3D audio effects are a group of
sound effect
A sound effect (or audio effect) is an artificially created or enhanced sound, or sound process used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media.
In m ...
s that manipulate the sound produced by
stereo
Stereophonic sound, commonly shortened to stereo, is a method of sound reproduction that recreates a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective. This is usually achieved by using two independent audio channels through a configurat ...
speakers,
surround-sound speakers, speaker-arrays, or
headphones
Headphones are a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head over a user's ears. They are electroacoustic transducers, which convert an electrical signal to a corresponding sound. Headphones let a single user listen to an ...
. This frequently involves the virtual placement of sound sources anywhere in three-dimensional space, including behind, above or below the listener.
3-D audio (processing) is the spatial domain convolution of sound waves using head-related transfer functions. It is the phenomenon of transforming sound waves (using
head-related transfer function
A head-related transfer function (HRTF) is a response that characterizes how an ear receives a sound from a point in space. As sound strikes the listener, the size and shape of the head, ears, ear canal, density of the head, size and shape of n ...
or HRTF filters and cross talk cancellation techniques) to mimic natural sounds waves, which emanate from a point in a 3-D space. It allows trickery of the brain using the ears and auditory nerves, pretending to place different sounds in different 3-D locations upon hearing the sounds, even though the sounds may just be produced from only two speakers (dissimilar to
surround sound
Surround sound is a technique for enriching the fidelity and depth of sound reproduction by using multiple audio channels from speakers that surround the listener ( surround channels). Its first application was in movie theaters. Prior to ...
).
Complete 3D positional audio
Using
head-related transfer function
A head-related transfer function (HRTF) is a response that characterizes how an ear receives a sound from a point in space. As sound strikes the listener, the size and shape of the head, ears, ear canal, density of the head, size and shape of n ...
s and
reverberation
In acoustics, reverberation (commonly shortened to reverb) is a persistence of sound after it is produced. It is often created when a sound is reflection (physics), reflected on surfaces, causing multiple reflections that build up and then de ...
, the changes of sound on its way from the source (including reflections from walls and floors) to the listener's ear can be simulated. These effects include localization of sound sources behind, above and below the listener.
Some 3D technologies also convert
binaural recording
Binaural recording is a method of Sound recording and reproduction, recording Sound recording, sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a Three-dimensional space, 3D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actuall ...
s to stereo recordings.
3D Positional Audio effects emerged in the 1990s in PC and video game consoles. 3D audio techniques have also been incorporated in music and video-game style music video arts.
True representation of the elevation level for 3D loudspeaker reproduction become possible by the
Ambisonics
Ambisonics is a ''full-sphere'' surround sound format: in addition to the horizontal plane, it covers sound sources above and below the listener.
Unlike some other multichannel surround formats, its transmission channels do not carry speaker ...
and
wave field synthesis
Wave field synthesis (WFS) is a spatial audio rendering technique, characterized by creation of virtual acoustic environments. It produces ''artificial'' wavefronts synthesized by a large number of individually driven loudspeakers from elemen ...
(WFS) principle.
3-D audio presentations
Some
amusement park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
s have created attractions based around the principles of 3-D audio. One example is ''Sounds Dangerous!'' at
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. Based on a concept by Marty Sklar, Randy Br ...
at the
Walt Disney World Resort
The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Walt Disney Company. ...
in
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
. Guests wear special earphones as they watch a short film starring comedian
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian, actor and game show host. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey gained stardom in his own Situa ...
. At a point in the film, the screen goes dark while a 3-D audio sound-track immerses the guests in the ongoing story. To ensure that the effect is heard properly, the earphone covers are color-coded to indicate how they should be worn. This is not a generated effect but a
binaural recording
Binaural recording is a method of Sound recording and reproduction, recording Sound recording, sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a Three-dimensional space, 3D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actuall ...
.
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...
's novel ''
The Death of Bunny Munro'' was recorded in audiobook format using 3D audio.
The song "Propeller Seeds" by English artist
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap ( ; born 9 December 1977) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. She is considered a pioneer in pop music, particularly electropop, and in music technology.
While attending the ...
was recorded using 3D audio.
There have been developments in using 3D audio for DJ performances including the world's first
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. It expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels as well as free-moving sound objects, interpreted as three-dimensional objects with neither horiz ...
event on 23 January 2016 held at
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publisher (popular music), music publishing busin ...
, London. The event was a showcase of a 3D audio
DJ set
A DJ mix or DJ mixset is a sequence of musical tracks typically mixed together by a DJ to appear as one continuous track. DJ mixes are usually performed using a DJ mixer and multiple sounds sources, such as turntables, CD players, digital audio ...
performed by
Hospital Records
Hospital Records is a British independent record label based in South London. Primarily releasing drum and bass, the label was started in 1996 by Tony Colman ( London Elektricity) and Chris Goss and has grown in recent years to become one of t ...
owner Tony Colman aka
London Elektricity
Tony Colman (born 28 April 1961), better known by his stage name London Elektricity, is an English electronic musician and co-founded Hospital Records.
History
The first incarnation of London Elektricity was the duo Tony Colman and Chris Goss. ...
.
Other investigations included the Jago 3D Sound project which is looking at using
Ambisonics
Ambisonics is a ''full-sphere'' surround sound format: in addition to the horizontal plane, it covers sound sources above and below the listener.
Unlike some other multichannel surround formats, its transmission channels do not carry speaker ...
combined with STEM music containers created and released by Native Instruments in 2015 for 3D nightclub sets.
Fighter jet aircraft
In November 2024 it was announced that the
US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
had awarded a $9 million contract to
Danish defense company
Terma A/S
Terma A/S is a Danish defense and aerospace manufacturer for both civilian and military applications, and is owned by the Danish company Thrige Holding A/S. It is Denmark's largest company within the aerospace and the defense industry, employing ...
, to supply its 3-D audio system for the
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superio ...
aircraft, with a program of upgrades over the next two years. The system will provide high-fidelity digital audio by spatially separating radio signals, aligning audio with threat directions, and integrating
active noise reduction
Active noise control (ANC), also known as noise cancellation (NC), or active noise reduction (ANR), is a method for reducing unwanted sound by the addition of a second sound specifically designed to cancel the first. The concept was first deve ...
.
[https://interestingengineering.com/military/f16-gets-3d-audio-system]
See also
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* – Technology to capture and reproduce 360-degree sound
References
External links
The 3D Audio and Applied Acoustics (3D3A) Laboratory at Princeton University
{{DEFAULTSORT:3d Audio Effect
Audio effects
Auditory illusions