Hello everyone, today I tried to perform this test that I would like to share with you to understand whether I made a mistake or if there is an error in the render.
In the image below, you can see the recording of three streams of the same track:
the binaural bounce of Nuendo’s internal render
the binaural emitted by Amazon Music
the binaural emitted by Apple Music
As you can see, the bounce of the internal render is completely phase-inverted compared to the other two. Does anyone have an explanation?
So let me get this: The first one is your own render, which is the correct one, while the other two are already processed by Amazon and Apple, respectively, by their own system in their own server / building?
If that is the case, well, you have to contact Amazon and Apple to have them correct this rather big issue.
The source of the Nuendo render is my mix project, just bounce the render in “binaural” setting.
The source of Amazon an Apple is the jack out of my iphone, recorded in my sound card
So, what is supplied to the Amazon and Apple services doing the (possible) transcoding and the (from what I understand) streaming? This is what I was referring as the “source”. If it’s a stereo binaural file, are the upload settings to Amazon and Apple clear on the fact that it is a binaural file?
If the comparison is based on what you’re describing, maybe:
the analog output of the iPhone is reversing polarity
the cable to connect the iPhone to the sound card is reversing polarity
the input of the sound card is reversing polarity, in the analog domain or the digital domain.
So, there are lot of places where that polarity gets possibly reversed.
I would like to point out that the Apple process is not the same as the Dolby process. The playback of a binaural file via Apple will therefore always be different from what the Atmos renderer outputs.
That’s what a sound engineer and mastering friend of mine, who records and mixes classical ensembles and large orchestras, told me. He’s pretty well connected all over the industry, so I consider what he tells me to be right. But I didn’t ask him for his sources and written proof!
In case of mobile devices your friend is right as long as we talk about North America. The figures will look different in other parts of the world. Here’s an exemplary list I came up with in a quick search with ChatGPT (take it with a grain of salt, therefore …), showing the market shares of the top five mobile operating systems for the last three years, sorted by continents:
2022
North America
Android: 46%
iOS: 49%
Windows: 3%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
Europe
Android: 56%
iOS: 40%
Windows: 3%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
Asia
Android: 70%
iOS: 25%
Windows: 3%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
2023
North America
Android: 44%
iOS: 52%
Windows: 2%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
Europe
Android: 54%
iOS: 42%
Windows: 2%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
Asia
Android: 67%
iOS: 28%
Windows: 2%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
2024
North America
Android: 42%
iOS: 55%
Windows: 1%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
Europe
Android: 52%
iOS: 45%
Windows: 1%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
Asia
Android: 65%
iOS: 31%
Windows: 2%
BlackBerry: 1%
Other: 1%
On desktop systems, the market shares are even less Apple-centric:
2022
North America
Windows: 72%
macOS: 20%
Linux: 5%
Chrome OS: 2%
Other: 1%
Europe
Windows: 78%
macOS: 15%
Linux: 5%
Chrome OS: 1%
Other: 1%
Asia
Windows: 82%
macOS: 10%
Linux: 6%
Chrome OS: 1%
Other: 1%
2023
North America
Windows: 70%
macOS: 22%
Linux: 5%
Chrome OS: 2%
Other: 1%
Europe
Windows: 76%
macOS: 17%
Linux: 5%
Chrome OS: 1%
Other: 1%
Asia
Windows: 80%
macOS: 12%
Linux: 6%
Chrome OS: 1%
Other: 1%
2024
North America
Windows: 68%
macOS: 24%
Linux: 5%
Chrome OS: 2%
Other: 1%
Europe
Windows: 74%
macOS: 19%
Linux: 5%
Chrome OS: 1%
Other: 1%
Asia
Windows: 78%
macOS: 14%
Linux: 6%
Chrome OS: 1%
Other: 1%
But even then, there is still a considerable part of the audience that will listen on dedicated devices like hi-fi systems, sound bars etc… Bottom line: I wouldn’t over-estimate the importance of the Apple ecosystem.
Thanks Dietz, that’s very interesting. I wonder what the results would be if we limited ourselves to classical music. But it’s not that important. In any case, we see a kind of equality between the biggest players. They’re dividing up the world…
There are also hybrids, like me, who listen to Apple Music on my home PC.
What’s really annoying for us creators is that there are several technological worlds within the immersive framework. We’re in an in-between period where nothing is definitive (if anything ever is). For my part, I only work in Dolby Atmos, which will create certain problems, I imagine, when it comes time to enter the Apple mill. But between you and me, I’ve got enough on my plate with creation and mixing, and I’m counting on my mastering supplier, who knows all about this, to save my projects from this trap. I’m on my first immersive project, which will take me a total of 18 months of work or more. When I get to mastering, and therefore supported by specialists (which I’m not), I’m going to take a closer look at these things and try to understand them better. On this forum, there are some very interesting threads on the subject (which is a bit beyond me).
… These are certainly the most obvious variables that must be ruled out as a source of error first and foremost.