Spatial Audio Design with Kasson Crooker

In this episode of Grit Daily, host Phillip Lanos is joined by Kasson Crooker, a seasoned expert in music, audio technology, and game development with over 30 years of experience. Kasson shares his journey from studying music production to creating iconic sounds for video games like Frequency and Guitar Hero. He reflects on the collaborative spirit of the early Harmonix team and his transition to working on spatial audio technology at Microsoft and THX.

Kasson delves into the fascinating world of spatial audio, explaining how it simulates the experience of natural hearing through headphones and its potential to revolutionize the music industry. He introduces the THX Spatial Creator tool, designed to allow musicians and sound designers to add spatial audio elements to their compositions, enhancing the listening experience on various platforms.

The conversation shifts to the role of AI in plugin development, where Kasson emphasizes its importance in improving user experience, though the current focus is on research in perception and psychoacoustics. He highlights the significant impact of spatial audio on speech-based content like podcasts and films, making them sound more natural and engaging.

Kasson and Phillip also discuss the evolution of music technology, from the misuse of tools like Auto-Tune to the exciting possibilities of VR and mixed reality in creating immersive entertainment experiences. The episode concludes with Kasson sharing insights into the partnership between TCHX and Plugin Alliance and TCHX's future focus on enhancing spatial audio for earbuds, promising a new era of auditory experiences.

Listeners are encouraged to explore the THX Spatial Creator Plugin, available for a 14-day free trial, and to stay tuned for the innovative developments in spatial audio technology that Kasson and his team are working on.

Learn more here: https://www.thx.com/blog/thx-spatial-creator-launch-plugin-alliance/

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