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What we've done

Binaural sound technology allows the creation of immersive spatial audio experiences for headphone listeners. This can enhance programmes when listened to on headphones as well as create immersive interactive experiences including in virtual and augmented reality.

We spent several years developing tools for production and delivery of binaural sound, as well as evaluating industry technology. This allowed the Â鶹ԼÅÄ to produce a great deal of high quality binaural content. The work was underpinned by study of the perceived quality of binaural technology, development of signal processing algorithms, and analysis of the workflows of our production staff. Binaural has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly as mobile headphone listening has increased. Towards the end of this project, we worked with the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Academy to ensure that our production teams are equipment with the knowledge and tools to create high quality binaural audio.

Why it matters

Over the last decade there has been a large growth in the number of people listening to programmes over headphones. This is largely thanks to the arrival of powerful smart phones, fast mobile data networks, and streaming services such as the Â鶹ԼÅÄ iPlayer. Currently most audio we hear over headphones is in stereo, the same content that we play over loudspeakers. But listening to stereo programmes over headphones can give a flat impression with sounds coming from inside the head.

Binaural techniques can be used to create a richer sense of space in programme sound, giving a more exciting and immersive listening experience. We are also working on 3D sound for loudspeakers, but binaural technology can bring that kind of experience to listeners' headphones. This can be applied to traditional programme content but also to new interactive content experiences including virtual and augmented reality.

Our goals

• Enable the Â鶹ԼÅÄ to create world-class binaural content
• Evaluate the user experience of binaural sound in broadcasting
• Develop technology to deliver binaural sound to our audiences
• Open standards that enable binaural broadcasting
• Explore the role of sound in new interactive media (VR/AR)

How it works

Binaural techniques simulate the hearing cues created by acoustic interaction between our bodies and the environment around us. Audio signals are filtered to introduce these cues and give the impression that a sound source is located outside of the head at a given location in space. Our hearing system appears to be sensitive to inaccurate cues, it is common for binaural filters to create an unconvincing spatial impression as well as poor sound quality. Every person has an individual pattern of hearing cues that are created by their unique body shape, also these cues change as a listener moves. Natural binaural reverberation is also important for convincing effect. Achieving high quality binaural sound currently requires careful measurement and specialist equipment. To adapt this for broadcasting requires new techniques based on a better understanding of human hearing.

Outcomes

We have now supported the Â鶹ԼÅÄ to make well over 100 programmes using binaural sound techniques, across a wide range of genres, for radio and podcasts, television, and in new interactive content.

For several years running we have enabled production of special immersive headphones mixes of the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Proms. The 2019 concerts are available in binaural here. This uses a custom live mixing tool that we built.

We have supported the production of several award-winning binaural audio dramas, such as (unfortunately, this is no longer available to listen) and iSpy Sound Detective.

We developed the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's first public VR experience, , which won the 2016 TVB Europe award for Achievement in Sound. More recently we collaborated with the Â鶹ԼÅÄ's to produce the spatial audio mix for the VR experience .

We have developed training resources with the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Academy based on the experience we've gained through this work, including some public resources that are linked to below. The tools that we've developed are also now available to Â鶹ԼÅÄ staff for use in studios and outside broadcasts, allowing them to produce binaural sound without our input.

We have also published many research papers on binaural technology and evaluation of the effects it can have on the listening experience, which you can find in the publications section of the website.

Â鶹ԼÅÄ R&D - Sounding Special: Doctor Who in Binaural Sound

Â鶹ԼÅÄ R&D - Virtual Reality Sound in The Turning Forest

Â鶹ԼÅÄ R&D - Developing Tools for Live Binaural Production at the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Proms

Â鶹ԼÅÄ R&D - Evaluating the Perceived Quality of Binaural Technology

Immersive Audio Training and Skills from the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Academy including:

Sound Bites - An Immersive Masterclass

Sounds Amazing - audio gurus share tips