With technology constantly changing, it comes as no surprise to us that the audio industry is no exception. Basically, as innovators and audio lovers, we at Volkano want to ensure that we are keeping abreast of any changes. Consequently, we ensure the very best for you, the consumer, with the latest and greatest tech trends available. Let’s have a look at what trends we can expect, or that have recently come about. Consequently
Audio Takes on the Cloud
The pandemic in 2020 brought about an era of almost immediate change in the working structure of most professions. Markedly, the need for digitalisation and agility within the “audio space” was also identified. Thanks to the cloud, people can work from where they are, bringing you, live music, podcasts, and live sports. We can credit the constant development of technology for allowing us access to almost everything from wherever we are. The “want” to consume audio has not changed, however, we don’t need to consolidate in one place to get it anymore. For instance, we no longer need to a wired stereo to hear our favourite songs. We can now stream from wherever we are, thanks to the capabilities of the cloud. Those distributing the media, like those working live sporting events, can access audio and cameras from an event, from home.
Spatial Audio and the Metaverse
Spatial sound allows you to feel like you are inside the movie or soundtrack you are listening to. Basically, spatial audio works like surround sound that plays through your speakers or headphones, immersing you in “sound”. Now, the metaverse. The metaverse can be described as a virtual world where people live, work, shop, etc without having to leave their couches in the real world. We saw this become more profound recently as Fortnite (the game) hosted a concert. Further, TV shows like, “The Masked Singer” have used an avatar in their show. They do this to hide the identity of the celeb behind the voice of the character. In the future, we can expect to see holographic characters up on stage when we go to concerts. However, that is still to come, yet we do believe that we have just scratched the surface of spatial audio and the metaverse.
Control Music with Your Mind!
Yes, you read right! A company based in France has managed to develop technology that allows you to control the music with your thoughts. You can now control basic music functions with your thoughts. Music too loud? Think about turning the volume down and it will soften. Not a fan of the song that is playing? Skip it, or mute it, without having to lift a finger. This is done through a system called “EarEEG” which combines an AI algorithm with the data captured by the sensors. We thought that voice commands using Alexa, or Google was up there, by using gesture and voice recognition. Unquestionably, mind control really does take it to another level. Learn more about mind–controlled earbuds here.
Dolby Atmos Listening Experience
Dolby Atmos boasts a listening experience that has been described as a more immersive and realistic listening journey. What this listening voyage does, is it adapts your sound, to the device that you are listening through. For example, it will adapt itself differently when you are listening through your headphones as opposed to through your soundbar. This is done to provide the ultimate sound escapade. Surprisingly accurately, the Dolby Atmos experience is likened to “sound that you can feel all around you”. With this type of listening adventure, you will feel fully immersed in the pleasure of your entertainment choice. Revel in this indulgence while you are watching live sports, a movie, or simply getting lost in your music.
ANC and ENC Noise Cancelling
Noise cancelling has been around for some time. However, due to constant upgrades in technology, we can attribute developing noise–cancelling capabilities to the list. Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) ensures that while you listen to music or take a call, your surroundings do distract you. Environmental Noise Cancelling (ENC) is great for the person you are calling, blocking background noise, and ensuring they hear you clearly. We are excited to see what noise-cancelling developments are going to emerge from the woodwork going forward.
Audio Development
Ultimately, the need to listen to and enjoy music and podcasts will always be there. The real question is how we will choose to consume it in the future. With constantly evolving technology the possibilities of our listening journey will be endless. We at Volkano will constantly watch the trends and ensure that you, the consumer, are always getting the latest and greatest audio tech from us!