Binaural audio is loosely defined as two-channel audio that has been filtered or recorded to sound like humans hear[1], meaning that the sound appears to be coming from outside of the listener’s head at some appropriate point in space. Though binaural audio was first seen as far back as the 1880s [2], it did not rise in popularity until recently as it would take specialised equipment to record and headphones to listen to.

With the rise of interest in 360° technology and the progress in audio and visual technology in general, binaural audio has peaked the interest of those that make Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) content and developers in the Alternate Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) industry. Virtual Reality has several competing definitions [3] but, very generally, is a simulated experience that one is immersed in. This can encapsulate AR and Virtual Experiences (VE) though VR is also its own entity unto itself.

To improve the immersion of the experience, binaural audio has been paired with VR in many cases. Marrying these two mediums comes with many issues as the number of variables that need to be accounted for are numerous.

This paper discusses some of these issues and describes solutions or options to solve said issues.