Editorial
Closure/Continuation - Porcupine Tree - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
The “most important rock band you’ve never heard of” returns with their first studio album in over a decade.
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How To
How To Play Dolby Atmos on Your PC
With so many devices now supporting Dolby Atmos, and a huge amount of content being released in the immersive format, audiophiles are eager to explore the new Atmos offerings.
2022-06-27
Tech Reviews
Logitech z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
Logitech is not a brand that is going to get audiophiles’ pulses racing at a mere mention. The electronics brand has long been associated with computer peripherals...
2022-06-22
Tech Reviews
Review: The LG Dolby Atmos Sound Bar
Typically Dolby Atmos or Surround Sound systems conjure images of large home theatres or vast living rooms. But what about audiophiles in smaller spaces? LG may have a solution.
2022-06-19
Blog
Dolby Audio On Apple Music: Five Standout Albums
In addition to brand-new Dolby Atmos remixes, Apple Music has also begun to quietly showcase digital transfers of nearly five-decade-old quadraphonic masters in their Spatial Audio section.
2022-06-15
Music Reviews
The Heart Is Strange - xPropaganda - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
The second limited-run immersive Blu-Ray release from SDE continues the ‘80s synth-pop revival, complete with 5.1 surround & Dolby Atmos mixes from legendary producer Stephen Lipson.
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How To
Multi-Channel Playback On Linux
Tired of or annoyed by Windows? Got an old PC that you want to revive as a media player? Linux is a full-fledged, stable operating system that doesn’t cost you a cent.
2022-06-06
Music Reviews
Give It Back - The Pineapple Thief - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
Issued in the midst of their 2022 Versions Of The Truth tour, The Pineapple Thief’s latest studio release revisits older material in a fresh new light.
2022-06-06
How To
Where to Find FLAC Music
FLAC music is desirable for audiophiles: it's not lossy and preserves all the detail the artist intended. But, while FLAC files are becoming more readily available, they can still be difficult to find.
2022-06-01
How To
Immersive Audio Album 10% Off Spring Sale
IAA is excited to offer a limited-time promotion, in which several products will be available for 10% off list price.
2022-05-27
Interviews
Q&A with Mills Logan: Grammy Award-winning Immersive Mix Engineer
Mills Logan is at the forefront of Dolby Atmos music production, having mixed over six hundred songs in the format from his Mix Mill studio in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Music Reviews
Benefit 50th Anniversary Enhanced Edition - Jethro Tull - 5.1 Surround Sound
Jethro Tull’s third studio album receives a second reissue, once again featuring expert producer Steven Wilson’s 2013 stereo & 5.1 remixes.
2022-05-25
News
New Sonic Brand from IAA: Dolby Atmos Sound Collage & Channel Configuration Test
Presenting ImmersiveAudioAlbum.com’s ground-breaking new sonic brand, featuring a custom sound collage & downloadable channel configuration test for Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound.
2022-05-10
Tech Reviews
Review: Bose Solo 700
In recent years, Bose, renowned for their incredible noise-cancelling headphones, have focused hugely on soundbars...
2022-05-02
Music Reviews
Mick Fleetwood & Friends Celebrate The Music of Peter Green and The Early Years of Fleetwood Mac - Mick Fleetwood - 5.1 Surround Sound
When Mick Fleetwood put out a request for musicians to join him in celebrating the music of Peter Green and the early years of Fleetwood Mac, his peers signed up quickly and enthusiastically...
2022-04-25
Music Reviews
The Surround Sound Series - XTC - 5.1 Surround Sound
Having grown up in the United States in the early-2000s, XTC was certainly not a band that landed on my radar. That being said, immersive mixing wizard Steven Wilson’s involvement in a new series of CD/Blu-Ray reissues from the band’s label Ape House dubbed “The Surround Sound Series” was enough to pique my interest...
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Interviews
Q&A with Richard Chycki: Award-Winning Recording/Mixing Engineer & Immersive Audio Specialist
Richard Chycki is a multi-platinum mixer and engineer whose clients include such rock royalty as Rush, Aerosmith, Dream Theater, Skillet, Mick Jagger, Alice Cooper, Pink and many more...
2022-04-20
Tech Reviews
Review: Bose Solo 5 Soundbar
When you hear the brand name Bose, you may instantly think of expensive and high-end audio equipment. With good reason, too. Bose has a reputation of creating products for the audiophile market...
2022-04-18
Music Reviews
Cult Leader Tactics Deluxe Edition - Paul Draper - 5.1 Surround Sound
Prior to the release of Cult Leader Tactics, I wasn’t personally familiar with Paul Draper’s music and career...
2022-04-13
Blog
What is Royalty Free Music?
Royalty free music can be one of the more confusing terms to get your head around, but in the modern age, more and more people are looking for music without royalties that they can use on their productions...
2022-04-11
Tech Reviews
Review Sony HT-A9 7.1.2ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Today, we review the Sony HT-A9. This is a new soundbar released in 2021 from electronics giant Sony...
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Music Reviews
Memories Of Machines - Tim Bowness & Giancarlo Erra - 5.1 Surround Sound
Originally issued in 2011 under the title of Warm Winter, Memories Of Machines is a collaboration between British musicians Tim Bowness (half of the duo No-Man, along with Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson) and Giancarlo Erra (lead vocalist and songwriter for Nosound)...
