This blog is reporting on a research project about the uses of binaural and other spatial audio formats for factual audio programme-making: from news packages through studio debates to long-form documentary or podcast serials.

There’s been lots of research on the technical aspects of spatial audio, but this project is specifically aimed at people who make content and considers spatiality and immersion from a programme-maker’s perspective.

Podcast listening with headphones is taking off worldwide, and the microphones and software for producing in spatial audio have become cheaper and more accessible than ever. Many people are now making reports, features and documentaries in binaural.

This project began in 2019, with a series of interviews and close listening to output (phase 1).

I then ran workshops on spatial audio for programme-makers (phase 2)

and continue (phase 3) to interview, observe, listen and run workshops, thanks to funding from the Leverhulme Trust, Research England via the Centre for Blended Realities at Falmouth University, and Screen Cornwall, and the support of partners Radio France Internationale and l’Université Paul Valéry Montpellier.

The project has defined issues for future research and development with regards to routine production practices, begun to expand the vocabulary to talk about soundspace, and the grammar of audio programme-making.

As well as workshops and talks, there have been a number of publications from the project (see above) and I’m currently (2026) writing a book Soundspace, which will be published open access.

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If you’re working in binaural journalism, you want to try it out, or you’ve heard an interesting example, please do get in touch.

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