{"video_id":"yPQG9qOr6nw","title":"Virtual Surround Sound as Fast As Possible","channel":"Techquickie","show":"Techquickie","published_at":"2015-05-07T14:58:16Z","duration_s":233,"segments":[{"start_s":0.16,"end_s":4.96,"text":"Virtual surround is a true representation of human ingenuity and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":3.36,"end_s":8.88,"text":"the advances that scientific research can have on technology. It essentially","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":7.12,"end_s":13.12,"text":"tricks your ears into thinking that sound which is coming from a 2.1 channel","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":11.04,"end_s":17.68,"text":"setup or a small strip of speakers using a technique called digital sound","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":14.719,"end_s":21.68,"text":"projection is actually coming from a 5.1 channel or higher speaker setup. If","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":20.16,"end_s":25.519,"text":"anyone doesn't know what the naming scheme for a surround speaker setup","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":23.439,"end_s":29.279,"text":"means, the first number five in this case refers to the number of speakers in","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":27.519,"end_s":33.84,"text":"the system. And the number after the point, in this case one, refers to the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":31.599,"end_s":38.079,"text":"number of subwoofers in the system. Both 2.1 and digital sound projection work","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":36.559,"end_s":41.92,"text":"because of advancements in psycho acoustics, which is the study of sound","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":39.92,"end_s":45.52,"text":"perception. They trick your ears by carefully directing sound waves at","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":43.84,"end_s":49.6,"text":"specific angles and bouncing them off walls to make you think that the sound","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":47.44,"end_s":53.28,"text":"is actually coming from behind or beside you rather than in front of you. You","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":51.52,"end_s":57.199,"text":"see, your ears are pretty adept at recognizing where sound is coming from.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":55.44,"end_s":61.199,"text":"This is why when you hear something drop in a silent room, you're often able to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":59.28,"end_s":65.519,"text":"instantly identify whether the sound is to your left or right. We can tell what","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":63.76,"end_s":69.6,"text":"direction a sound is coming from because we have two ears which have a certain","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":67.52,"end_s":73.76,"text":"distance between them. So, for example, a sound to your left will be louder in","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":71.6,"end_s":77.92,"text":"your left ear than in your right ear. Also, the sound waves will hit your left","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":75.68,"end_s":82.32,"text":"ear a fraction of a second sooner than your right. It's these slight","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":80.0,"end_s":86.159,"text":"differences in timing and volume that tell you what direction a sound is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":83.84,"end_s":91.439,"text":"coming from on the x-axis. This is called the interoral level difference","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":88.32,"end_s":93.36,"text":"and interoral time difference. Lucky for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":91.439,"end_s":97.28,"text":"developers of virtual surround sound systems, the x-axis is the only one they","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":95.6,"end_s":101.36,"text":"have to worry about. This is because of something that many refer to as the cone","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":99.2,"end_s":105.439,"text":"of confusion, which is an area in which objects which are above or below us","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":103.68,"end_s":109.439,"text":"cause the same interoral level difference and interoral time","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":107.119,"end_s":113.759,"text":"difference. This also applies to objects which are in front of us or behind us at","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":111.84,"end_s":118.479,"text":"certain angles. So, how do virtual surround systems know how to simulate a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":115.759,"end_s":123.04,"text":"5.1 or higher channel system? Quite simply, through recording a system of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":120.799,"end_s":126.159,"text":"that size with directional microphones in a real world setting, which takes","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":124.799,"end_s":132.08,"text":"into account the interruptions of a soundwave by your head, neck, and shoulders, and simulating that with an","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":129.759,"end_s":135.76,"text":"algorithm. This is why some systems will have a room size rating and why some","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":134.239,"end_s":140.239,"text":"even need to be configured with a microphone to work properly. The size of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":138.48,"end_s":144.16,"text":"the room needs to be accounted for so the waves can properly bounce off the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":142.239,"end_s":148.319,"text":"walls to simulate full surround experience. Virtual surround headphones","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":146.4,"end_s":152.16,"text":"do something similar by using the shape of your ears to project sound from","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":150.16,"end_s":156.8,"text":"different angles. Many of these have a general oneizefits-all setting based on","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":154.64,"end_s":160.959,"text":"average ear sizes, but options like Razer Surround are quite customizable,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":159.12,"end_s":165.599,"text":"so you can tweak the placement of each virtual speaker to perfect your","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":163.36,"end_s":168.72,"text":"listening experience if you so choose. To give an example of what good virtual","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":167.36,"end_s":172.4,"text":"surround should sound like through headphones, check out this video which","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":170.56,"end_s":176.8,"text":"uses bionural sound recording to simulate surround sound. So that's it.