The results are then applied to the app of your streaming service of choice. Open the app and you can scan both ears using your phone’s camera. With select Sony models you can even use its Headphones Connect app to analyse your ear shape and help optimise the sound field for its new audio format.

It's not exactly crystal clear what separates one pair of compatible headphones from a non-compatible pair, but Sony has been quick to highlight which of its own headphones will work on its official 360 Reality Audio site. Sony claims that 360 Reality Audio can be experienced “using headphones from most manufacturers”. How can you listen to music in Sony 360 Reality Audio?

And there's also 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite plugin software (which is compatible with popular digital audio workstation) that was released at the end of January. Sony is also in talks with major music labels and streaming services about launching video streamed content. At CES 2021, it made two further announcements: it added video streaming capabilities to 360 Reality Audio, and it developed a new content creation software called the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite. Sony’s teamed up with the Fraunhofer IIS (Institute for Integrated circuits) to open the format up for content creators and artists to take advantage of. Different parameters can be altered for various elements, including distances and angles. It supports up to 64 speaker channels and allows audio coding to be done in different ways.Įngineers can map out and place everything including vocals, individual instruments and a live audience in any position inside a 360 spherical space. The format has been built using the open MPEG-H 3D Audio standard, which itself has been optimised for music streaming.

Sony audio studio