2022-04-03
Music Reviews
Time Passages By Al Stewart - 5.1 Surround Sound
Al Stewart’s Time Passages was originally released in October 1978, following the huge success of 1977’s Year Of The Cat...
2022-03-30
How To
What is Binaural Streaming?
If you’re looking for new ways to enjoy music, or you’ve recently bought a smartphone or tablet, you may well have heard of the term ‘binaural’ audio...
2022-03-23
How To
How to Download WAV Music - The Best Places to Access and Download WAVs
WAV files are still seen as the industry standard when it comes to audio files. If you’re looking for a file type that’s lossless and contains the most possible data, then WAV is for you...
2022-03-10
Interviews
Q&A With Stephen W Tayler: Award-Winning Producer, Engineer, and Musician.
Stephen W Tayler’s decades-long career in the music business began in the mid-1970s at London’s famous Trident Studios, and mostly involves studio work for pop/rock artists...
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Music Reviews
The Tipping Point - Tears For Fears - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
The Tipping Point is Tears For Fears’ first studio album since Everybody Loves A Happy Ending (2004) and the third to receive a surround sound release...
2022-03-06
Music Reviews
The Zealot Gene Deluxe Edition - Jethro Tull - 5.1 Surround Sound
It’s been nearly twenty years since Jethro Tull released what was once thought to be their final studio album, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003). Since then, there have been line-up changes...
2022-03-01
Music Reviews
A Momentary Lapse Of Reason Remixed & Updated By Pink Floyd - 5.1 Surround Sound
Pink Floyd’s return to the studio in 1987 brought about some interesting changes. A Momentary Lapse Of Reason would be their first album without Roger Waters, but it also saw the return of keyboardist Richard Wright...
2022-02-23
Tech Reviews
Tech Review: Is Amazon Music HD Worth It?
Where any type of media streaming or distribution is involved, you can pretty much be sure that Amazon’s involvement will shortly follow. Amazon Music HD is their offering in the world of high fidelity streaming, but is it worth paying the extra fee for?...
2022-02-15
Tech Reviews
The Best Soundbars in 2022
Soundbar technology has come a long way. Whereas 10 or 15 years ago a soundbar under your television or elsewhere in your home was a bit of a novelty, they are mainstream in 2022...
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Tech Reviews
Review: Samsung - 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar with Wireless Rear Speakers and Dolby Atmos
Today, we’re reviewing an excellent offering from tech giants Samsung, who have created what some people think of as a “soundbar plus.” Unlike a standard soundbar that sits in front of your television or on your cabinet...
2022-02-09
Music Reviews
Fine Line – Harry Styles - Spatial Audio
Pretty much everyone has a preconception of Harry Styles. He’s a bit like a typecast actor. You feel like you know exactly what to expect from him: boyband stylings...
2022-02-02
Music Reviews
Feel Like Making Live! - The Bob James Trio - 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Atmos & Auro-3D
Perhaps best known for a string of hits in the mid-1970s, such as “Angela” (used as the theme to the television series Taxi Driver), "Westchester Lady,” "Tappan Zee,” and “Nautilus” (often cited as one of the most-sampled songs of all time...
2022-02-01
How To
How to Spot a Terrible Dolby Atmos Mix
The age of Dolby Atmos is here. Immersive audio and lossless audio files are demanded by the consumer now, and in the same way that high definition televisions became the norm a few years ago, high fidelity music is suddenly everywhere...
2022-01-31
Music Reviews
Alicia – Alicia Keys - Spatial Audio
Alicia Keys is an established household name. She’s continually grown in stature and ability since her debut album hit the charts when she was just 20 years of age...
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How To
5 Simple Steps To Improve Your Home Theater Experience
Today, it’s easier than ever to make your home cinema experience closer to the genuine cinematic equivalent...
2022-01-11
Music Reviews
Cahoots - The Band - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
Having only been familiar with hits like “The Weight” and “Up On Cripple Creek,” it’s been fascinating getting an in-depth look at The Band’s music through these extensive reissues...
2022-01-05
Music Reviews
Jam & Lewis - Volume One - Auro-3D
It feels a little strange to refer to Volume One as a “debut album.” Technically, this is correct, but in music terms, "Jimmy Jam" Harris and Terry Steven Lewis are veterans...
2022-01-03
Music Reviews
Yello - Point - Dolby Atmos
It’s impossible to review Yello without pulling out the same old facts to provide context...
2021-12-27
Music Reviews
Script For A Jester’s Tear (Deluxe Edition) - Marillion – 5.1 Surround Sound
Marillion’s 1983 U.K. top-ten debut, Script For A Jester’s Tear, is the fourth album to receive new stereo & 5.1 mixes as part of an ongoing reissue campaign intended to cover all eight albums the band released while signed to EMI Records...
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News
Michael Marquart - “Fall In Love” Lifelike NFT
Music fans have always wanted exclusivity and connection with the art their favorite musicians create. Now, that connection can be one-of-a-kind....
2021-12-15
Tech Reviews
Review: Sony - 4" Dolby Atmos Enabled Elevation Speakers
There’s no denying that Atmos is becoming much more mainstream. More and more media...
