All Spheric collections are recorded in B-format (1st order Ambisonic). To decode and use them — in stereo, binaural, 5.1, 7.1.4 or Dolby Atmos — here is everything you need.
What is ambisonic?
Ambisonic is a full-sphere surround format: instead of fixed channels, it captures the whole 3D sound field. From a single B-format recording you can decode to whatever you need — stereo, binaural (headphones), 5.1, 7.1.4 or Dolby Atmos — and even rotate the scene after the recording. One file, every format.
How to use your files
- Format — 4-channel B-format, 1st order (W, X, Y, Z), high-resolution WAV.
- Channel convention — FuMa (traditional B-format, as delivered by the SoundField microphone). Some modern tools expect ambiX (ACN/SN3D); a simple converter handles it — IEM, ATK and Harpex read FuMa directly.
- Native DAW support — Pro Tools Ultimate has dedicated ambisonic tracks and busses (1st, 2nd and 3rd order, ambiX), and Reaper handles ambisonic on standard multichannel tracks — both are ideal hosts for the plug-ins below.
- Decode in 3 steps — 1) load the B-format file on an ambisonic / multichannel track in your DAW; 2) insert a free decoder (IEM, SoundField by RØDE or ATK); 3) pick your output: stereo, binaural, 5.1…
Tools to decode & play ambisonic
IEM Plug-in Suite Free
Free, open-source suite (up to 7th order) from the Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics. A complete ambisonic chain: encoders, rotators, reverbs and decoders for headphones (binaural) and any loudspeaker layout. VST / VST3 / AU / AAX — macOS, Windows, Linux.
SPARTA & COMPASS Free
Open-source spatial-audio plug-in suite from Aalto University. Encoders, decoders, binaural rendering and parametric (COMPASS) tools. Free for personal and commercial use. VST — macOS, Windows, Linux.
Ambisonic Toolkit (ATK) for Reaper Free
Free, open-source toolkit focused on first-order ambisonics — exactly your files. Encoders, transforms (rotate/zoom the sound field) and decoders, as JSFX plug-ins for Reaper (and other DAWs via ReaJS). Reads FuMa.
SoundField by RØDE Free
Free ambisonic processor with frequency-domain rendering. Reads A-format and B-format and decodes to stereo, mono, 5.1, 7.1 and 7.1.4 (with height). A simple, high-quality starting point. macOS & Windows.
Sennheiser AMBEO / Dear Reality Free
The AMBEO A–B format converter and its free successor dearVR AMBI MICRO handle A-format → B-format conversion and ambisonic monitoring (FuMa & ambiX). Part of the Sennheiser AMBEO immersive ecosystem. VST / AU / AAX.
Harpex (Harpex-B / Harpex-X) Paid · 30-day trial
Premium active-matrix processor for sound-field recordings, prized for its exceptional spatial detail when decoding and upsampling ambisonic. Works with A-format (SoundField, Sennheiser, Zoom…) and AmbiX / FuMa B-format. VST / AU / AAX.
Blue Ripple Sound — O3A Suite O3A Core free Pro paid
Higher-order ambisonic (HOA) toolset. O3A Core is free; the O3A Decoding library renders mixes to 5.1, 7.1.2 and binaural stereo, plus reverb and manipulators. VST2 / AAX — Reaper, Pro Tools, Pyramix.
Noise Makers — Ambi Head HD Paid
Specialist plug-in to turn ambisonic into 3D binaural (up to 7th order). Multiple HRTFs (Sennheiser AMBEO, Google, Facebook) and custom SOFA import for personalised headphone listening. macOS & Windows.
Sound Particles Paid
Immersive 3D audio workstation used by major film studios. Full support for Ambisonics, multichannel and Dolby Atmos, with virtual ambisonic microphones to place and capture sound in 3D space.
FLUX:: SPAT Revolution Paid
Real-time immersive spatialization engine from FLUX:: and IRCAM. Encodes and renders ambisonic up to 7th order, with built-in format & normalization conversion (FuMa ↔ ambiX), plus binaural and many panning methods (WFS, DBAP…). For studio, post and live. AAX / AU / VST.
Tip: for binaural previews on this site, simply use headphones. All collections ship as B-format files ready for the tools above.