Students from across the University of Westminster's music and media courses visited HHB Communications in London for an exclusive hands-on session with the Sony 360 Virtual Mixed Environment (VME) system, an immersive audio technology that delivers personalised spatial sound through standard headphones.
The visit, held on 24 April, was organised by the SPARKX Lab, the University’s hands-on creative technology hub dedicated to studio production, applied research and knowledge exchange led by Grammy Award-winning Audio Innovation Technologist Natalia Milanesi. Supported by Lecturer in Audio for Media Dr Susanne Grunewald, the trip brought together students from the University’s Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours, Audio Production MA, Music Business Management MA and Film BA Honours courses.
Following the visit, students were able to take home their own individual acoustic measurement profiles and claim a free trial of the Sony 360 VME software, allowing them to explore the technology with their own home mixing setups and experience personalised immersive audio in their everyday working environment over the next few weeks.
The Sony 360 VME uses head-related transfer function (HRTF) data and acoustic measurements unique to each listener's ear shape to create a convincing and spatially accurate immersive audio experience without the need for specialist speaker setups.
About the visit, Milanesi said: “Having students go through the individual measurement process themselves makes the science behind immersive audio tangible in a way that a lecture simply cannot. The Sony 360 VME is a system that professionals are using right now, so giving students direct access to it along with their own personalised profiles, is exactly the kind of experience SPARKX Lab is here to provide. SPARKX Lab thanks HHB Communications for hosting the visit and for supporting access to this technology for University of Westminster’s students.”
Dr Grunewald added: “Multichannel and immersive formats are no longer a niche specialism. Surround sound formats are industry standard and post-production facilities, broadcast stations and streaming platforms expect practitioners to deliver appropriately mixed audio in various multichannel formats. Giving students direct exposure to tools like the Sony 360 VME is a great opportunity to prepare them for an industry that is by now working at the next level of spatial audio.”
SPARKX Lab directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Music courses at the University of Westminster.
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