2021-12-13
Music Reviews
Review: 10,000 Hz Legend By Air - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
It’s often said that one of the best aspects of the immersive music hobby is being exposed to new music that would otherwise have gone unnoticed...
2021-12-13
Music Reviews
Clique! by Patricia Barber Review
Patricia Barber is one of those enigmatic figures who somehow encapsulates jazz. As well as incredible musicianship and an aura of calm, there’s something that can separate the best jazz musicians...
2021-12-10
Tech Reviews
Review: VIZIO 5.1.2-Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer and Dolby Atmos
As more and more soundbars hit the market supporting Dolby Atmos, there is something of a “race to the bottom” when it comes to prices...
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Music Reviews
Visapkārt by Auļi - Dolby Atmos Mix
There’s no denying that Visapkārt is one of the more “out there” releases we’ve seen in 2021. Auļi is a Latvian drum and bagpipe group, so to say they aren’t afraid of not conforming to convention is perhaps an understatement...
2021-12-06
Music Reviews
Renaissance 50th Anniversary: Ashes Are Burning - An Anthology - Live In Concert - 5.1 Surround Sound
On October 12, 2019, Renaissance performed a special concert at The Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania. It was a very special evening for many reasons, and thankfully it was captured on video and tape...
2021-11-29
Tech Reviews
Spin-Clean Vinyl LP Washer Review – Keeping Your Vinyl Clean
A lot of us don’t take the right level of care when it comes to protecting our vinyl collection. Even the proudest audiophiles can get a little lazy when it comes to ensuring their beloved records are in tip top condition, but you shouldn’t...
2021-11-22
Music Reviews
Sixteen Sunsets - Jane Ira Bloom
I grew up listening to these songs and knowing the lyrics. They were a part of my earliest listening experiences so playing them is like breathing to me...
2021-11-21
Tech Reviews
Sony UBP-X800 Ultra-HD Blu-Ray Player
Many audiophiles have found that one of the easiest ways to listen to high resolution audio formats through a surround-sound system is by using a Blu-Ray player. One of the very best for audio is the Sony UBP-X800 Ultra-HD...
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Music Reviews
Nothing But The Truth by The Pineapple Thief - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
British progressive rock outfit The Pineapple Thief have quickly become one of my favorite new musical acts. I hopped on the bandwagon in 2016, when they released their eleventh studio album, Your Wilderness (2016)...
2021-11-09
Interviews
Q&A with Jane Ira Bloom & Ulrike Anderson
Grammy-award winning American jazz soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom has always had a special feeling for ballad performances, so much so that she has now finally released Sixteen Sunsets...
2021-11-08
Blog
The Best Movies in Atmos on Netflix
So you’ve finally taken the plunge and delved into the world of Atmos. Whether you’ve gone for Atmos-enabled headphones, a soundbar, or a full speaker setup, you’ll want to test what your new setup can do...
2021-11-08
Interviews
Q&A with Immersive Trailblazer Ronald Prent: Grammy-Nominated Producer & Engineer
Over the past 40 years, Ronald Prent has established himself as one of the most accomplished and innovative mixing engineers in the world, specializing in surround sound and immersive audio...
2021-11-01
Blog
2022 Immersive Audio Album Listener’s Choice Awards
The Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album, formerly Best Surround Sound Album, was first awarded in 2005. Since then, the Recording Academy has annually recognized the best of the best in surround sound and immersive audio experiences...
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Blog
6 Lesser-Known Immersive Music Discs Worth Adding To Your Collection
Though only a small fraction of recorded music has been remixed into a multichannel format, it never ceases to amaze me how many acts, both world-famous and small-time, have embraced immersive audio technology...
2021-10-25
Music Reviews
The Beatles "Let It Be"
The idea was really a simple one, and yet quite brilliant at the same time. Paul McCartney was eager for The Beatles to play live in an attempt to bring the band back together as a unit. This new album project was given the name Get Back...
2021-10-21
How To
How to Promote Independent Music
Life as an independent musician may be tough, and it’s even tougher to make a living as a musician. That said, there are plenty of opportunities to promote your music, and ways to connect with new fans...
2021-10-18
Tech Reviews
Tech Review: Creative T6300 Portable Speaker Set & Sound Blaster X-Fi 5.1 Sound Card
It’s often-stated that the ‘achilles heel’ of 5.1 or immersive music is a general lack of portability. Who wants to lug five speakers and an amplifier around when you can simply put on headphones and stream music from a smartphone...
2021-10-17
Music Reviews
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - The Ultimate Collection by John Lennon - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
Little did Beatles fans realize that, when The Beatles announced their split in April 1970, not only would they be treated to one final album (Let It Be)...
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Tech Reviews
Tech Review - Apple TV 4K Media Player & Apple Music Streaming Service
Until recently - unless you’re savvy enough to digitize your collection of DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, and Blu-Ray discs using a variety of software packages - being an immersive music fan meant physical disc playback only...
2021-10-04
Music Reviews
Tidal Playlist Review: Dolby Atmos Music: 80s
The ‘80s. Love them for the memories, or hate them for the cheesy synths and fashion trends. Either way, pretty much everyone must respect what the decade did for music, opening up a canvas of new sounds, production techniques, and hairstyles to enjoy for years to come...
