The Art of Immersive Sound

Spatial Audio and the Science of Immersive Sound

Why Music Can Feel Like It’s Behind You

Sound engineers can shape music so that it seems to “land” in different positions in your listening field - above, below, in front, or even behind your head. This is achieved through spatial audio, which uses the science of psychoacoustics to recreate how we naturally perceive sound in space.

Key localisation cues:

  • Interaural Time Difference (ITD): A sound arriving at one ear milliseconds before the other.
  • Interaural Level Difference (ILD): Differences in loudness between ears, especially at high frequencies.
  • Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF): The filtering effect of the ear, head, and torso that helps us decode vertical and front-vs-back placement.

Challenge of “behind-the-head” audio:

Our ears and brain struggle to distinguish sounds directly in front vs. directly behind, since the cues are similar. Engineers overcome this with carefully tuned filters, reverbs, and EQ to avoid front-back confusion.

Application in MyReset:

By integrating spatial audio design, MyReset creates Soundscape Journeys that don’t just surround you - they move through you. This deepens immersion, encouraging your nervous system to shift into balance as if the sound is not just external, but woven into your inner field of awareness.

 

The Brain and Spatial Listening

How We Decode the Direction of Sound

Our ability to tell where a sound is coming from is one of the most sophisticated feats of human perception. The brain compares timing, volume, and filtering cues to construct a 3D “map” of sound.

  • ITD and ILD are most useful for side-to-side localisation.
  • HRTF cues allow us to sense sounds above or below, and in front or behind.
  • Visual and contextual cues are often combined with auditory ones, which is why spatial sound is more convincing with headphones or VR.

Health implications:

Immersive sound can enhance brain entrainment by engaging multiple sensory pathways at once. When the brain perceives sound “moving” in space, it can increase focus, shift attention, and deepen relaxation - similar to the grounding effect of mindfulness meditation.

Application in MyReset:

MyReset’s adaptive frequencies, enhanced with spatial depth, encourage the brain to enter a state of sensory synchrony, combining focus and calmness. This makes the listening experience not only pleasant but also neurologically supportive.

 

Psychoacoustics and Emotional Impact

Why the Where of Sound Matters for Wellness

Sound location isn’t just about perception - it also shapes emotion.

  • Sounds behind us can trigger vigilance, as our survival instincts associate them with unseen threats.
  • Sounds above or within the headspace may feel ethereal or expansive, creating awe and openness.
  • Surrounding sound fields evoke a sense of safety and immersion, reducing stress and anxiety.

Therapeutic perspective:

Spatial sound can be harnessed to modulate the nervous system. For example:

  • Placing calming tones “behind the ear” may help reduce vigilance and anxiety.
  • Expansive, above-head sound placement may encourage transcendence and mental spaciousness.
  • Gentle panning across the headfield can entrain rhythmic breathing and reduce heart rate.

Application in MyReset:

MyReset's sound engineer uses psychoacoustic design intentionally, guiding frequencies not only for brainwave entrainment but also for spatial placement. This adds an extra layer of nervous system support - sounds don’t just “play,” they interact with the listener’s felt sense of space and safety.

 

Engineering the Sound Field

Tools and Techniques for 3D Audio

To create these illusions, engineers use specialised methods:

  • Binaural recording: Capturing sound with microphones inside a dummy head to preserve natural HRTF cues.
  • Spatial processing plugins: Software algorithms simulate ITD, ILD, and HRTF effects in digital audio.
  • Reverb and EQ shaping: Adjusting reflections and frequency roll-offs to mimic real-world distance and positioning.

Dynamic movement: Panning and automation allow sounds to shift in real-time, further engaging the listener.

Application in MyReset:

Unlike generic meditation apps that loop static tracks, MyReset incorporates spatial design into complex Soundscape Journey compositions. This immerses the listener in a 360° field of adaptive sound - a living environment for balance, focus, or restorative rest.

 

Spatial Audio in Wellness and Medicine

From Immersion to Healing Potential

Spatial sound isn’t just for cinematic effect - it’s increasingly studied for health benefits:

  • Anxiety reduction: Immersive audio environments provide a sense of safety and presence.
  • Enhanced mindfulness: 3D sound anchors attention, helping users remain present.
  • Rehabilitation tools: Neurological therapies already use rhythmic auditory stimulation; spatial design may amplify engagement.
  • VR and pain management: Pairing spatial audio with VR has been shown to reduce pain perception and anxiety in medical settings.

Application in MyReset:

By blending entrainment frequencies with spatial immersion, MyReset Soundscape Journeys bridge science and artistry. The result is sound that not only entertains but also balances - supporting body, mind, and emotions through the subtle art of where the music is felt.

How to Begin - First Use Experience

Feeling the sound

People often feel sound in their bodies through the MyReset Soundscapes. Every person is unique, so your experience will vary - and your body adapts to the music in real time, depending on what you need.

Do you like it, and what do you feel?

FIRST USE: Listen to each track for 10–30 seconds and note your response:
1. I love it 2. I’m neutral 3. I dislike it OR Download your "Feel the Music Test" 

Note where you feel the sound in your body - this area is responding and adjusting to restore balance.

What it means

Love it - You’re close in resonance; continue listening to deepen balance.
Neutral - You’re balanced in this area.
Dislike - This Soundscape is what you most need; either listen immediately, or start with preferred tracks, and return later for a deeper reset when more comfortable.