Sony launches upgraded 360 Reality Audio experience

Source: Sony. Enjoy true-to-life 3D audio in real time.

Sony has evolved its proprietary 360 Spatial Sound technology, enabling real-time distribution of 3D sound and video with 360 Reality Audio, an immersive experience that allows users to enjoy a live performance without being there.

360 Reality Audio now features a real-time encoder that provides both real-time performance and sound quality for artists and sound engineers. A new 360 Reality Audio production tool allows engineers to place sound sources quickly and easily.

Sony has also jointly developed 360 Reality Audio Live with US software company Streamsoft. This app**** allows users to enjoy real-time distribution of 360 Reality Audio content with their own headphones. A live chat function, which allows real-time interaction between artists and viewers, as well as among viewers. 

Sony said it has addressed the speed vs quality challenge for real-time 3D audio. Audio is typically compressed so that the files can be sent to listeners quickly, but compression degrades sound quality and may cause the audio to be out of sync with video. Sony's processing algorithm achieves real-time performance quality at the last mile.

With 360 Reality Audio, artists and music creators map sound sources such as vocals, chorus and instruments with 3D location information. When listeners play back the content, they can then enjoy a music experience with sound delivered from various directions as intended by the content creator.

The first live event that will be distributed in real time with 360 Reality Audio is 40 Dai-Wa-Iroiro♬ by the artist Hikaru Utada**. The online event will be held globally at 9 pm Japan time on January 19, 2023 and will be free for the first 10,000 attendees. Attendees will need the 360 Reality Audio Live app and headphones to participate.