2021-09-30
Tech Reviews
Tech Review: SteelSeries Siberia 650 Gaming Headset
SteelSeries may not necessarily be one of the first names that comes to me when you’re considering buying a new set of headphones or a gaming headset...
2021-09-27
Music Reviews
Fugazi Deluxe Edition by Marillion - 5.1 Surround Sound
Fugazi (1984) is longtime British progressive-rock outfit Marillion’s second full album, and the second of a four album run that featured original songwriter/lyricist Fish (real name Derek William Dick) on lead vocals...
2021-09-24
Interviews
Q&A with Chris Bell: Grammy-Nominated Recording & Mixing Engineer
Chris Bell is a veteran producer and engineer based out of Austin, Texas. His long list of clients includes U2, Erykah Badu, Everclear, Destiny’s Child, Fuel, The Polyphonic Spree, Peter Gabriel, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Eagles, Don Henley, Brian Blade, Dave Matthews, and Jakob Dylan...
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Music Reviews
Leviathan by The Grid & Robert Fripp - 5.1 Surround Sound
In 1992, King Crimson frontman Robert Fripp collaborated with British electronic dance duo The Grid on their classic second album, 456 (1992), and its follow-up, their best-known album, Evolver (1994)...
2021-09-13
Interviews
Q&A with Markus Reuter: Musician, Producer, and Innovator
Markus Reuter has been performing and creating music for over two decades now. He’s collaborated with Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin, Gary Husband, Ian Boddy, Robert Rich, and Devin Townsend and many others...
2021-09-06
Music Reviews
Apple Music’s Spatial Audio Singles: 5 Winners & 4 Duds
Apple created quite the buzz in the world of immersive audio this past June, when they announced support for Dolby Atmos (or “spatial audio”) on their Apple Music streaming platform...
2021-08-31
Interviews
Q&A with Alan Williams: Musician, Producer, Engineer, and Educator
Alan Williams was a founding member of New England-based Knots and Crosses, who signed an ill-fated deal with Island Records in 1994 after self-releasing two best-selling CDs...
2021-08-30
Music Reviews
Quadio Boxed Set by The Doobie Brothers - 4.0 Surround Sound
For those who closely follow immersive music releases, one of the most interesting trends over the last several years is the celebration and reissue of 1970s quadraphonic mixes...
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How To
The Best Places to Sell Immersive Music Online
For artists and labels looking to sell immersive music online, there are some choices to be made! Immersive audio has taken a while to catch up with stereo sound in terms of streaming and downloading...
2021-08-18
Music Reviews
All Things Must Pass 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition by George Harrison - 5.1 Surround Sound & Dolby Atmos
Shortly after the dissolution of The Beatles in mid-1970, guitarist George Harrison assembled an all-star cast of musicians to record his debut statement as a solo artist...
2021-08-13
Blog
6 Artists With Full Catalog Reissues In Immersive Audio
It’s often stated that past efforts to promote immersive music have failed due to a lack of content, despite there being 5.1 releases from best-selling artists like The Beatles...
2021-08-10
Tech Reviews
Behringer UMC404HD - 192-khz/24-bit Digital Recording Interface
Perhaps the most daunting aspect of pursuing a career in audio or music production is justifying the cost of a good recording/mixing interface....
2021-08-09
Tech Reviews
Tech Review: HyperX 7.1 Surround Sound Cloud Alpha S
There are many headsets on the market that advertise surround sound features, but none as comfortable as the HyperX Cloud Alpha S...
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Interviews
Q&A with Gabriel Lundh: Musician, Producer, Engineer, and Innovator
Gabriel Lundh is a 24-year-old producer/mixer with one of the first Dolby Atmos-equipped recording studios in Sweden....
2021-08-04
Interviews
Q&A with John Kellogg: Producer, Engineer, Musician, and Technologist
In 1992, John Kellogg produced some of the first 5.1 music mixes for the introduction of the Dolby Digital (AC-3) codec on Laserdisc...
2021-08-03
Music Reviews
Drastic Plastic Deluxe Edition by Be-Bop Deluxe - 5.1 Surround Sound
British reissue label Esoteric Recordings has quickly emerged as a major player in the current immersive audio landscape...
2021-07-27
Blog
Top 5 Must-Hear Immersive Concert Discs
Though nearly every DVD or Blu-Ray concert video out there includes a 5.1 surround mix...
2021-07-26
Blog
2022 Immersive Audio Grammy Contenders
Despite the chaos caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, it’s been a surprisingly active past several months in immersive audio...
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Tech Reviews
Tech Review - Apple AirPods Max
Apple users tend to be a loyal customer base, and with Apple Music’s recent move to lossless audio for all of their streaming...
2021-07-20
Tech Reviews
Review: Involve Audio Surround Master
I suspect that every immersive audio fan has their own personal wishlist of albums they’d like to see adapted to a multichannel format like 5.1 or Dolby Atmos...
2021-07-14
Music Reviews
Top 5 Movie Soundtracks in Surround Sound
Cinema and surround sound is a match made in heaven. In fact, if it weren’t for the constant evolution of cinema technology...
2021-07-13
Music Reviews
Free Hand by Gentle Giant - Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound
British musician/producer Steven Wilson has remixed more than fifty classic albums into 5.1 surround over the last decade...
