Spatial audio has been gaining popularity in recent and game audio companies are finding new ways to bring this sound experience to gamers. Last year Embody released Immerse Gaming software, which brought spatial sound to a select group of headsets. Today Embody releases Hive, the newest member of the Immerse Gaming ecosystem which is designed to work with any headset. Hive has presets for over twenty popular headset models from Audeze, Corsair, HyperX, Razer, Sennheiser and SteelSeries. Gamers whose headsets are not among those brands can use generic profiles that match the type of headset they are using. This allows the headset to maintain their own signature sound profile while giving a greater sense of immersion through spatial audio.
Hive software is able to create a realistic sound profile based on the user’s individual HRTF (head related transfer function) profile. This is a complex algorithm that deals with how sound is reflected in a person’s head and ear before reaching their eardrum. This is achieved by taking a picture of the user’s ear and having the Hive software analyze to map out how the sound should travel in order to create a more realistic and natural surround sound experience, making it easier to pinpoint the exact direct and distance sound is coming from in game. Additionally, Hive includes a sonar map in the form of transparent HUD overlay, adding visual cues to help point the player in the direction of the sound’s origin.
Audio cues play different roles in different games so Hive has three presets. Immerse mode is recommended for first-person shooters. Objects in the player’s field of vision are pulled forward in the sound field, since if the player can see them, using audio clues to locate them is less important while spatial sound’s emphasis is placed on objects outside of the player’s vision. Awaken mode is recommended for MOBAs and MMOs, where all audio is given the same spatial treatment to be aware of everything that is happening 360 degrees around the player. Close Combat is designed for RPGs, fighting and racing games. This mode pulls the soundscape closer to the player to feel the visceral intensity of each event.
The Hive software is available for a free fourteen day trial and after that it is a subscription-based service, for either one year or a discounted five year rate. After playing with it for a couple weeks we can attest that this software creates a noticeable difference in sound. 3D audio is something that adds an extra layer of immersion to gaming and this seems like a way for players to achieve it on PC without having to buy a headset specifically for that purpose. Switching the presets while doing other things besides gaming such as listening to music does have a prominent effect on the sound, so it’s a nice way to hear familiar things and notice new elements. Using the different presets in gaming changes how different elements of sound are heard relative to the player location.
