The world of audio is evolving. In many ways, audio recording and presentation have been growing for centuries, as audio recordings were among the earliest forms of recorded media ever captured.
Yet, while film and video have seen the most significant advancements in technology over the past few decades, audio has reached a stagnation point in terms of how it can be recorded and listened to.
That’s not entirely true, though. Despite the limitations of many computers, smartphones, and speakers, which typically have only the usual built-in speaker units, there are some new and exciting ways in which audio is being recorded and presented.
And while, for many cases, it still might make sense for most creators and brands to focus on crafting their audio for the most common consumption models, it’s essential to stay up-to-date on how audio technology is evolving.
Let’s take a look at ambisonic audio and explore how this full-sphere sound can possibly be used in your videos and projects.
What is ambisonic audio?
If you aren’t familiar with ambisonic audio and the term “ambisonics” in general, here’s a quick definition. Ambisonic audio is a full-sphere surround sound audio format that captures the complete spatial information of a sound field.
Ambisonic audio includes spatial sound information, such as height, and can be decoded into various speaker arrays with greater sophistication and complexity. Unlike traditional stereo or surround sound arrangements, ambisonic audio is not limited to a specific speaker configuration and can be easily adapted for different playback systems.
Ambisonic audio is gaining popularity as a format for virtual reality technologies, as it is utilized in VR media, video games, and other 3D installations, as well as 360-degree videos.
What is 8D audio?
Similar to ambisonic audio is 8D audio. While similar in that both aim to create an immersive listening experience, both of these formats work through different methods. 8D audio employs a technique that manipulates stereo audio to create the illusion of sound moving around a listener’s head, often utilizing special audio effects such as echo and panning.
Ambisonic audio is a unique spatial audio technique that captures a complete 3D sound field, allowing for playback on various speaker setups or with specific headphone systems.
While different, both are popular formats for a specific type of content, which we’ll explore below.
The best audio formats for ASMR
Both ambisonic sound and 8D effects are ideal for videos using ASMR audio, helping creators add spatial dimension and realism to their content. We’ve covered tips and tricks for creating ASMR videos and projects in the past, but if you haven’t explored these audio formats, you might want to give them a try for any ASMR content.
With all that being said, if you aren’t familiar with ASMR, it’s a genre of video that stands for “autonomous sensory meridian response” (aka ASMR), which is the scientific term for the tingling sensation that can often move from the scalp down the back of the neck and into the upper spine.
ASMR videos typically follow a similar formula to achieve this effect. We have a host (or subject) on camera, usually whispering directly into a microphone and often slowly and softly, using different auditory stimuli that can elicit these euphoric sensations.
The best royalty free ambisonic audio and music
If you’re here looking for the best ambisonic audio and music to use in your projects, we have some high-quality royalty free music tracks that can be great options to recreate this style of recording.
Here are some top selections for royalty free ambisonic music tracks and ambisonic recordings that can elevate your surround sound projects and immersive video content.
- Description: A very low-energy, electronic song best described as calm and reflective. Ambient tones and synth are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 64
- Key: A Minor
- Listen and license here
2. River's Edge by Druid Falls
- Description: A very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as calm and reflective. Bass and synth bass are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 80
- Key: D Major
- Listen and license here
3. Tally Me Tostones by Tony Sopiano
- Description: A low-energy, hip-hop song that is best described as chill and reflective. Bass and bass guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 85
- Key: Eb/D# Minor
- Listen and license here
4. Penn Station by Ghost Beatz
- Description: A low-energy, hip-hop song that is best described as chill and reflective. Drums and electronic drums are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 90
- Key: Ab/G# Minor
- Listen and license here
5. Hills Above Us by Rest & Settle
- Description: A very low-energy, acoustic song that is best described as calm and romantic. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments on this track.
- BPM: 94
- Key: A Major
- Listen and license here
- Description: A very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as calm and reflective. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments on this track.
- BPM: 71
- Key: D Major
- Listen and license here
7. Breathless Touch by Dr. Delight
- Description: A low-energy, funk song that is best described as chill and romantic. Bass and bass guitar are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 90
- Key: A Minor
- Listen and license here
8. Irreplaceable by Neon Beach
- Description: A low-energy, electronic song that is best described as reflective and chill. Synth and piano are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 113
- Key: Eb/D# Major
- Listen and license here
9. Summers by Cast Of Characters
- Description: It is a very low-energy hip-hop song best described as chill and reflective. The guitar and electric guitar are the primary instruments on this track.
- BPM: 62
- Key: Bb/A# Minor
- Listen and license here
10. The Healing Forest by Shimmer
- Description: A very low-energy, ambient song that is best described as reflective and calm. Ambient tones and strings are the primary instruments in this track.
- BPM: 100
- Key: C Major
- Listen and license here
Keep in mind that these are royalty free tracks (what does royalty free music mean?), which means that they are licensable for you to use for all types of use cases, including YouTube 360-degree videos and other popular social video platforms.
If you’d like to check out more royalty free music, check out our entire Soundstripe library here.
Tips for working with ambisonic audio for your projects
While the tracks and tips below may be more evergreen for all types of music and audio, it’s essential to note that working with ambisonic audio requires particular setups and must be done in a highly professional manner.
If you’re able to invest in ambisonic audio recording devices and microphones, then you can go that route. Or, if you’d like to recreate a similar style, here are some tips to keep in mind when working with these audio formats.
- Consider downloading preview tracks to use as placeholders in your edits before deciding if a track is right for your project.
- Explore our library of royalty-free sound effects to add extra energy and action to your animated videos.
- Try out Soundstripe’s AI Song Editor to instantly edit your audio track to match the length of your animated videos.
Again, these royalty free music tracks and editing tips will be helpful in your quest to create ASMR-style videos or other surround-style projects. Have fun with the process and explore new audio technologies that might inspire your future presentations.