2021-07-09
Interviews
Q&A with Leslie Ann Jones: Grammy-Winning Engineer and Producer
Leslie Ann Jones, multiple Grammy award winner and longtime Director of Music Recording and Scoring at LucasFilm’s Skywalker Sound...
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Music Reviews
A Farewell To Kings 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition by Rush - 5.1 Surround Sound
Despite being familiar with mega-hits “The Spirit Of Radio” (1980) and “Tom Sawyer” (1981), Rush is a band whose music I never took the time to explore deeply until they began delving into the world of immersive audio...
2021-06-29
News
Apple Rolls Out Lossless Audio, Spatial, and Dolby Atmos Audio
In a move that Apple has described as the “next generation of sound on Apple Music...
2021-06-29
News
Using AvidPlay to Sell Your Atmos Music
If you’re a musician or a producer, you’ve probably heard of Avid before. This is the brand behind some of the most powerful production tools out there...
2021-06-22
Interviews
Q&A: Where Zen-Meets-Tech with David Miles Huber
David Miles Huber is a 4x Grammy-nominated producer, composer and musician. He categorizes his ambient and electronic music as “Zen-meets-tech...
2021-06-22
News
How Good is Tidal’s Atmos Streaming?
Tidal is the streaming app for the audiophile, or at least, it is trying to be. Tidal has gained a lot of popularity with big-name stakeholders such as Jack Dorsey and Jay-Z...
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Music Reviews
Year Of The Cat - 45th Anniversary Edition by Al Stewart - 5.1 Surround Sound
By the time Al Stewart broke through commercially and had his first top ten album, he had been making records for ten years...
2021-06-15
Music Reviews
All This Will Be Yours Deluxe Edition by Bruce Soord - 5.1 Surround Sound
British musician Bruce Soord is a rapidly-rising star in the world of immersive audio, having spent the last several years completing a multitude of 5.1 surround remixes for both his own creative outlet...
2021-06-10
Music Reviews
Vienna 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition by Ultravox - 5.1 Surround Sound
When it was announced just over a year ago that well-known British musician/producer Steven Wilson had remixed Ultravox’s classic 1980 album Vienna in stereo & 5.1 for it’s 40th anniversary...
2021-06-03
Music Reviews
A (A La Mode) 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition by Jethro Tull - 5.1 Surround Sound
The 1980s were not too kind to Jethro Tull. Following a string of number one albums in the 1970s...
2021-05-27
Tech Reviews
Klipsch RP-280 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos System – Home Theater Speaker System Review
To achieve a true 360 degree sound in your home, you need ceiling speakers. Right? Well, the answer to that question might be “no.”...
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Music Reviews
Review: A Bad Think – Lifelike – Dolby Atmos and 5.1 FLAC
Not many of us can say we had as productive a 12 months as Michael Marquart...
2021-05-11
How To
How to Listen to Dolby Atmos Music
Surround sound and immersive audio formats have often threatened to penetrate the mainstream, but the equipment and knowledge needed have always been a little prohibitive...
2021-05-07
News
NFTs in the Music Industry - Are NFTs Here to Stay?
NFTs are hard to wrap your head around for the first time. You have probably heard some of the extreme examples of NFTs getting sold for huge sums of money....
2021-04-23
Music Reviews
The Empathy Machine by Chimpan A - 5.1 Surround Sound Review
Chimpan A is back after a 14-year hiatus with an experimental surround sound album...
2021-04-13
How To
An Introduction to Audio File Formats
File compression is a way to reduce the size of audio files. In fact, it is used on all kinds of files, including photos and video...
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Music Reviews
The Future Bites - Steven Wilson - 5.1 Surround Sound Review
There’s definitely an irony in the fact that Steven Wilson named a project The Future Bites without knowing exactly what was in store...
2021-03-17
Interviews
Q&A with Michael Marquart: Grammy-Nominated Producer and Musician
Michael Marquart, the multi-talented singer-songwriter, producer, and frontman of rock project A Bad Think, is back after his 2019 Grammy nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album for his album The Savior...
2021-03-05
Tech Reviews
Tech Review: Logitech G430 7.1 Surround Sound Headphones
Today, we’re reviewing the Logitech G430 gaming headset. These headphones are great for console gamers and PC gamers...
2021-03-03
News
Capitol Studios Shuts Down Mastering Division
Early 2021 has seen another shift in the music industry. Capitol Studios has closed its mastering division, along with other smaller departments (including its restoration division)...
2021-02-17
Interviews
Q&A with Elliot Scheiner: 5.1 Mixing Pioneer Talks The Eagles, Cars, Baseball, and Atmos
After speaking with Elliot Scheiner for almost an hour, one thing was clear: he loves rock music, especially in surround sound....
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How To
How to Download FLAC Music
Many audiophiles have turned away from MP3’s and other file types in order to embrace FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) files...
2021-01-18
Interviews
Q&A with Jim Anderson: Recording Engineer and Grammy Winner, Many Times Over
Jim Anderson’s recordings have won a whopping 11 Grammy awards. His projects have been nominated for another 27, most recently for his role as the Surround Mix Engineer on Gisle Kverndokk: Symphonic Dances in 2020...
