Immersive Audio and How to Achieve It


100% of music listeners prefer live music to recorded playback, why? A live performance "immerses" you and frees you up to move around the room, the dance floor and still be immersed. The goal posts have moved away from two speakers to an array of speakers all around as well as above you to reproduce the illusion of a LIVE performance. Why, in 2023, would anyone voluntarily use only two speakers to recreate this illusion of a live performance in a large room?

Even the artists themselves are using immersive audio in concert to WOW their audience, why not do it at home:

https://www.mixonline.com/live-sound/venues/on-the-cover-las-vegas-takes-immersive-live-part-1

 

kota1

@cleeds 

In fact, some of the best recordings available are only minimally processed.

I agree, too bad it isn't the standard though....

https://www.cnet.com/culture/compression-is-killing-your-music/

@donavabdear 

Will the listener be put in the position of a listener in the audience, will the listener be put in the position of hearing direct and acoustic sound that is in the mind of the musician and producer

When they were recording the London Symphony Orchestra they miked it and positioned the objects so the listener was positioned at the conductors stand! 

Listen to how Brian Eno discusses about how he uses his intentions to place the listener in space, about 3:00 mark:

https://youtu.be/VF4Ka3nfvYc

 

@kota1 100% of people don't prefer anything, I don't care if it's chocolate over nuts or sex over being alone, and I certainly don't prefer live music to being in my studio. 
 

your approach is not good for the format that you're trying to be good for, please turn it down like 30% 

 

people like you perpetuate the image that this format is for overly excited idiots who don't understand stereo

 

people like me, are working hard to learn and educate engineers to make better work, so that beating the stereo in headphones and having a great speakers experience is the expected standard

 

we are not there, yet, and your enthusiasm is not helping, it's just getting in the way

 

thank you 

@brianlucey

First, your reply is very welcomed, thanks. Next, I am just a consumer with preferences, like everyone else. Now, you got a dog in the race so if anything, feel free to take this discussion down 30% and I’m happy to engage.

As for 100% this or that, let me state it like this. 100% of the time I can tell the difference between a live orchestra and a recording of an orchestra as well as most people on the planet (maybe not 100% but close). Your point is well taken and I will tone down the usage of absolute anything.

Now, you have the luxury of using a personally curated immersive playback system with actual master tapes that "most" (I avoided the use of 100% of us, I’m learning) will never have access to.

I’m in, what will help pioneers and engineers like you perpetuate a helpful image of immersive audio?

@kota1 

As I'm a music lover first and foremost, what I'm "immersed in" is the music -- melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, emotion -- rather than the sonic presentation. A more true-to-life sonic presentation certainly makes listening more enjoyable, but for me, it's the cherry on top -- not the cupcake.