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":174.879,"end_s":180.72,"text":"Virtual surround in itself isn't that complicated, but it's made possible by a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":178.879,"end_s":184.64,"text":"variety of extremely complicated scientific studies and tests, but the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":182.56,"end_s":187.84,"text":"execution is actually quite simple. Just like today's episode sponsor,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":186.0,"end_s":191.76,"text":"Squarespace, the simple way to set up and host your personal, professional, or","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":189.599,"end_s":195.44,"text":"business website. Squarespace is trusted by companies of all sizes, from one man","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":193.68,"end_s":199.44,"text":"or woman operations to small startups like us, all the way up to multinational","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":197.36,"end_s":203.04,"text":"brands like Volvo. They have a wide variety of templates that you can use to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":201.2,"end_s":206.8,"text":"make your own using their style editor. And designing your site is a breeze. In","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":205.12,"end_s":210.799,"text":"our case, rather than having Luke create the site, our designer Edel was able to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":208.879,"end_s":215.12,"text":"do it with no issues. Plans start at only $8 a month for personal sites, $16","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":213.2,"end_s":219.2,"text":"a month for professional sites, and just $24 a month for business sites. So, head","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":217.28,"end_s":222.72,"text":"over to squarespace.com/Linus to get your free trial today and create","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":221.2,"end_s":226.08,"text":"your next personal, professional, or business website. Thanks for watching","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":224.319,"end_s":229.76,"text":"this episode of Fast as Possible. Give us a like or a dislike and leave your","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":227.92,"end_s":232.159,"text":"comments below about virtual surround sound.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"Virtual surround is a true representation of human ingenuity and the advances that scientific research can have on technology. It essentially tricks your ears into thinking that sound which is coming from a 2.1 channel setup or a small strip of speakers using a technique called digital sound projection is actually coming from a 5.1 channel or higher speaker setup. If anyone doesn't know what the naming scheme for a surround speaker setup means, the first number five in this case refers to the number of speakers in the system. And the number after the point, in this case one, refers to the number of subwoofers in the system. Both 2.1 and digital sound projection work because of advancements in psycho acoustics, which is the study of sound perception. They trick your ears by carefully directing sound waves at specific angles and bouncing them off walls to make you think that the sound is actually coming from behind or beside you rather than in front of you. You see, your ears are pretty adept at recognizing where sound is coming from. This is why when you hear something drop in a silent room, you're often able to instantly identify whether the sound is to your left or right. We can tell what direction a sound is coming from because we have two ears which have a certain distance between them. So, for example, a sound to your left will be louder in your left ear than in your right ear. Also, the sound waves will hit your left ear a fraction of a second sooner than your right. It's these slight differences in timing and volume that tell you what direction a sound is coming from on the x-axis. This is called the interoral level difference and interoral time difference. Lucky for developers of virtual surround sound systems, the x-axis is the only one they have to worry about. This is because of something that many refer to as the cone of confusion, which is an area in which objects which are above or below us cause the same interoral level difference and interoral time difference. This also applies to objects which are in front of us or behind us at certain angles. So, how do virtual surround systems know how to simulate a 5.1 or higher channel system? Quite simply, through recording a system of that size with directional microphones in a real world setting, which takes into account the interruptions of a soundwave by your head, neck, and shoulders, and simulating that with an algorithm. This is why some systems will have a room size rating and why some even need to be configured with a microphone to work properly. The size of the room needs to be accounted for so the waves can properly bounce off the walls to simulate full surround experience. Virtual surround headphones do something similar by using the shape of your ears to project sound from different angles. Many of these have a general oneizefits-all setting based on average ear sizes, but options like Razer Surround are quite customizable, so you can tweak the placement of each virtual speaker to perfect your listening experience if you so choose. To give an example of what good virtual surround should sound like through headphones, check out this video which uses bionural sound recording to simulate surround sound. So that's it. Virtual surround in itself isn't that complicated, but it's made possible by a variety of extremely complicated scientific studies and tests, but the execution is actually quite simple. Just like today's episode sponsor, Squarespace, the simple way to set up and host your personal, professional, or business website. Squarespace is trusted by companies of all sizes, from one man or woman operations to small startups like us, all the way up to multinational brands like Volvo. They have a wide variety of templates that you can use to make your own using their style editor. And designing your site is a breeze. In our case, rather than having Luke create the site, our designer Edel was able to do it with no issues. Plans start at only $8 a month for personal sites, $16 a month for professional sites, and just $24 a month for business sites. So, head over to squarespace.com/Linus to get your free trial today and create your next personal, professional, or business website. Thanks for watching this episode of Fast as Possible. Give us a like or a dislike and leave your comments below about virtual surround sound."}