2021-01-06
Blog
The Best 5.1 and Atmos Albums of 2020
As home audio equipment has become more widespread and affordable, it is easier than ever to get speaker systems and even soundbar systems that can play 5.1...
2020-12-29
Music Reviews
Gimme Some Truth - 5.1 Box Set Review - John Lennon
In John Lennon’s 40 years on the planet, most would agree he revolutionized music. Along with his Beatles bandmates...
2020-12-08
Tech Reviews
Review: Sonos Arc Soundbar with Dolby Atmos
Sonos has created their first Dolby Atmos soundbar, which was released in June 2020. The soundbar allows you to play audio from a number of devices...
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Interviews
Q&A with Max Cooper: Immersive Audio & Video Innovator
An early adopter of immersive audio and video, Max Cooper has been creating 3D music since 2010...
2020-11-13
Music Reviews
The Pineapple Thief - Versions of the Truth - 5.1 Surround Sound
The Pineapple Thief’s latest foray into prog-rock for the 21st century, Versions of the Truth, comes gloriously mixed in surround sound...
2020-11-13
Music Reviews
Alan Parsons Project – Ammonia Avenue - 5.1 Surround Sound Review
It is fair to say that the Alan Parsons Project were masters of their craft. Prolific for a period of time...
2020-10-29
Music Reviews
Kansas – The Absence of Presence - 5.1 Mix
Few bands reach the point where they are releasing their 16th studio album. Even fewer get to this stage...
2020-10-16
Interviews
Q&A with Suzanne Ciani: Composer, Producer, and Diva of the Diode
We had the chance to speak with audio industry vetran, Suzanne Ciani. Here’s what she had to share on growth and challenges in her field...
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Tech Reviews
Review: The Sennheiser AMBEO VR Microphone
They say that the best inventions are the simple ones. This microphone may not have been simple to design...
2020-10-13
Interviews
Q&A with John Escobar: Assistant Professor, Music Production and Engineering at Berklee College of Music
John Escobar is a leader in the field of immersive audio production and engineering. As an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music...
2020-10-01
Music Reviews
Abbey Road - 50th Anniversary 5.1 Mix - Giles Martin
Many albums are getting the 5.1 treatment in the modern age, and the 50th anniversary of this classic brought both excitement and fear to Beatles fans...
2020-09-25
Interviews
Q&A with Paul Parker: Producer and Sound Engineer
With extensive experience producing music for film and TV projects, Paul Parker is on the forefront of making music designed for immersive experiences. With the recent release of his electronic album Provenance...
2020-09-21
Music Reviews
The Seeds Of Love - Tears For Fears - 5.1 Mix by Steven Wilson
The iconic album The Seeds Of Love is getting a five-disc box set special edition, including a 5.1 Blu-Ray surround sound mix by Steven Wilson...
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Interviews
Q&A with Paul Geluso: Music Assistant Professor & Director of the Music Technology Program at...
We spoke with Paul Geluso to hear his thoughts on teaching, experiences with developing technology...
2020-09-02
Tech Reviews
Review: The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar
If you have ever set up a full outboard surround sound system then you will know that it can be incredibly difficult to tweak...
2020-08-18
Music Reviews
R.E.M. - Monster - Review of the 25th Anniversary 5.1 Mix
An anniversary is more than a good enough reason to re-release an album, and 25 years on from iconic indie-rock collage Monster...
2020-08-14
Interviews
Q&A with Maurice Patist: President, Sales and Marketing, PMC USA
Audio coding is the science behind the art of immersive audio. Marina Bosi is a pioneer in the field, having contributed important work to the masterful rendering of immersive audio...
2020-08-05
Music Reviews
TRUCE by Markus Reuter, feat. Fabio Trentini and Asaf Sirkis
It is fair to say that Markus Reuter isn’t quite a household name. Some of the work this incredible multi-instrumentalist has done is behind-the-scenes, collaborating with some very popular and influential musicians...
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Interviews
Q&A with Claire Courchene: The Artist Behind Ana-Tole
We sat down with Claire Courchene, the mind and musician behind Ana-Tole, to hear about her latest album in the epic space saga of Ana-Tole: Into the Black Hole...
2020-07-23
Music Reviews
Miles in Multichannel: Miles Davis’ Live Evil
Miles Davis, the enigma, available in multi-channel audio. It’s a dream for a lot of music lovers; Live Evil was a fascinating project all the way back in the 1970s...
2020-07-17
Interviews
Q&A with Marina Bosi
Audio coding is the science behind the art of immersive audio. Marina Bosi is a pioneer in the field, having contributed important work to the masterful rendering of immersive audio...
2020-07-15
Music Reviews
All This Will Be Yours - Bruce Soord
Bruce Soord’s All This Will Be Yours is the second solo album from the singer, best known for his work with the experimental outfit...
2020-07-07
How To
Portable Immersive Audio: How 3D Headphones Work
When you think of an immersive audio setup, you probably think of five, seven, or even more speakers...
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Interviews
Q&A with Morten Lindberg: 2020 Grammy Winner
Morten Lindberg is something of a legend in the immersive audio world, and we’ve written about his work more than once...
2020-06-29
Interviews
Q&A with Dr. Veronique Larcher: Director of AMBEO Immersive Audio, Sennheiser
Sennheiser is one of the world’s leading providers of high-quality audio experiences for professionals and consumers...
