What is spatial audio? Apple’s 3D sound feature fully explained

9 min readJun 20, 2021

At WWDC 2021, Apple authoritatively added support for spatial sound with Dolby Atmos for Apple Music. In any case, what precisely is spatial sound?

How could it be not quite the same as (or equivalent to) Dolby Atmos? What’s more, what sort of sound gear do you have to pay attention to it?

There’s a ton of ground to cover, and some of it’s anything but somewhat specialized, however, we will separate everything in straightforward terms. You’ll be a spatial sound master in minutes, and you’ll know precisely how to get to this developing pattern in film and music streaming.

What exactly is spatial audio?

As a nonexclusive term, “spatial sound” alludes to sound that has been designed to have a 3D quality to it. That implies it’s anything but a more grounded feeling of profundity, width, and even tallness when contrasted with a conventional sound system. Apple didn’t create spatial sound, yet it has fostered its own sound innovation to exploit it on its gadgets and administrations.

A few arrangements live under the spatial sound umbrella. You may have known about Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. These are the two instances of spatial sound organizations. However, to hear these new configurations, it’s anything but enough to approach films or music tracks that were recorded utilizing them. You need the right equipment and programming, as well.

So when Apple alludes to spatial sound on gadgets like the iPhone or iPad, it’s an expression that it has incorporated the vital programming into these gadgets to allow you to hear spatial sound organizations, as long as you have the right earphones or speakers (more on these necessities in a second).

Spatial sound truly got its huge presentation when Dolby Labs acquainted Dolby Atmos with cinemas. Atmos lets singular sounds (a helicopter flying by, for instance) move freely between speakers put before, alongside, behind, or more the audience, which makes that alleged 3D impact of being submerged in solid. Dolby Atmos in the end moved into individuals’ home theaters by means of viable soundbars and A/V collectors, then, at that point into music with Dolby Atmos music. Today, you’ll see it in motion pictures, TV shows, music, and even club settings with live DJs.

Be that as it may, Apple has gone above and beyond: as well as adding the required programming to empower spatial sound, Apple has incorporated whirligigs and accelerometers into its AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. At the point when these earphones are associated with an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV 4K, they can accurately arrange film and TV sound so when you dismiss your head from the screen you’re watching, the sound actually gives off an impression of being coming from that screen’s area. Ordinarily, you’d hear no distinction by any stretch of the imagination.

This spatial sound stunt is (for the present) an Apple elite — it just chips away at the Apple earphones we referenced, and just on select motion pictures and shows playing on explicit Apple gadgets.

Why is everyone saying “spatial audio with Dolby Atmos support”?

As we examined above, spatial sound isn’t a sound configuration essentially; it’s an innovation that empowers sound organizations. For the introduction of spatial sound in Apple Music, Apple collaborated with Dolby Labs to carry Dolby Atmos Music to its streaming stage.

Dolby Atmos is a sound configuration, and for the occasion, it’s the lone spatial sound arrangement on Apple Music. However, in principle, there could be others. Sony 360 Reality Audio (360 RA) is another spatial sound organization, as is DTS:X. You’ll discover 360 RA tracks on administrations like Tidal and Amazon Music HD, which likewise support Dolby Atmos Music.

Saying “spatial sound with Dolby Atmos support” is Apple’s method of demonstrating that the explanation you presently will hear what Dolby Atmos Music seems like on Apple Music is that Apple has empowered this new organization, and it utilized its spatial sound innovation to do as such.

Is there a difference between spatial audio for music and video content?

Indeed, however, it very well may be an unobtrusive contrast. At the point when spatial sound is utilized for video content, similar to a film soundtrack, the expectation is to maneuver you into the activity by permitting the on-screen seems (like the celebrated helicopter model from before) to move around in space such that coordinates with what’s going on in the video. Vehicle pursues, firearm fights — they all wake up.

