Stems, Eclipsa Audio, and the Rise of Immersive Audio: What to Know
Spatial audio has been making waves across multiple industries, from music to film to gaming. Apple Music, for example, has prioritized spatial audio for artists, enabling immersive listening experiences that place the listener at the center of the action. Similarly, the film industry is experiencing a resurgence of remastered theatrical releases, with many older films now being reintroduced with spatial soundscapes that take full advantage of modern immersive formats.
As these formats become more prominent in consumer-facing applications, the demand for high-quality spatial audio content continues to rise. This shift is creating exciting new opportunities for audio professionals to reimagine content in ways that weren’t possible before.
The Rapid Growth of Tools for Audio Engineers: Introducing Eclipsa Audio
The tools available to audio engineers have expanded rapidly in recent years, enabling more creative possibilities and more precise control over how sound is experienced. One such tool is Eclipsa Audio, a new immersive audio format launched in 2025. Developed by Google and Samsung, Eclipsa Audio offers a flexible, platform-agnostic solution that supports the growing trend toward spatial audio in both music and other media. Its design focuses on being royalty-free and easy to integrate, creating an accessible tool for audio professionals across industries.
Eclipsa Audio represents an important milestone in the development of spatial audio formats, providing a user-friendly and open alternative to proprietary systems. This new format opens the door for more audio engineers, musicians, and labels to experiment with and integrate spatial audio into their work without the constraints that may come with other formats.
Why Stems Are Critical to Spatial Audio
To fully take advantage of the power of spatial audio, access to high-quality stems is crucial. Stems allow audio professionals to isolate individual elements of a track (such as vocals, drums, or bass) and map them to specific points in a 3D audio space. Whether it’s placing an instrument behind the listener or adjusting the spatial relationship between different sounds, stems give engineers the ability to create a more dynamic, immersive experience.
Eclipsa Audio’s compatibility with high-quality stems makes it easier for professionals to reimagine their audio in immersive formats. With stem separation tools like AudioShake, it’s possible to take even full mix recordings and break them down into individual components, making them suitable for conversion into Eclipsa Audio’s immersive format.
Spatial9 Uses AudioShake to Unlock Immersive Experiences for Mario Valle
Spatial9 partnered with AudioShake to transform Marcos Valle’s tracks for the new Eclipsa Audio format. By using AudioShake’s stem separation technology, Spatial9 isolated vocals, instruments, and effects to create a dynamic 3D audio experience. This enabled precise placement of each audio element in a spatial mix, bringing the music to life in a fully immersive environment.
Through AudioShake's technology, Spatial9 processed eight tracks, offering a high-quality spatial audio experience that demonstrates the potential of Eclipsa Audio for music, film, and gaming. This collaboration highlights the critical role of stem separation in maximizing the creative opportunities within immersive audio formats.
Opportunities for Legacy Content and Creative Innovation
One of the most exciting opportunities in the world of spatial audio lies in the realm of legacy content. For many older tracks, especially those from past decades or even centuries, the individual stems may not have been preserved or are difficult to access. However, with AI-powered stem separation technology, such as that offered by AudioShake, audio professionals can unlock these lost stems and transform classic recordings into spatial audio masterpieces.
This not only offers a fresh creative direction for older content but also unlocks new financial opportunities. Labels and rights holders can revisit and remaster iconic albums, providing fans with a new way to experience their favorite music. Additionally, this can create new revenue streams as labels and distributors find fresh ways to release these remastered tracks on spatial audio platforms.
For musicians and engineers, working with legacy content provides a chance to reimagine some of the greatest works in music history, all while pushing the creative envelope of spatial audio formats.