3D audio effect
Encyclopedia
3D audio effects are a group of sound effect
s that attempt to widen the stereo image produced by two loudspeaker
s or stereo headphones, or to create the illusion of sound
sources placed anywhere in 3 dimensional space, including behind, above or below the listener.
There are several types of 3D audio effects:
.
A positive part of the side signal S is now fed into the left channel and a part with its phase inverted to the right channel. Some boombox
es feature such a process.
Another way of looking at this same effect, without extrapolating a center and side signal from the left and right signals, is to simply add the left signal, slightly attenuated
and phase inverted, into the right channel and vice-versa. Taking this a step further, a small delay (20-100ms) can be added to the inverted signal before mixing it back in to the original for output, adding a slight reverberation to the effect.
findings in phase and sound, it is possible to create sounds beyond the stereo basis. Effects from QSound Labs
have been used on albums from Sting and Madonna
in the beginning of the 1990s, as well as in the videogame Super Street Fighter II
. Similarly, the pioneering work of researchers (Sibbald et al.) at EMI Central Research Labs in England in the 1980s, and later with Sensaura
, produced "3D Audio" CDs...
The 3D simulation is the most advanced group of 3D audio effects. Using head-related transfer function
s and reverberation
, 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
s to stereo recordings. MorrowSoundTrue3D converts binaural, stereo, 5.1 and other formats to 8.1 single and multiple zone 3D sound experiences in realtime.
3D Positional Audio effects emerged in the 1990s in PC and Game Consoles. As a medium, interactive games would benefit perhaps more than any other. However, although some technologies do seem to work better than others, 3D sound in games is still quite unconvincing, especially over speakers.
3D audio techniques have also been incorporated in music and video-game style music video arts. The Audioscape research project, provides musicians with a real-time 3D audiovisual content authoring and rendering environment, suitable for live performance applications.
A site with animations and theory of a system using HRTF's to create 3D Audio: ISVR Virtual Acoustics.
True representation of the elevation level for 3D loudspeaker reproduction become possible by the Ambisonics
and Wave field synthesis
Principle, MorrowSound True3D and A&G 3D-EST.
3D-EST is a new approach to 3D soundscape recording and reproduction that does not use HRTF or reverberation.
s have created attractions based around the principles of 3-D audio. One example is Sounds Dangerous! at Disney's Hollywood Studios
at the Walt Disney World Resort
in Florida
. Guests wear special earphones as they watch a short film starring comedian Drew Carey
. 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 are 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.
MorrowSoundTrue3D soundscapes include Torino Winter Olympics, ProFootball Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Children's Museum, NokiaWorld 2008 Barcelona, Denver Museum Nature and Science Gates Planetarium, New York Historical Society, Copenhagen International Theatre, Gallery Rachel Haferkamp Köln, Muu Gallery Helsinki, New Sounds New York, ZHDK Zurich, OKKO Design Stockholm, BAFTA Awards London, Collection of Diana Zlotnick Studio City, CA, as well as Ecsite, AAM, ASTC and IPS conventions. These range from single 8.1 to 64.3 True3D installations, some interactive.
Nick Cave
's new novel The Death of Bunny Munro
was recorded in audiobook format using 3D audio.
The song "Propeller Seeds" by European artist Imogen Heap
was recoded using 3d audio.
Sound effect
For the album by The Jam, see Sound Affects.Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media...
s that attempt to widen the stereo image produced by two loudspeaker
Loudspeaker
A loudspeaker is an electroacoustic transducer that produces sound in response to an electrical audio signal input. Non-electrical loudspeakers were developed as accessories to telephone systems, but electronic amplification by vacuum tube made loudspeakers more generally useful...
s or stereo headphones, or to create the illusion of sound
Sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
sources placed anywhere in 3 dimensional space, including behind, above or below the listener.
There are several types of 3D audio effects:
- Those that only widen the stereo image by modifying phasePhase (waves)Phase in waves is the fraction of a wave cycle which has elapsed relative to an arbitrary point.-Formula:The phase of an oscillation or wave refers to a sinusoidal function such as the following:...
information. - Those that can place sounds outside the stereo basis.
- Those that include a complete 3D simulation.