Right now, Apple possibly upholds spatial sound for video when you’re utilizing the AirPods Pro or AirPods Max related to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV 4K running the most recent programming. And still, after all that, it just works with select films from select real-time features.

Music is an alternate monster. At the point when spatial sound is applied to music, performers and their makers can utilize a similar 3D quality to put instruments and vocals around the audience. More often than not, this is done to make a feeling of room and profundity, which can recreate being in a studio or in front of an audience with the artists. Now and then, it’s utilized to make movielike moving sounds, however, this can be very diverting.

Apple offers wide-going help for spatial sound with music. However long you have an Apple Music membership, you’ll have the option to hear spatial sound music on select tracks when utilizing a bunch of remote or wired earphones. They don’t need to be made by Apple, yet you may need to turn the element on physically in case you’re not utilizing one of the AirPods or Beats group of remote earphones.

The main organization for spatial sound for both music and video is Dolby Atmos.

What do I need to hear spatial audio?

You can experience spatial audio via Dolby Atmos- or DTS: X-equipped soundbars. or A/V receivers both with and without Apple products, but for now, we’ll focus just on Apple’s spatial audio ecosystem.

Apple AirPods Pro or AirPods Max
A supported Apple playback device:
iPhone 7 or later
Apple TV 4K (fall 2021)
iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation and later)
iPad Pro 11‑inch
iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
iPad (6th generation and later)
iPad mini (5th generation)
iOS, tvOS, or iPadOS 14 or later
Audiovisual content from a supported app (at the moment, this is limited to titles from Apple TV+)

Active Apple Music subscription and the Apple Music app for iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, or MacOS
Any iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 14.6:
Via built-in speakers on an iPhone XR or later (except iPhone SE), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later), iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad (6th generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation or later), or iPad Mini (5th generation)
Or, any set of wireless or wired headphones or earbuds
Any Mac running MacOS 11.4:
Via built-in speakers on a MacBook Pro (2018 model or later), MacBook Air (2018 model or later), or iMac (2020 model or later)
Or any set of wireless or wired headphones or earbuds
Any Apple TV 4K running tvOS 14.6:
Via one or more wirelessly connected HomePod speakers
Via a connected Dolby Atmos-capable soundbar, TV, or A/V receiver
Or via a Bluetooth-connected pair of:
AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max
BeatsX, Beats Solo3 Wireless, Beats Studio3, Powerbeats3 Wireless, Beats Flex, Powerbeats Pro, or Beats Solo Pro

What about Android?

Android clients who buy into Apple Music are getting the short finish of the spatial sound stick, at any rate for the occasion. They can get to all of Apple Music’s lossless sound, yet the Dolby Atmos inventory stays far off. Apple says it’s coming “later,” however meanwhile, the entirety of the playlists that feature Dolby Atmos will play in the customary sound system.

It’s obscure when or if Apple will add spatial sound for the Apple TV application on Android.

Where is spatial audio available?

Apple is carrying out spatial sound help on some of its gadgets and administrations.

For video: iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV 4K, with Apple TV+ as the at first upheld administration.

For music: iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV 4K when running the Apple Music application.

For FaceTime: Apple has added spatial sound to a bunch of FaceTime approaches iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which allows you to hear members like their voices were coming from the various spots on the screen.

Didn’t spatial audio already come out for the AirPods Pro and Max?

Spatial sound was reported for these gadgets as a component of Apple flaunting the head-following capacity and comparative highlights. The large June 2021 declaration was tied in with carrying spatial sound to Apple Music and gathering FaceTime calls.

Is this related to lossless audio?

No, in spite of the fact that Apple is additionally carrying lossless sound to its whole Apple Music index, with additional in transit all through 2021. Lossless sound gives you more detail, as far as possible up to 24-bit/192kHz, however not at all like Dolby Atmos through spatial sound, you’ll need explicit stuff to exploit it. Here’s our full Apple Music lossless sound explainer.

Originally published at https://www.globebusinesscenter.com on June 20, 2021.