Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Virtuoso Lite Plugin Review: A More Affordable Binaural Rendering Solution

In this video, I explore APL's new Virtuoso Lite, a more affordable version of my favorite binaural renderer for immersive audio production, comparing its features side-by-side with the full version of Virtuoso. While both plugins share the same high-quality algorithms and core functionality, I'll walk you through the key differences to help you determine which version might be the right fit for your immersive audio toolbox, especially if you're working with Dolby Atmos.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Is the Waves Immersive Wrapper Worth $250? An Honest Plugin Review

In this video, I take a hands-on look at the new Waves Immersive Wrapper plugin, which transforms Waves mono plugins into multi-channel tools for immersive audio production with flexible grouping, powerful sidechaining, and seamless integration between bed tracks and objects in Dolby Atmos. I'll demonstrate its innovative features and user-friendly interface by creating a practical workflow example in Reaper, showing how it can be integrated into both professional and hobbyist immersive audio production environments.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

3D Audio For Everyone: Exploring AudioSpace by Sounding Future

In this video, I chat with Fränk Zimmer about Sounding Future's AudioSpace – a free community-driven platform that helps immersive audio creators distribute their Ambisonics and multichannel productions while offering listeners high-quality binaural playback through any browser. Fränk shares insights about their rendering process, future plans including webcam-based head tracking, and how the platform serves as a valuable resource for both experienced spatial audio creators and newcomers looking to explore beyond mainstream formats like Dolby Atmos.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

How to Use the WavesNX Head Tracker with Dolby Atmos - Finally Made Simple!

In this video, I demonstrate how to use the WavesNX Head Tracker with the Dolby Atmos renderer using the latest version of NXOSC (v1.0.5), which now allows users to specify custom port settings. This eliminates the need for complex workarounds when dealing with port conflicts, enabling smooth integration between the WavesNX hardware and the Dolby Atmos renderer's native head tracking capabilities.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

My Essential Plugins for Spatial Audio: What's on My New MacBook

In this video, I walk you through my essential audio plugin setup on my new MacBook, showcasing the tools I consider most important for working with spatial audio. From binaural renderers and ambisonics processors to specialized Dolby Atmos tools and traditional stereo plugins, I explain why each tool makes it onto my system and how I incorporate them into my immersive audio workflow.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

I Made My Studio Headphones Listen to AirPods

Learn how to turn your Apple AirPods into a head tracking device for studio headphones using just silicone ear hooks and a few simple settings adjustments. By combining the AirPods' precise head tracking capabilities with your preferred studio headphones, you can create a powerful setup for immersive audio production, including Dolby Atmos, without investing in expensive dedicated tracking hardware.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Create Perfect Immersive Audio from Stereo in Minutes

In this video, I demonstrate how to use INU (Immersive Nulling Up-mixer), a powerful and affordable plugin that converts stereo tracks into multichannel mixes for Dolby Atmos while preserving the original stereo fold-down. I'll walk you through the complete setup process in Reaper and show you how to use INU's features to manipulate direct and diffuse signals, control LFE and center channels, and adjust height and spatial positioning in your mix.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Headitude: The Best Head Tracking Solution for Audio Production?

In this video, I demonstrate how to set up and use Headitude, a free macOS application that captures head tracking data from Apple AirPods and guides you through integration with both Dolby Atmos Renderer and Cubase/Nuendo. I explain the unique features of Headitude, including its position maintenance and flexible OSC message formatting, while showing how Windows users can benefit from this setup by using an Apple Silicon Mac as an audio interface.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

How to Start Making Dolby Atmos Music for Free (Complete Beginner's Guide)

In this video, I show you how to get started with Dolby Atmos music production using free tools, demonstrating a complete workflow with Reaper and the Fiedler Audio Dolby Atmos Composer Essential plugin. I walk through everything from basic setup to exporting master files, and even show how to achieve accurate monitoring using headphones with head tracking technology, making Dolby Atmos production accessible without requiring an expensive studio setup.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Stemcell 2: Game-Changing Spectral Multichannel Ducking Plugin (Unless You Use Reaper)

In this review, I examine Stemcell 2, a multi-channel stem processor from The Cargo Cult that offers unique spectral ducking capabilities but suffers from significant limitations in Reaper due to its automatic channel layout detection inherited from its Pro Tools origins. While the plugin shines in DAWs like Studio One and could be valuable for film and TV audio work, its high price point and compatibility issues make it worth testing thoroughly before purchase, with Reaper users potentially better served by alternatives from Waves or PSP AudioWare.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Ground Control Sphere V2: Brilliant Update, One Big Problem

In this video, I explore version 2 of Ginger Audio's Ground Control Sphere, a virtual monitoring application for immersive audio that brings new features including a redesigned interface, multiple audio interface support, improved bass management, and deeper Apple Spatial Audio integration with AirPods head tracking. While the update significantly improves upon version 1, I discovered some workflow issues with the AirPods integration, though the software remains a powerful tool for immersive audio monitoring on Mac systems.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Redefining Multi-Channel Audio in the IEM Space | Qudelix T71 System Review

In this video, I explore Qudelix's innovative audio lineup, including the popular 5K Dongle DAC and the groundbreaking T71 system - the world's first portable DAC capable of true 7.1 surround sound output. I'll take a deep dive into the T71 IEMs' unique approach to spatial audio using physical driver positioning, and reveal why its unprecedented driver-level EQ customization might be even more revolutionary than its surround sound capabilities.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Do You Really Need Special Headphones for Binaural Audio? | Sony MDR-MV1 Review

In this detailed comparison of the Sony MDR-MV1 headphones against the Ollo Audio S5X and Sennheiser HD490 Pro, I discover that the concept of "binaural-optimized headphones" might be oversold, as all three high-end headphones perform nearly identically for binaural audio, suggesting that buyers should focus more on personal comfort and sonic preferences rather than specific binaural capabilities.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

I Couldn't Tell Reality from Virtual Mixing Studio | Sony 360 VME Review

In this video, I explore Sony's revolutionary 360 Virtual Mixing Environment (360 VME), a system that creates a personalized virtual studio experience through headphones by precisely matching your individual ear and head geometry, taking you through the sophisticated measurement process, software setup, and real-world applications, particularly in educational settings.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

My Controversial Take on Dolby Atmos Music Production

In this video, I address comments and clarify misconceptions about my recent Dolby Atmos videos, emphasizing that while professional Atmos setups are expensive, hobbyists and semi-professionals shouldn't be discouraged from entering the Atmos production space. I explain that most consumers can't fully experience high-end Atmos productions due to limitations in their playback systems, so bedroom producers can start with more accessible setups and still create competitive Atmos mixes.

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Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner Immersive Audio Michael G Wagner

Virtuoso 2: The Swiss Army Knife for Binaural Audio Got an Update

In this video, I dive into the exciting new features of Virtuoso 2, the latest update to APL's popular binaural rendering plugin. From new HRTFs and enhanced head tracking to a customizable EQ and the ability to play Dolby Atmos master files in the standalone version, I'll guide you through the key improvements and discuss their potential impact on your audio workflow.

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