Stereo widening
Widening of the stereo image can be achieved by manipulating the relationship of the side signal S and the center signal M:.A positive part of the side signal S is now fed into the left channel and a part with its phase inverted to the right channel. Some boombox
Boombox
Boombox is a colloquial expression for a portable cassette or CD player. Other terms known are ghetto blaster, jambox, or radio-cassette. It is a device capable of receiving radio stations and playing recorded music , usually at relatively high volume...
es feature such a process.
Another way of looking at this same effect, without extrapolating a center and side signal from the left and right signals, is to simply add the left signal, slightly attenuated
Attenuation
In physics, attenuation is the gradual loss in intensity of any kind of flux through a medium. For instance, sunlight is attenuated by dark glasses, X-rays are attenuated by lead, and light and sound are attenuated by water.In electrical engineering and telecommunications, attenuation affects the...
and phase inverted, into the right channel and vice-versa. Taking this a step further, a small delay (20-100ms) can be added to the inverted signal before mixing it back in to the original for output, adding a slight reverberation to the effect.
Placement of sounds outside the stereo basis
By manipulating parts of the sound according to psychoacousticPsychoacoustics
Psychoacoustics is the scientific study of sound perception. More specifically, it is the branch of science studying the psychological and physiological responses associated with sound...
findings in phase and sound, it is possible to create sounds beyond the stereo basis. Effects from QSound Labs
QSound Labs
QSound Labs is an audio technology company based in Calgary, Canada. It is primarily a developer and provider of audio enhancement technologies for entertainment and communications devices and software...
have been used on albums from Sting and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
in the beginning of the 1990s, as well as in the videogame Super Street Fighter II
Super Street Fighter II
is a head-to-head fighting game produced by Capcom originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1993. It is the fourth game in the Street Fighter II sub-series of Street Fighter games, following Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting...
. Similarly, the pioneering work of researchers (Sibbald et al.) at EMI Central Research Labs in England in the 1980s, and later with Sensaura
Sensaura
Sensaura, a division of Creative Technology, provides sophisticated 3D audio technology for the interactive entertainment industry.Following its origin as a research project at THORN EMI Central Research Laboratories in 1991, Sensaura evolved to become the leading worldwide supplier of 3D audio...
, produced "3D Audio" CDs...
Complete 3D positional audio
Head-related transfer function
A head-related transfer function is a response that characterizes how an ear receives a sound from a point in space; a pair of HRTFs for two ears can be used to synthesize a binaural sound that seems to come from a particular point in space. Some consumer home entertainment products designed to...
s and reverberation
Reverberation
Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a particular space after the original sound is removed. A reverberation, or reverb, is created when a sound is produced in an enclosed space causing a large number of echoes to build up and then slowly decay as the sound is absorbed by the walls and air...
, 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
Binaural recording is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3-D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the performers or instruments. This effect is often created using a technique known as "Dummy head...
s to stereo recordings. MorrowSoundTrue3D converts binaural, stereo, 5.1 and other formats to 8.1 single and multiple zone 3D sound experiences in realtime.
3D Positional Audio effects emerged in the 1990s in PC and Game Consoles. As a medium, interactive games would benefit perhaps more than any other. However, although some technologies do seem to work better than others, 3D sound in games is still quite unconvincing, especially over speakers.
3D audio techniques have also been incorporated in music and video-game style music video arts. The Audioscape research project, provides musicians with a real-time 3D audiovisual content authoring and rendering environment, suitable for live performance applications.
A site with animations and theory of a system using HRTF's to create 3D Audio: ISVR Virtual Acoustics.
True representation of the elevation level for 3D loudspeaker reproduction become possible by the Ambisonics
Ambisonics
Ambisonics is a series of recording and replay techniques using multichannel mixing technology that can be used live or in the studio. By encoding and decoding sound information on a number of channels, a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional sound field can be presented...
and Wave field synthesis
Wave field synthesis
Wave field synthesis is a spatial audio rendering technique, characterized by creation of virtual acoustic environments. It produces "artificial" wave fronts synthesized by a large number of individually driven speakers. Such wave fronts seem to originate from a virtual starting point, the virtual...
Principle, MorrowSound True3D and A&G 3D-EST.
3D-EST is a new approach to 3D soundscape recording and reproduction that does not use HRTF or reverberation.
Some products
- imm Sound provides 3D immersive audio for cinemas with layouts from 23.1 to 200+ channels placed all around the audience, including at the ceiling.
