Thought I'd paste this here as ChatGPT made a really good explanation for someone who gets the basics already:

Spatial audio and object-based audio are advanced audio technologies that aim to provide a more immersive and realistic audio experience in various media, including movies, music, and virtual reality. Here's a brief overview of each:


1. Spatial Audio:
- Spatial audio is a technology that creates a three-dimensional sound field, allowing listeners to perceive sound coming from different directions and distances, similar to how we hear sounds in the real world.
- It's often used in immersive audio experiences, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), to enhance the sense of presence and immersion.
- Spatial audio can be achieved using various techniques, including binaural audio (simulating how we hear with two ears), ambisonics (a full-sphere surround sound technique), and multi-channel speaker setups.
- It's commonly used in gaming, movie theaters, and VR applications to provide a more realistic and engaging auditory experience.


2. Object-Based Audio:
- Object-based audio is a flexible audio format that allows sound designers and content creators to manipulate individual audio objects within an audio scene. Each object represents a sound source, such as a character's voice, a musical instrument, or a special effect.
- Unlike traditional channel-based audio, where audio is mixed for specific speaker configurations (e.g., stereo, 5.1, 7.1), object-based audio is not tied to a fixed speaker setup. Instead, it contains metadata that describes how each audio object should be rendered based on the playback system's capabilities.
- This flexibility enables content to adapt to various playback environments, from headphones to high-end surround sound systems.
- Object-based audio is commonly used in interactive media, allowing real-time adjustments of audio objects based on user interactions or environmental factors.


Both spatial audio and object-based audio technologies aim to provide a more immersive and adaptable audio experience, whether you're watching a movie, playing a game, or engaging with virtual environments. They are at the forefront of audio innovation, enhancing the way we perceive and interact with sound in various forms of media.