2020-06-10
Pinned
An Introduction to 3D Sound: What is Immersive Audio?
The world of technology moves so incredibly fast that it can sometimes be hard to keep up. Audio is a huge part of that, and as the music industry has grown immensely alongside technology over the past decade
2020-06-09
Interviews
Q&A with Mark Doyle: From The Dark Side of The Moon
We recently connected with Mark Doyle, guitarist and co-producer of Mary Fahl’s From The Dark Side of The Moon, to find out more about the creation of this iconic album...
2020-05-14
Listeners’ Choice
New in 5.1: From The Dark Side Of The Moon
Mary Fahl is probably best known for her work as the lead singer of ‘90s folk-rock band, The October Project, but her musical passions and abilities stretch far beyond this...
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Uncategorized
Lifelike Documentary
From film director Derrick Borte and rock artist A Bad Think comes a unique, intimate look at how music in immersive audio gets made.
2020-05-09
Uncategorized
How to Listen: The Guide to Playing Music in Immersive Audio
2020-05-09
News
COVID-19’s Impact on the Music Industry
The coronavirus has stopped the world in its tracks in so many ways. At first, things like music seem inconsequential, and rightfully so as people battle against the illness and deal with massive uncertainty...
2020-04-16
Blog
DTS:X - Another Exciting Audio Advancement
DTS:X is a relatively new and exciting audio advancement, but it dates back a few years. In fact, it was introduced in 2015, and like most audio advancements in recent years...
2020-03-31
Blog
Auro-3D: The 3D Audio Technology Explained
Immersive audio technologies are undeniably on the rise, and systems like Dolby Atmos have gained a huge amount of traction and popularity in recent years...
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Blog
The Rise of Dolby Atmos for Music
When you hear the term “Dolby Atmos” you probably think of the cinema. Perhaps a pre-showing advert for the latest in sound technology, giving you an immersive experience while you watch the latest blockbuster...
2020-03-12
News
AXPONA 2020: Sneak peek of the Audio Expo North America
AXPONA is fast approaching. North America’s biggest high-end audio show takes place April 17 – 19, 2020. So what does the expo have in store?...
2020-03-04
Music Reviews
Ujamaa & The Iceberg - Henning Sommero, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Choir, Morten Lindberg
Ujamaa & The Iceberg was a 2018 release from Morten Lindberg’s Norwegian label 2L, and yet another of his pieces to receive a lot of buzz in the industry...
2020-02-10
Music Reviews
In Retrospect: Symbol by Engine EarZ Experiment
Engine EarZ Experiment is the brainchild of Prash Mistry, producing a fascinating, eclectic album in Symbol that stands out in the history of the Immersive Audio category...
2020-02-05
Music Reviews
A Singing Delight: Daniel Shores and the Skylark Vocal Ensemble
Skylark Vocal Ensemble are starting to get some serious recognition. Historically, a lot of American choral bands and performers tend to get overlooked on the global playing field...
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Music Reviews
Listening to Folketoner - Det Norske Jentekor & Anne Karin Sundal-Ask, Morten Lindberg
Folketoner was Morten Lindberg’s 26th Grammy nomination, paired with his 25th in the Best Immersive Audio Album category at the 2019 Grammys...
2020-01-21
Music Reviews
Immersive Album Review: The Band (50th Anniversary) Limited Edition Box Set
Originally released on September 22, 1969, The Band’s sophomore effort, commonly known as The Brown Album, soon became the bar against which all subsequent folk/country-rock...
2020-01-16
Music Reviews
An Aural Delight: Jan Kraybill’s The Orchestral Organ
Once in a while, a nominee for Best Immersive Audio Album can almost come out of nowhere. This is the case with Jan Kraybill, who is undoubtedly a musician with hard-earned credentials...
2019-12-30
Music Reviews
The Immersive Sound of Symphonic Dances by Gisle Kverndokk
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra were challenged in 2013 by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, to celebrate cultural diversity in their music. Symphonic Dances was one of the many results of this project...
2019-12-23
Music Reviews
LUX: The Grammy-nominated Immersive Audio Album produced by Morten Lindberg
Morten Lindberg is something of a legendary figure in the Grammy Awards. He has 28 nominations without a win, and has been nominated in at least one category every year since 2008...
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Music Reviews
A Good Think: Review of A Bad Think’s Grammy-nominated The Savior
Recently I had the opportunity to listen to a rather transcendent piece of progressive rock music. Entitled The Savior, it is an eclectic collection of 18 songs composed and performed by A Bad Think’s creator...
2019-12-05
Music Reviews
Immersion into the Yacht Sound: Chain Tripping produced by Luke Argilla, Jurgen Scharpf
To hear a snippet of a Yacht song, you might feel like harmless, breezy LA synth-rock was the name of the game. Simple, catchy and effective...
2019-12-04
News
Grammy Nominations for Best Immersive Audio Album Announced
As the 62nd Grammy Awards ceremony approaches, the nominees for all categories have been announced. Like the Academy Awards for film, the Grammy nominations are a standalone event...
2019-11-25
How To
Road to The Grammys: How Voting Works
The Grammys are still considered one of the most prestigious awards in the arts. For music, there’s nothing better than winning a Grammy, but how does the process work?...
