By CEDIA - Thu, Dec 19, 2024 - Blog
As smart home technology advances, we’re moving beyond the realms of sight and sound. Today, home entertainment integrates all the senses, allowing us to feel as though we’re part of the media.
These immersive experiences cross over into sound systems, and 4D sound offers an interactive spatial audio setup. This means that sounds can move with us in three-dimensional space, going beyond fixed channels or speakers.
Our podcast on the 4D sound experience explores these ideas further, and how we can get the best from this new sound design.
A 4D sound system uses multi-dimensional speaker setups to create an immersive sound environment. As opposed to traditional surround sound or loudspeakers, these omnidirectional speakers let noises move around with listeners in real time.
Poul Holleman, Co-Founder and Director at 4DSound, discusses this further. “4D sound isn’t just about hearing audio from different angles. It’s about creating an environment where sound can move freely, engaging the audience in a way that feels natural.”
This transforms the listening experience. New dimensions make sounds feel as though they are hovering or spinning around the listener. In some cases, they may even move with the listener in real time. A spatial sound experience immerses listeners within the setting from which the sound is produced – for example, they may feel like they’re part of a live performance.
Brands such as Dolby Atmos offer this superior acoustic technology. It works using a 3D sound speaker grid setup, linked to software that controls playback and placement of the sound. It’s ideal for artists and audio engineers, who can position electronic sounds wherever they like to let them move fluidly throughout the listening space.
Speaking on the podcast, Peter Aylett, Partner at Officina Acustica, describes the technology as “simple in concept and revolutionary in execution”. He adds: “The speaker matrix and software enable us to break boundaries, positioning sounds where they’ve never been before.”
We have seen 4D sound heightening live music performances and art installations. Just ask musician Max Cooper, an electronic music artist who combines sight and sound as part of exhibitions around the world. Performing in locations like UNESCO World Heritage Site the Acropolis Complex, Max uses 4D sound to overcome acoustic issues and surround listeners in sound.
Holleman adds on the podcast: “For artists, 4D sound opens up a new realm of expression. It’s not just background sounds, but an active part of the performance – almost like a character itself.”
“The emotional impact is profound,” adds Aylett, speaking on the podcast. “It’s not just hearing but feeling the sound in a spatial sense, which allows for a deeper connection.”
Just as a wall-to-ceiling home cinema screen can make viewers feel like they’re part of the scene, 4D sound envelops listeners. These innovative sensory formats are set to revolutionize the way we experience entertainment, and they’re becoming more accessible by the day.
They can be paired with anything from electronic synthesizers to a simple sound studio playing Spotify. Using compatible technology such as IOS or Android, professional integrators can install this tech and empower homeowners to take control of their media. A CEDIA membership can offer guidance and tutorials on this new technology, giving you competitive advantage when speaking to customers.
While sound is a starting point, Holleman adds that we are just scratching the surface of what 4D can do. “Imagine the possibilities in virtual reality or gaming – this is the future.” In the years to come, we should expect to see more immersive sound environments in VR, gaming and theater. It may also improve accessibility for those with sensory processing disorders.
If you want to learn more about how 4D sound is set to change the world, become a CEDIA member today.