Not all gaming headsets are created equal. At least, until now that is. There is such a wide variety of quality when it comes to both sound quality and features. However, when it comes to surround vs stereo, barriers are being broken every day. Now, any pair of headphones or any gaming headset can bask in the benefits of virtual surround thanks to software solutions like Immerse Gaming | HIVE by Embody.
This is a software solution that can be installed on any Windows 10 computer. It takes your boring stereo device and breaks it out into multiple virtual channels using AI-driven spatial audio. Something we have come across before, but this round it is all about the gamers. Allowing gamers to get the full audio experience out of the game they are playing and gain the upper hand against their opponents as they come around corners or try to approach from behind.
A solution that is more than just virtual sound. It is a personalized virtual sound experience that is shaped to the user behind the headset.
A solution that extends further than audio by also providing a radar that visually defines where a sound is coming from. Heightening your senses all the more.
It all begins with the shape of your ear. Each person’s ear is unique. Unique in its size, its shape, and its position on the head. Because of this, each person can experience sound differently, but in the end, hear the exact same thing as another. The experience is simply how audio travels to the ear and gets processed by the brain. Adapting to the unique shape of things to learn how to process it all.
For this reason, the HIVE needs to understand what your ear looks like on that head of yours. When you install the software, it asks for your email address. Upon confirming your email, it then provides you with a custom QR code to scan with your phone. This then takes you to a website that walks you through taking an image of your right ear. Just (the) one ear is needed and once you do, the image automatically syncs to your account (attached to just your email, as no passwords are required [yet]). That’s it. The software will then adapt its effects to the details of your unique ears. You can then add additional profiles if other users may be using the computer as well.
The process is incredibly user-friendly and fast. You’ll be hitting the ground running in no time at all, learning how to use the software to further configure everything to your setup.
The software is well-designed and doesn’t leave anything to guess. You know who you are signed in as, you can easily switch the output device directly from the screen, you have control over volume, and you can quickly toggle back to stereo at any time.
Then you have the ability to select which gaming headset you are using. There is a collection of options to choose from, including multiple models from popular names like Audeze, Logitech G, Razer, SteelSeries, and more.
Under each brand are presets for certain models. Some contain a single model like the above image shows and others contain multiple models to choose from. Each one helps to dial the performance of the app even further, customizing the audio to the headset you are using just as it does your ears.
If your headset isn’t listed, you can choose from a series of generic profiles that should work with virtually any other gaming headset out there.
Then, looking back at the main screen, you’ll also see three icons at the bottom. These represent specific game genres. With this, you can go even further down the rabbit hole by adjusting the distance of the soundstage a little (from close to further away). Each benefiting a selection of games like first-person shooters, racing games, MMORPGs, fighting games, and more.
Further and further down the rabbit hole you go. You can dial some of these options in manually as well within the settings. However, the pre-sets are there to make switching band and forth an easy task.
Now, let’s take a look at the radar function I briefly spoke of earlier. This is something that allows the software to extend past just being a virtual surround solution and into a tool for gamers looking to get the upper hand in their favorite games.
The top of the main screen contains a small icon that looks like a radar. When clicked, it minimizes the software and replaces it with a semi-transparent radar called “Sonar”. It is a visualization of the sounds around you. Focusing on the sound being made by your opponents. You can hear them thanks to the spatial sound being delivered to your ears, but you can now also see them as well as Sonar will light up to show you where they are coming from (footsteps, gunfire, explosions, etc).
The Sonar widget can be moved anywhere on the screen that works best for the user. It can then be locked so you don’t unintentionally drag it around as you are concentrating on the game.
So you have two upper hands against your opponents. You have 360-degree spatial sound and a 360-degree radar. That is unless your opponents are also making use of the same software. There is always the chance of that.
Performance
We spent some time with it using the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro Gaming Headset. To make sure we fully grasped what the software was doing, we started with the features turned off. Sticking to stereo use until we were ready.
Once ready, we switched it on and gave it a go. We had already tested it by itself using various surround tests (video/audio files). However, when you are in a game, everything changes. Your concentration isn’t spent trying to look for the surround. Instead, you are focusing on the game, which is then enhanced once your brain realizes everything around you is in surround.
The difference was absolutely noticeable. Like many virtual surround options for headphones, it isn’t going to replace having physical speakers running around you. However, the difference is there and you won’t be questioning it.
The Beyerdynamic headset does have a profile for itself. At the moment, it is the only profile under the brand actually (as you can tell a few images back). More will likely be added, but for now, any other model from the company would have to rely on one of the generic profiles (which do work). It paired quite nicely with the software.
We then switched to using the Penrose headset by Audeze. This was even better than the Beyerdynamic model (there are, at least, more here who agrees with that assessment than disagrees). This is mostly due to the level of sound quality more than anything.
However, we then dug around looking for an older headset. We looked for something abstract and came across an old Kinetic 212 that was sent into us ages ago. It was originally only available from Kohls, now only found used from various places like Amazon. Lo and behold, it worked. The audio was terrible, but the effect was there. Showing that this software truly does have a lot of flexibility to it. It really isn’t a surprise since an analog connection is an analog connection. However it still made for a fun test.
Cost
Unlike some of the virtual surround solutions out there, there is a cost for this one. It isn’t so much if you sign up with the 5-year plan, but this does mean it isn’t for everyone. Younger kids may not find this exciting unless they can convince their parents to chip in. However, all other serious gamers beyond that might just find an attraction assuming the company pushes on with its development.
The 5-year plan is the way to go, though. It brings the cost down to just $8/year, which is nearly half the price of paying by the year via the subscription option. I think they priced it purposely that way so that almost everyone is going to go with the 5-year plan. They got long-term users right from the start and a little extra funding to fuel the programmers with.
Where to find it
If you have been wondering where this software has been hiding all your life, you can download it now from Embody’s website here. There is a free trial, or you can jump right into buying a license. The license would be associated with your unique email address and ear, and cannot be shared with others (they would also have to get a license if there are others in the house that use the same computer).
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