- A&G Soluzioni Digitali markets the X-spat boX processor, a tool for complete 3D real time positional audio based on a patent pending algorithm.
- Arnis Sound Technologies markets SoundLocus a 3D sound authoring tool that enables you to three dimensionally localize, manipulate and edit in real time the perceived source of a sound using an analogue joystick such as the PS2 gamepad or Wii Remote.
- BehringerBehringerBehringer is an audio equipment company founded by Uli Behringer in 1989, in Willich, Germany. Behringer was listed as the 14th largest manufacturer of music products in 2007. Behringer is a multi-national group of companies, with direct marketing presence in 10 countries or territories and a...
markets the Edison EX1 processor, a tool for widening the stereo image. - Clunk is free real-time binaural sound generation library.
- Duy produces the DUY Wide software plug-ins, a stereo enhancer effect, allowing you to place the sound outside physically possible positions according to the placement of your monitors. Available for TDM, RTAS, VST, MAS and AU.
- GenAudio http://www.genaudioinc.com markets a 3D sound source placement technology, which does in fact count time as the 4th dimension even though sound can not exist out side of this dimension and so all '3D' audio effect could be considered as 4D.
- Holistiks http://www.holistiks.com/amphiotik/index.php markets the AMPHIOTIK range of Virtual Auditory Environment processing software.
- EMERSYS http://www.emersys.co.kr/eng/index.html market several versions of their 3D rendering software, including Maven3D professional.http://www.maven3d.com/en/show_the_product.asp
- MorrowSoundTrue3D http://www.cmorrow.com/cmp/soundcube_main.html markets Sound Cube playback software and interface for single to multiple 8.1 zones.
- Longcat Audio Technologies produces AudioStage, a 3D object-based audio authoring and mixing software, and H3D, a binaural 3D audio plugin (VSTVirtual Studio TechnologySteinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
, RTASReal Time AudioSuiteReal-Time AudioSuite is a format of audio plug-in developed by Digidesign, currently Avid Technology for their Pro Tools LE, and Pro Tools M-Powered systems, although they can be run on Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools TDM systems. RTAS plug-ins use the processing power of the host computer rather than...
and AU). - ProsoniqProsoniqShort for "Prosoniq Products Software", developer and license provider for tools in the audio and music industry, mostly known for their sonicWORX, OrangeVocoder, TimeFactory and the Hartmann Neuron synthesizer products.-Description:...
markets the Ambisone VSTVirtual Studio TechnologySteinberg's Virtual Studio Technology is an interface for integrating software audio synthesizer and effect plugins with audio editors and hard-disk recording systems. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional recording studio hardware with software...
plugin. - QSound LabsQSound LabsQSound Labs is an audio technology company based in Calgary, Canada. It is primarily a developer and provider of audio enhancement technologies for entertainment and communications devices and software...
markets QTools/AX, a product that lets the user place sounds outside the stereo basis. - Roland corporationRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
marketed the RSS-10 that cost over 500 DM in 1995. It currently markets the RSS-303. - SensauraSensauraSensaura, a division of Creative Technology, provides sophisticated 3D audio technology for the interactive entertainment industry.Following its origin as a research project at THORN EMI Central Research Laboratories in 1991, Sensaura evolved to become the leading worldwide supplier of 3D audio...
http://www.sensaura.com, technology had been widely used on sound cards and by games to interactively position sounds in 3D. - Sonaptic www.sonaptic.com specialise in Hi-Fi 3D Audio for mobile devices such as cellphones and mobile games consoles.
- sonic emotion markets a 3D audio chip. The technology used is named "sonic emotion 3D sound" and allows for proper sound field rendering of stereo and surround sound in soundbars, docking stations, etc.
- SRS LabsSRS LabsSRS Labs, Inc. , is a Santa Ana, California-based audio technology engineering company that specializes in audio enhancement solutions for wide variety of consumer electronic devices. Originally a part of Hughes Aircraft Company, the audio division developed the Sound Retrieval System technology,...
markets both professional products and the WOW Thing, a stereo image enhancer with a built-in exciterExciter (effect)An Exciter is an audio signal processing technique used to enhance a signal by dynamic equalization, phase manipulation, harmonic synthesis of high frequency signals, and through the addition of subtle harmonic distortion...
and a bass processor. - VRSonic markets VibeStudio Designer, a spatial audio design suite for audio post production, immersive theater and training simulation.
