Sony’s 360 Reality Audio services and product offerings have been expanded to add new video streaming capabilities and content creation tools.
The music format, which was first introduced in 2019, allows artists and creators to produce music by mapping sound sources such as vocals, chorus and instruments with positional information and placing them within a spherical space. This musical experience, powered by Sony’s spatial sound technologies, helps people to feel like they are in a music studio or live concert venue without having to leave home.
Around 4,000 songs are currently accessible to users in 360 Reality Audio.
Adding to its capabilities, Sony has introduced live performance video content with immersive 360 Reality Audio sound.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, many of us around the world are not allowed to leave our homes and events such as live music has been cancelled for almost a year now. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio gives users the opportunity to enjoy a lifelike music experience from the safety and comfort of their own home, while giving listeners the impression that they are in a live concert setting.
Sony, major music labels and service providers are working together to begin streaming this new video content later this year.
Expanding the format even more, Sony and Virtual Sonics, Inc. have developed a new content creation software called the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite to make it easier for musicians and creators to make 360 Reality Audio content.
The 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite plugin software is compatible with popular digital audio workstation (DAW). Virtual Sonics, Inc. will release the software at the end of January through its subsidiary Audio Futures Inc.
A Creator’s Program is also being launched from Sony and Music.com, with distribution by The Orchard, which gives creators the ability to produce 360 Reality Audio content using the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite and then stream the content.
Compatible speakers will also be made available this spring. SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 are Wi-Fi-enabled speakers that can create and immersive 360 Reality Audio sound experience by utilising Sony’s unique Immersive Audio Enhancement algorithm. Users will be able to control the speakers using Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa devices.
Images credit: Sony