Facebook is continuing to devote
resources to fine tuning how 3D audio impacts viewer perceptions in virtual
reality. The social media giant and Oculus parent company announced they have
purchased immersive audio company Two Big Ears and will be making their
technology free as a part of their new Facebook 360 Spatial Workshop.
The Edinburg based company, which
has been around since 2013, specializes in spatial 3D audio in cinematic and
gaming experiences. The company technology focuses largely on how sound plays
in 3D spaces and how it interacts with surfaces that surround the viewer.
Further progress in building hyper-realistic 3D audio is a major get for
Facebook video and the Oculus platform.
Both the Gear VR and Rift support
the immersive audio technology and the fact that Facebook is opening up Two Big
Ears 3Dception technology for free to developers is a nice move to keep content
creators happy. The company previously had two immersive audio products based
on solutions for both cinematic VR and gaming. While the cinematic VR product
has morphed into the free “Facebook 360 Spatial Workstation”, Two Big Ears will
be working with the Oculus team on a way to integrate the gaming software.
Immersive 3D audio is hugely important
to high-end virtual reality like that available on the Rift, but it is really
even more crucial to the rather rudimentary VR experiences like those that are
available on Facebook video right now. With the Two Big Ears purchase, Facebook
has made it easier for Developers to make their experiences better and has
strengthened the company pull in making the social media site the default hub
for immersive VR video content.
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