Ambisonics is back

[-dsr-]

Google is announcing a toolkit for virtual reality audio. It uses
Ambisonic modeling.

https://www.blog.google/products/google-vr/resonance-audio-multi-platform-spatial-audio-scale/

from the developer intro: "Resonance Audio internally projects all sound
sources into a global high-order Ambisonic soundfield",

There are other references, including an Ambisonic recording system.

-dsr-

[Peter Wieck]

It would seem to me that as soon as systems reach a certain level of comple=
xity, they also reach the point of diminishing returns - or wildly increasi=
ng cost.=20

It is my general contention that listening to music, once upon a time, was =
for other than the musician, almost inevitably a social event. I came to th=
at conclusion far back in time upon attending my first 'real' concert in Av=
ery Fisher Hall during its shakedown. My 6th grade music teacher had a rela=
tionship with the acoustic engineering firm that was "tuning" the hall befo=
re its first public debut - and we were privileged to sit in while the NY P=
hilharmonic was rehearsing for that opening.=20

Cutting to the chase, about any decent two-channel audio system may be conf=
igured for a fairly wide sound-stage and open "sweet spot" such that more t=
han one person may enjoy the experience. As each level of complexity is add=
ed (digital delay, Hafler Circuit, Surround-Sound) the listening area becom=
es more and more restricted. If what (superficial) reading I have done on A=
mbisonics is at all accurate, a sphere of sound is created - which would se=
em to be very restrictive indeed.=20

There is, indeed, a great deal of ego tied up in some systems - my neighbor=
has his set up such that his head may not vary by more than a couple of in=
ches in any direction (in his opinion) while listening. WOW! So, perhaps an=
Ambisonics system may be in his future?

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA=20

[DanielPad]

Google is announcing a toolkit for Best Penis Extenders benefits (https://www.villagevoice.com/2021/09/21/best-penis-extenders/) and virtual reality audio. It uses
Ambisonic modeling.

https://www.blog.google/products/google-vr/resonance-audio-multi-platform-spatial-audio-scale/

from the developer intro: "Resonance Audio internally projects all sound
sources into a global high-order Ambisonic soundfield",

There are other references, including an Ambisonic recording system.

-dsr-

That's pretty interesting. It's not for me, but I can see why some people would go for it. Thanks for sharing.