Or how your brain needs your eyes to help trick your ears into hearing what’s not there.
In the past few months, I’ve experienced two different audio technology demos that have given me more insight into audio processing than I have had in my entire career. And I’ve come to the conclusion that you really have to “see” audio in order to believe in the experience that you’re hearing.
Of course, this concept isn’t really new. Think of blind taste testing, or the popular mystery box game where people stick their hands into a box and try to guess what they’re touching. As humans, we need visual confirmation of the input from our other senses in order to process it.
I knew this of course, but I misjudged the extent of the difference that sight brings to the table. This is why it’s so hard to appreciate audio technologies such as surround, binaural, 3D or physically-based sound. You can read about it and understand what is happening, but you may not always be able to put a finger on what you’re hearing.
Many surround sound systems try to mimic multiple audio sources to trick you, commonly called HRTF processing, or Head Related Transfer Function. Object-based surround sound like DTS:X and Dolby Atmos take the concept further by treating sound like an object that can be moved around in a 3D space, so you don’t just hear sounds front, or left, or back, but all around around you.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How To Secure Your Smartphone
WE COVERED THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG password earlier. And this also applies to your smartphone too. While using your birthdate can seem convenient, if you wouldn't use that on your PC, then you shouldn't use it on your phone either.
Ryzen AI Enters The Fray
This review covers the flagship processor in the lineup, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which features a powerful 12-core, 24-thread configuration, 36MB of cache, and Radeon 890M graphics.
IT'S UPGRADE TIME
As the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch approached, rumours about a revolutionary device with a dramatic design change swirled-the Apple Watch X. But as it turns out, we got the Apple Watch Series 10 instead.
Intel Core Ultra 2 Shines
With a week of hands-on experience with the ASUS Zenbook S 14 powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V, it's clear that Intel has created a chip that's a serious contender in the ultraportable space.
Smaller, Lighter, Smarter
When it comes to second-generation products, you expect improvements, and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 certainly delivers.
AN ATMOSPHERIC ATTEMPT
Taking on a remake of Konami's classic Silent Hill 2 was always going to be a daunting task. Enter Bloober Team, the studio behind other psychological horror titles like The Medium and Blair Witch. While those were solid efforts in their own right, Silent Hill holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans, and any attempt to update it was bound to be scrutinized.
BASIC, BUT COMPETENT
Following the success of the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a), the company launched its sub-brand, CMF by Nothing, aimed squarely at the budget-conscious.
LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7X
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x stands out in terms of build quality and design. With a thickness of just 12.9mm and weighing a mere 1.28kg, this laptop is incredibly portable.
COMFY, SECURE, AND OPEN
With the Nothing Ear (Open), the company has focused on elevating the open-fit experience with a stylish design, secure fit, and surprisingly solid audio quality.
The Emperor Of Mankind Approves
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 puts you right in the middle of the Imperium's most brutal battles, and it does so with an unapologetic embrace of its own absurdity.