what is spatial audio

Spatial audio is a technology that enhances the auditory experience by simulating how sound behaves in the real world. It allows audio to be perceived as coming from specific directions and distances, creating a more immersive and realistic sound environment. Here are some key aspects of spatial audio as discussed in various WWDC sessions:

1. Six Degrees of Freedom: Spatial audio updates its level and tonality as either the listener or the audio source moves or rotates, providing a dynamic auditory experience (Enhance your spatial computing app with RealityKit audio).

2. Distance Attenuation: The volume of the audio decreases naturally as the source moves away from the listener, mimicking real-world sound behavior (Enhance your spatial computing app with RealityKit audio).

3. Reverb and Environment Simulation: Spatial audio can simulate reverb based on the listener's real surroundings, adding another layer of realism (Enhance your spatial computing app with RealityKit audio).

4. Directional Characteristics: You can set the directional characteristics of the audio source, such as making the sound quieter and darker at the rear than at the front (Enhance your spatial computing app with RealityKit audio).

5. Immersive Experiences: Spatial audio is used to create immersive experiences in applications, such as bringing a world to life with background ambience and directional cues (Design interactive experiences for visionOS).

6. Customizable Distance Attenuation: Developers can customize how quickly sound attenuates with distance, allowing for creative control over the auditory experience (Enhance your spatial computing app with RealityKit audio).

For more detailed information, you can refer to the following sessions:

• Enhance your spatial computing app with RealityKit audio
• Design interactive experiences for visionOS
• Build compelling spatial photo and video experiences