Spatial Audio: iOS 15 will bring head tracking sound to non-Dolby Atmos content
The feature is called Spatialize Stereo
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A new way forAirPods ProandAirPods Maxusers to experienceSpatial Audiohas been discovered within theiOS 15 beta– without the need forDolby Atmoscontent.
Called ‘Spatialize Stereo’ the new feature will also work withmacOS Monterey. According to9to5Mac, that means devices running theseoperating systemswill be able to simulate Spatial Audio for non-Dolby content, detecting the movement of your head when you’re wearing AirPods to change the direction of the sound.
That means you should be able to play any song fromSpotify, for example, and experience it in Spatial Audio, despite the streaming service not supporting the format.
The same goes for non-Dolby Atmos movie soundtracks, which means you’ll just need a pair ofAirPods Pro/AirPods Maxand a compatible device to create an immersive home cinema setup.
While you won’t get a true Dolby Atmos 3D audio experience, Spatialize Stereo should at least give the impression of sound coming at you from different angles, making your movies, shows, and music feel more engaging.
Previously, Spatial Audio support was limited to Dolby Atmos movies, so while you could use it with some titles fromApple TV Plus,Disney Plus,HBO Max, and more, many were incompatible.
You’ll need the beta version ofiOS 15oriPadOS 15to try Spatialize Stereo, which is currently available for developers, with a public beta expected to launch in July.
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If you do have a compatible device running these operating systems, you can connect your AirPods Pro or Max and begin playing any content. Then, head to the Control Center and hold down the volume slider – according to 9to5Mac, this will bring up the option to enable Spatialize Stereo.
Analysis: Where was the announcement?
Apple’s Spatial Audio takes 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos content and applies directional audio filters, placing sound in a 3D sphere.
What’s unique to Spatial Audio though, is that it uses the built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes inside Apple’s earbuds and headphones to track the position of your head, as well as the position of your iPhone or iPad.
Why Spatialize Stereo wasn’t announced atWWDC 2021is a bit of a mystery – after all, it’s a feature that could bring Apple’s immersive audio technology to a wider audience.
It’s not as though Apple didn’t showcase Spatial Audio at the annual developer’s conference, announcing that it will extend Spatial Audio support to tvOS and MacOS for AirPods Max and AirPods Pro owners.
Previously, Apple announced that it would be bringing Spatial and Lossless Audio toApple Musicsubscribersat no extra cost, in a move that has shaken up the music streaming industry, with most competitors offeringhi-res audioand 3D audio formats at a premium.
It may be that the feature never makes it to the public – it’s not unheard of for Apple to ditch aspects of the developer beta versions of its operating systems before they’re officially launched.
We’re hoping that’s not the case, though, as Spatialize Stereo could be a game changer for cinephiles and audiophiles alike.
Olivia was previously TechRadar’s Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she’s a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She’s previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.
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