Case Study 02
A spatial audio case study exploring how binaural and ambisonic sound design can build believable environmental depth, atmosphere, and immersion without visual support.
Final Production
Soundfield 01 Binaural
A binaural urban soundfield designed to capture the density, movement, and atmosphere of a city environment during rainfall.
Soundfield 02 First-Order Ambisonic
A first-order ambisonic soundfield built around the complexity of a zoo environment, using distributed activity and ambient motion to create spatial depth.
Soundfield 03 First-Order Ambisonic
A first-order ambisonic environmental study focused on openness, subtle movement, and natural depth within a quieter, more expansive soundscape.
About the Production
This project explores the construction of immersive environmental soundfields across three distinct settings: a rainy city day, a zoo environment, and a forest landscape. Each piece was designed to examine how space, movement, and environmental detail can shape the listener’s sense of presence.
How can spatial audio techniques be used to create believable and immersive environmental experiences that communicate location, atmosphere, and depth without visual support?
Three soundfields were developed using different spatial approaches, including binaural rendering and first-order ambisonics. Each environment was built through layered environmental sound, spatial positioning, and movement design to create a distinct sense of place and immersion.
Process & Development
The process focused on environmental concept development, spatial planning, and the careful balancing of foreground, midground, and background detail so each soundfield felt distinct and immersive.
Defined the atmosphere, movement, and sonic identity of each location before building the soundfield structure.
Combined location-specific sound elements with binaural and ambisonic positioning to create depth, direction, and motion.
Refined environmental balance and rendered each piece for immersive listening, with attention to realism, openness, and clarity.
Applications / Results
These soundfields were designed to show how spatial audio can function in immersive, screen-based, and installation contexts where environmental realism matters.
The project demonstrates how spatial audio can construct a sense of place without visual support. Through three distinct soundfields, it shows how binaural rendering and first-order ambisonics can shape depth, direction, and environmental realism, from intimate headphone-based listening to wider immersive audio experiences.
Credits
Spatial Audio Design & Editing: Serena Muré
Production Tools: Pro Tools, Reaper
Sound elements sourced from: Westar Music
Project Focus
Binaural audio, first-order ambisonics, environmental realism, spatial placement, immersive listening, atmospheric depth, and sonic world-building.