2019-11-04
Blog
Downloadable 5.1 Mastered Surround Sound Music Now Available
Surround sound music is now available for download on our platform. Dedicated to the appreciation of surround sound and immersive audio formats, we want to provide downloadable music to fans interested in trying new music in the formats they desire...
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Music Reviews
A Bad Think Is Entirely Good with Its Latest Surround Sound Album
Michael Marquart is one of those musicians who has carved out an incredibly rich and productive career, almost out of nowhere. From working briefly with A Flock of Seagulls in the ‘80s as a drummer...
2019-08-26
Music Reviews
Pink Floyd: What Better Band to Experiment with 5.1?
If any band’s fans fit the profile of audiophiles, it is the passionate following of Pink Floyd. The desire for richer, more detailed mixes of the songs the English rockers wrote 40 years ago is still prevalent...
2019-08-19
Music Reviews
The Future Is Here for Futurama
Cracked Rear View was one of the bestselling albums of the 1990s. In the space of this album’s release, Hootie and the Blowfish were catapulted from obscurity to virtual household names...
2019-08-08
Music Reviews
Hearing New Heights: Hootie and the Blowfish
Cracked Rear View was one of the bestselling albums of the 1990s. In the space of this album’s release, Hootie and the Blowfish were catapulted from obscurity to virtual household names...
2019-08-06
Music Reviews
The Secret Everyone Is Talking About
Alan Parsons is fully deserving of all of his acclaim as musical royalty. The British musical maestro and legend of progressive rock has never been afraid to plow his own furrow through...
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Music Reviews
The Immersive Masterpiece of Genius Loves Company
In 2005, the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album was awarded to Genius Loves Company, kicking off the era of this award not only with a truly incredible and fitting artist....
2019-07-05
Music Reviews
Brothers in Arms: An Immersive Audio Production
There’s just something about British bands and seminal rock albums, and in the 1980s, it was Dire Straits who created the anthems that still get played daily over 30 years on...
2019-07-05
Music Reviews
Mixing Morph the Cat for Surround Sound Excellence
Donald Fagen is best known for his decades of work with the iconic rock band, Steely Dan. The “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” member has carved a varied, interesting, and frankly meandering career since the band split in 1981...
2019-06-27
Music Reviews
The Beatles: Love Them All Over Again
The Best Immersive Audio category of the Grammys is certainly exciting, and can throw up a few surprises or reward hidden gems of albums. In 2008, however, there was absolutely nothing hidden about the winners...
2019-06-27
Music Reviews
Bringing Modern-Day Sound to Mussorgsky
Michael Bishop is a Recording Engineer with an unbelievable track record of producing exceptional results with classical music. He won the Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album with his 2009 tribute album to Mussorgsky...
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Music Reviews
All Hail Transmigration: An Immersive Audio Experience That Transcends Music
Transmigration is a recording which could be described as something of a hidden gem. Even since bagging the Grammy for Best Immersive Audio in 2010, the work has not gone on to sell the numbers you might expect,...
2019-06-20
Music Reviews
Classical Meets Modern in Britten’s Orchestra
Benjamin Britten is one of the most celebrated composers of the last century. His work, colorful and varied in nature, has been tackled by orchestras all over the world, but when Keith O. Johnson...
2019-06-13
Music Reviews
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs in Immersive Audio
Rarely has an album come about in such an unusual way. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs was Eric Clapton’s departure from supergroups to a band with whom he felt he could take a more free-and-easy approach to song-writing....
2019-06-13
Music Reviews
Modern Cool Lives up to Its Name
When Modern Cool was first released in 1998, it is fair to say that it put Patricia Barber on the map. A stint at The Jazz Standard in New York saw her music reach...
2019-06-07
Music Reviews
Letting in Live Kisses: The Audio Experience
Paul McCartney has never been afraid of pushing boundaries. While it would be easy for a household name, with adoration around the globe, to retire to occasional concerts and the comfort of his back catalogue, McCartney wants to experiment...
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Music Reviews
Surrounded By Beyoncé: An Immersive Album Experience
When the 2015 Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album was awarded to Beyoncé for her self-titled album, there were certainly some eyebrows raised...
2019-05-29
Music Reviews
Amused To Death Remastered in 5.1 Surround Sound
In 2016, James Guthrie and Joel Plante were awarded the Grammy for Best Immersive Audio album for their remastering and immersive rethinking of...
2019-05-23
Music Reviews
Surrounded by a Symphony: Dutilleux: Sur le même accord; Les citations; Mystère de l'instant & Timbres, espace, mouvement
Alexander and Dmitriy Lipay’s 2017 Grammy win was a victory not only for immersive audio and excellent engineering of sound, but...
2019-05-21
Music Reviews
Jazz in 5.1: The Accomplishment of Early Americans
Jane Ira Bloom is not exactly a household name unless the household in question happens to have a passion for avant-garde jazz. In the world...
2019-05-17
Music Reviews
Bringing the Past into the Future: Alan Parsons, 2019 Grammy for Best Immersive Audio Album
Many were surprised to see Eye in the Sky awarded a Grammy win for Immersive Audio Album, but to listen to this 35th-anniversary edition, you…
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