head. It reaches your right ear fractionally sooner than your left ear. Binaural panning software reproduces this delay (the time difference) to create a directional cue.
Interaural Level Differences (ILD) - In addition to timing, the volume of the sound hitting each ear is slightly different. When a sound is on the right side, it’s a bit louder in the right ear than in the left. Binaural panning adjusts these level differences accordingly.
Phase and Filtering - Your head and outer ears (pinnae) filter sound differently depending on the angle it approaches from. These filtering effects are replicated digitally to give the brain even more precise location cues - like whether a sound is coming from in front, behind, or above.
When these components work together, your brain can perceive a realistic 3D soundfield through standard headphones. Unlike multi-speaker surround systems, which require specific speaker setups and room acoustics, binaural panning delivers immersive audio with just two channels - an ideal solution for headphone listening. It can also be used for making binaural beats.
Why Use Binaural Panning?
Binaural panning has several uses in audio engineering, and is useful in a range of situations. Whilst you may want to avoid using it on speaker systems, it's perfect for:
Immersive Listening Experiences - Binaural panning creates a sense of depth and space, transporting listeners into the heart of the performance or soundscape. This immersive quality is especially powerful for music production, virtual reality, and gaming, where realism and presence are key.
Enhanced Musical Creativity - Producers can experiment with unconventional placements of instruments or sonic elements, allowing them to craft fresh listening experiences. Want a vocal to sound like it’s hovering above the listener? Binaural panning makes that possible without extra speakers.
Headphone-Centric - With personal listening on the rise, more people are using headphones or earbuds daily. Binaural panning offers a highly optimized way to deliver spacious soundscapes that stand out from typical stereo mixes by modifying signals.
Fewer Hardware Constraints - Traditional surround or “3D” speaker setups can be expensive and space-consuming. Binaural panning, on the other hand, requires only the right software tools (or hardware devices like AudioCube) and a pair of headphones. It’s more accessible and easier to set up, making it an excellent option for indie producers and established studios alike.
These are just some situations where a binaural panner would come in useful.
Try Audiocube’s Binaural Panning Functionality
How To Use Binaural Panning: Step-By-Step
I'm a firm believer in the power of binaural panning - I love the immersive effect it can create, giving more depth, width, and spatiality to audio mixes. A few years ago, I started working on a 3D DAW - Audiocube, and recently I've added an HRTF Binauralization algorithm, which can apply a high-quality binaural effect on your projects for a more realistic spatial tone.
While Audiocube has many other features for sound design and creation, here I'll explain how to use the binaural panning functionality.
Download Audiocube - There is a free version, or you can buy a Lifetime Licence to unlock all the features.
Import Sounds - Add audio files to your library using the import wizard. It can use any .WAV or .MP3
Place Sounds - Drag and drop audio samples into the 3D scene to create audio players. These can then be moved around freely, as can the camera (and listening position).
Activate Binauralization - Set up the acoustic simulation as desired, toggling binauralization, reflection, occlusion, and other audio modeling.
Sequence & Play Sounds - Use the timeline to trigger the playback of sound devices. You can also automate sound's positions over time, to create motion.
Record and Export - When you're happy with your project's scene, use the recorder to capture the output. The created .WAV will be encoded with all the binauralisation and specialization effects, creating highly immersive audio.
As you can see, Audiocube makes it super easy to binauralize audio and work with sound in a virtual 3D space. It unlocks a bunch of new methods for interacting with sound. The above steps just show you one way Audiocube can be used, but it can do a lot more - like sound design, soundscape creation, acoustic simulation, reverb design, and much more. Find the full details on the Audiocube features page.
Other Binaural Panning Tools and Plugins
Logic Pro Binaural Panner
Beyond Audiocube, there are several other powerful tools available for binaural panning that cater to different needs and preferences in audio production. These tools help achieve immersive audio experiences by simulating arbitrary sound source positions and enhancing the spatial quality of your mixes.
Ambeo Orbit: This free plugin by Sennheiser is a go-to for many producers looking to add depth to their tracks. Ambeo Orbit allows precise control over the azimuth and elevation of sound sources, making it easy to create a three-dimensional audio environment. Its intuitive interface and high-quality binaural processing make it a favorite among sound designers and music producers alike.
DearVR Micro: A compact yet powerful plugin, DearVR Micro offers a straightforward way to incorporate binaural panning into your projects. It provides a simple interface to position audio in a 3D space, with adjustable parameters for distance and direction. This tool is particularly useful for those new to binaural audio, providing an accessible entry point into the world of immersive sound.
Logic Pro's Binaural Panner: For users of Apple's Logic Pro, the built-in binaural panner is a versatile tool for creating immersive mixes. It allows precise control over sound source positioning within a virtual 3D space, with options to adjust the angle and distance of each sound using a green dot controller. Logic Pro's binaural panner is built directly into the channel strip, and offers both a planar mode and mono compatibility, with minimal processing power.
Reaper with Ambisonics Toolkit: Reaper, a popular DAW, can be enhanced with the Ambisonics Toolkit to support binaural panning. This combination provides a flexible and cost-effective solution for creating 3D audio. The toolkit includes a range of plugins that enable detailed
Start Binaural Panning With Audiocube!
Now you understand how to use binaural panning in your production, it's time to get stuck in and try it yourself. I've designed Audiocube to be one of the quickest and easiest ways to pan sounds binaurally, and it gives you a huge amount of depth and customization.
Get started for free now - Download Audiocube!
FAQs About Binaural Panning
How to do binaural panning?
To achieve binaural panning, use audio plugins or software that apply head-related transfer function (HRTF) filters. These filters simulate how sound interacts with the head and ears, creating realistic 3D spatial cues. Place or “pan” your audio source within the plugin’s virtual 3D space, adjusting interaural time and level differences for each ear. The result is an immersive, three-dimensional sound experience through standard headphones.
What is the binaural process?
The binaural process reproduces how we naturally hear sound in three dimensions by using two audio channels - one for each ear. It involves simulating subtle cues such as timing, volume, and filtering differences. These cues arise from the shape of our head, ears, and ear canals, allowing the brain to pinpoint where sounds originate in space.
What is the difference between binaural and stereo recording?
Stereo recording splits audio into two channels (left and right) but does not fully replicate three-dimensional depth. Binaural recording or mixing, on the other hand, uses specialized techniques (like HRTF) to mimic how our ears perceive sound in real life. While stereo gives a left-right sound field, binaural adds height and depth, creating a more immersive, 3D listening experience - especially when heard through headphones.
