APL Duopan Review: A Panner That Understands Psychoacoustics
In this video, I'm reviewing the APL Duopan plugin, a new panning tool that combines traditional amplitude-based panning with time-based panning approaches based on psychoacoustic principles. I'll demonstrate its features including the T-A slider for blending panning methods, the head shadow functionality that mimics natural frequency dampening, the dual band option for frequency-specific panning, and its seamless integration with immersive audio formats.
IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear Review: The Portable Studio Solution I've Been Waiting For?
In this video, I review the IK Multimedia ARC On-Ear, a portable studio simulation device that promises to solve my biggest frustration with the Qudelix 5K—the difficulty of switching between different headphones. I'll show you how this compact, battery-powered device works, demonstrate its on-device headphone correction and studio simulation features, and share whether it lives up to my hopes for a more user-friendly alternative.
Is Eclipsa Audio Worth It? Answering Your Biggest Questions
In this Q&A video, I'm answering your questions about Eclipsa Audio—covering what it actually is, how it differs from Dolby Atmos, practical concerns about platform support, and why it's currently Mac-only despite being a Google/Samsung technology. I also share my honest concerns about why releasing this technology as open source so early in development might signal a lack of long-term commitment from the companies behind it.
This Blew Me Away: Near Zero Latency Dolby Atmos Head Tracking
In this follow-up to my Dolby Atmos Mastering Console review, I explore the software's incredible head tracking implementation, which supports both Apple AirPods and the Supperware head tracker with unique features like non-recentering spatial audio and direct MIDI communication that achieves the lowest latency I've ever experienced. This is hands-down the best solution currently available for monitoring Dolby Atmos through headphones, whether you're on the road or working without access to a full Atmos studio.
Finally! The Complete Dolby Atmos Mastering Solution - Fiedler Audio Mastering Console 2.0
Today I'm exploring Fiedler Audio's revolutionary Mastering Console 2 for Dolby Atmos - a comprehensive mastering solution that combines multiple workflows into one powerful application, featuring game-changing tools like a true peak limiter that measures post-render while limiting pre-render, Apple Spatial Audio monitoring for Windows users, and the innovative OBAM plugin format for direct metadata manipulation. This bird's-eye overview showcases how the Mastering Console extends far beyond Dolby's own software capabilities, seamlessly integrating into any Atmos workflow while remaining accessible to both professionals and serious hobbyists - with detailed deep-dives on specific features coming in future videos.
Getting Started with Eclipsa Audio (IAMF) in Reaper
In this tutorial, I walk you through the complete workflow of setting up Eclipsa Audio plugins in Reaper to create immersive audio in the IAMF format, covering everything from configuring the renderer and creating audio elements to routing tracks using both built-in and third-party Ambisonics panners. I'll demonstrate the practical process using a four-track session, showing how to work with YouTube's Base profile to create a 16-channel third-order Ambisonics environment with an additional stereo element, and finally export your project as an IAMF file ready for upload.
Hears Perfection vs Aria Studio: Which Hearing Correction Plugin is Worth Your Money?
In this video, I review Plugin Alliance's new Hears Perfection plugin—a hearing correction tool for studio monitoring—and compare it with Altitude Audio's Aria Studio to help you decide which one best suits your needs. While both plugins delivered surprisingly accurate hearing profiles that matched my audiologist's measurements, I found myself preferring Hears Perfection for its simplicity, quick 1-2 minute hearing test, headphone-specific profiles, and more focused frequency correction range that doesn't waste energy on ultra-high frequencies you can't hear anyway.
Dolby Atmos Renderer Update: Use Your AirPods for Head Tracking
Dolby quietly added Apple AirPods head tracking support to the Atmos Renderer, burying this game-changing feature in a support article without any proper announcement—and it works with virtually any Apple or Beats headphones containing the H1 or H2 chip. In this video, I'll show you how to set it up, demonstrate its impressive spatial monitoring capabilities in a real mixing session, and even reveal how to use your AirPods as a head tracker for your professional studio headphones.
From Beamforming to ASAF: The Spatial Audio Tools of the Summer of 2025
I'm breaking down four game-changing developments in immersive audio that have been happening behind the scenes: NovoNotes' new format support for 9.1.6 and 7.1.6 configurations, Audio Brewers' revolutionary beamforming decoder, Eclipsa Audio's open-source spatial audio plugins that finally make 3D sound accessible to everyone, and Apple's Spatial Audio Format that transforms static mixes into responsive sound environments. Each of these deserves its own deep dive tutorial which I'll be releasing over the coming weeks, plus there's another massive announcement on the horizon that could revolutionize immersive music production—but I'll have to save that for another day.