- Waves Ltd markets the S1 Stereo Imager, also for widening the stereo image.
- Yamaha Corporation markets the YMU786 (MA-7), an audio chip for mobile phones which installs a 3D simulator.
- ArkamysArkamysArkamys is a French-based company specialising in digital signal processing. Its audio processing solutions are applied in the sectors of Consumer Electronics and Car audio....
has begun a project aiming to create personalized 3D audio content for mobile devices such as mobile phones and mp3 players.
3-D audio presentations
Some amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
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
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
at the Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Guests wear special earphones as they watch a short film starring comedian Drew Carey
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey is an American actor, singer, comedian, photographer, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as...
. 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 are 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.
MorrowSoundTrue3D soundscapes include Torino Winter Olympics, ProFootball Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Children's Museum, NokiaWorld 2008 Barcelona, Denver Museum Nature and Science Gates Planetarium, New York Historical Society, Copenhagen International Theatre, Gallery Rachel Haferkamp Köln, Muu Gallery Helsinki, New Sounds New York, ZHDK Zurich, OKKO Design Stockholm, BAFTA Awards London, Collection of Diana Zlotnick Studio City, CA, as well as Ecsite, AAM, ASTC and IPS conventions. These range from single 8.1 to 64.3 True3D installations, some interactive.
Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
's new novel The Death of Bunny Munro
The Death of Bunny Munro
The Death of Bunny Munro is the second novel written by Nick Cave, best known as the lead singer of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His first novel, And the Ass Saw the Angel, was published in 1989....
was recorded in audiobook format using 3D audio.
The song "Propeller Seeds" by European artist Imogen Heap
Imogen Heap
Imogen Jennifer Jane Heap is a Grammy Award-winning English singer, composer and songwriter from Havering, Essex. She is known for her work as part of the musical duo Frou Frou and her solo albums, which she writes, produces, and mixes...
was recoded using 3d audio.
See also
- AmbiophonicsAmbiophonicsAmbiophonics is a method in the public domain that employs digital signal processing and two loudspeakers directly in front of the listener in order to improve reproduction of stereophonic and 5.1 surround sound for music, movies, and games in home theaters, gaming PCs, workstations, or studio...
- AmbisonicsAmbisonicsAmbisonics is a series of recording and replay techniques using multichannel mixing technology that can be used live or in the studio. By encoding and decoding sound information on a number of channels, a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional sound field can be presented...
- Binaural recordingBinaural recordingBinaural recording is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3-D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the performers or instruments. This effect is often created using a technique known as "Dummy head...
- CrossfeedCrossfeedCrossfeed is the process of blending the left and right channels of a stereo audio recording. It is generally used to reduce the extreme channel separation often featured in early stereo recordings , or to make audio played through headphones sound more natural, as when listening to a pair of...
- Dummy head recordingDummy head recordingIn acoustics, dummy head recording is a method used to make binaural recordings, that allow a listener wearing headphones to perceive the directionality and the room acoustics of single or multiple sources.Human perception of the direction of a sound source is complex, and consists of:#Simple...
- Software API for computers Operating systems : MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's DirectSound3D and XAudio, OpenALOpenALOpenAL is a cross-platform audio API. It is designed for efficient rendering of multichannel three dimensional positional audio. Its API style and conventions deliberately resemble those of OpenGL.- History :... - Surround soundSurround soundSurround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
- Wave field synthesisWave field synthesisWave field synthesis is a spatial audio rendering technique, characterized by creation of virtual acoustic environments. It produces "artificial" wave fronts synthesized by a large number of individually driven speakers. Such wave fronts seem to originate from a virtual starting point, the virtual...
External links
- Example of 3D sound played back in normal stereo headphones. Requires the Adobe Flash PlayerAdobe Flash PlayerThe Adobe Flash Player is software for viewing multimedia, Rich Internet Applications and streaming video and audio, on a computer web browser or on supported mobile devices. Flash Player runs SWF files that can be created by the Adobe Flash authoring tool, by Adobe Flex or by a number of other...
- Through My Ears - Binaural audio blog
- Listen With Your Own Ears - 3D audio demos
- 3D sound - 3D audio good quality
- 3D Audio and Applied Acoustics Lab - at Princeton University
- Binaural recording studio - Kall Binaural Audio, a mobile binaural recording service
- 3D Sound and music tracks