I Spent $2 On a Drum Loop and Have Mixed Feelings About It
In this video, I explore BeatGen from Novo Notes, a new AI-enhanced beat-making software that uses large language models like Claude as a collaborative assistant to help develop drum patterns—a unique approach that's quite different from typical "prompt-to-music" AI tools. While the software is still in early stages with significant limitations (Mac-only, expensive API costs, no MIDI export), I walk through the installation process, demonstrate its capabilities, and discuss why this collaborative AI approach represents an interesting glimpse into the future of music production interfaces.
Ambisonics 101: Ten Essential Questions Answered
In this video, I'm kicking off a new FAQ series by answering the 10 essential questions about Ambisonics—the full-sphere surround sound technology that's become the backbone of VR, AR, and 360-degree video. From understanding the B-format and the difference between AmbiX and FuMa standards, to practical guidance on getting started with Ambisonics in your DAW and monitoring your mixes, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about this increasingly important immersive audio format.
Something Simple '25
"Something Simple ‘25” blends minimalist staging with whimsical, unexpected encounters to explore the longing for authentic connection in a world saturated with noise. The video opens with a girl seated alone on a granite bench against an infinite white background. As the music builds, her stillness becomes a stage for surreal interruptions — a curious robot joins her, a cartoon character pops into frame, a ball drifts by, a puppy bounds into her lap. Each appearance is fleeting, evoking the transient distractions of modern life. Anchored by lyrics yearning to “cut through all the static,” the work contrasts digital absurdity with the quiet search for something real. The result is a lighthearted yet moving examination of simplicity, truth, and human connection during an era of unrelenting stimuli.
3D Audio Meets Reddit: Is Dolby Atmos The Same as 8D Music?
In this video, I dive into some of the most fascinating (and frustrating) Dolby Atmos takes I've found on Reddit, tackling everything from claims that it's just a marketing gimmick to confusion about 8D music and whether you need 16 subwoofers to create an earthquake simulator. I separate fact from fiction in the world of spatial audio, explaining why immersive audio is here to stay while addressing the legitimate criticisms and misconceptions that dominate online discussions about Atmos and surround sound.
Why Did WWI Soldiers Use Giant Mechanical Ears? (10 Surprising Immersive Audio Facts)
After covering the 10 most important immersive audio formats, I realized there are so many more wild and surprising stories from spatial audio's history that deserve to be told – from World War I giant mechanical ears and Disney's 1940s surround sound revolution to Pink Floyd's holophonic experiments and Lou Reed's 3D rock albums. What fascinates me most is how these pioneers were solving the same immersive audio challenges we face today, proving that humanity's obsession with realistic 3D sound has been driving innovation for over a century.
Neumann RIME Plugin: Your Questions Answered
In this Q&A video, I address the most common questions from my Neumann RIME plugin review, covering everything from DAW integration and head tracking compatibility to why the plugin is specifically designed as a binaural renderer for Neumann headphones rather than a general-purpose solution. I'm also excited to share that Neumann reached out directly after my review, including a call from their CEO, which really demonstrates their commitment to engaging with the audio community.
How I Made an AI Music Video, Part 2: Video Generation
In this second part of my series, I break down the technical workflow I used to create the AI-generated visuals for "Through the Mystic Green," focusing on the challenge of maintaining character and style consistency across shots when video models treat each clip as isolated. Rather than fighting against the AI's limitations, I embraced a "happy accidents" approach inspired by Bob Ross, letting the AI guide the creative process and working collaboratively with tools like Kling 2.1 to create unexpected but compelling visual storytelling moments.
How I Made an AI Music Video, Part 1: Music Generation and Remixing Workflow
In this video, I break down the music production process behind my AI-generated animated music video "Through the Mystic Green," demonstrating that working with AI isn't about typing a prompt and getting a finished product—it's a collaborative, iterative process that requires traditional remixing and editing skills. I'll walk you through my complete workflow using Suno for music generation, from initial creation to stem separation and final production in Ableton, showing how AI serves as a powerful productivity tool that enhances rather than replaces creative expertise.
Through the Mystic Green
An experimental AI-generated music video combining generative AI for both music and visuals. This is the complete music video referenced in my upcoming tutorial series where I break down the entire production process, showing how AI tools integrate with traditional music production workflows.
Ranking the 10 Most Important Immersive Audio Technologies
In this video, I'm counting down the 10 most influential immersive audio formats that have transformed how we experience sound in three dimensions, based on my personal experience in spatial audio production. From pioneering 1970s surround sound to today's cutting-edge object-based standards, I'll break down the technical innovations, practical applications for producers, and accessibility of each format that has shaped the immersive audio landscape.
Nomono Sound Capsule Q&A: Addressing Your Comments & Concerns
In this follow-up video, I dive into viewer comments from my Nomono Sound Capsule review, addressing concerns about this $2,500 spatial audio podcast recording device that converts recordings to Dolby Atmos through cloud processing. While the technology is genuinely impressive—especially how it reconstructs speaker positions from audio alone—the device struggles to find its target market, sitting uncomfortably between average podcasters (too expensive) and professional users (not quite high-end enough).