We’re back with a new edition of Expert Insights, our series spotlighting the minds behind Brandenburg Labs. These conversations offer a behind-the-scenes look at the people driving our innovation forward, from technical breakthroughs to personal reflections.
From decoding how we perceive sound to engineering the systems that bring it to life, Jeramey’s work spans computer science, cognitive science, and audio engineering.
With a master’s degree in computer science and a Ph.D. in cognitive science, he combines deep technical expertise with a keen understanding of how humans experience the world through sound. At Brandenburg Labs, Jeramey brings intensive knowledge and experience as a software engineer and researcher, helping shape the next generation of immersive audio.
In this exclusive Expert Insights edition, Jeramey Tyler shares his invaluable perspective on the research and real-world applications of audio technology, as well as the trends shaping the field’s future.
You’ve worked in academia and now in a startup. What’s the biggest adjustment when moving from the research lab to the fast-paced startup world?
Really the change hasn’t been that dramatic. I worked in a fast-paced research lab that built some really wild immersive technologies. Both environments require me to be a jack-of-all-trades, getting hands on in both the research and development side of things. Sometimes I think it would be nice to just work on either the research or development side, but you got to do what you got to do to get the job done.
What’s one current trend in spatial audio you’re most excited about?
I’m excited that immersive audio is becoming more commonplace. As immersive audio permeates into more media we’ll start to see more and more interesting applications. I feel like the most interesting applications of spatial audio haven’t been thought of yet, and it’s fun to imagine this wide open space of possibilities that people will eventually fill. The children who will grow up with immersive audio being commonplace will have a completely different understanding of what can be done with it than those of us here at its inception.
Your background bridges computer science and cognitive science. How does this unique blend influence your approach to software engineering here at Brandenburg Labs?
The brain combines simple processes in complex ways to get incredible results. I’m interested in recreating those results using signal processing and machine learning. Learning computer science taught me about algorithms and data while cognitive science taught me about perception. My thinking was that by learning the two I could work in that intersection where signal processing and artificial intelligence meet. At my core I’m a data science and machine learning guy with a fascination for audio perception and I somehow leveraged that into a job.
In your opinion, what is the “next big leap” in spatial audio technology, something we should be talking about more?
I think the next big leap in spatial audio will come from room impulse response (RIR) generation and synthesis. I believe that advancements in RIR synthesis will usher in a new era of sound design for media. I feel that having the ability to generate complex soundscapes easily will really transform media like podcasts and audio books as well as movies and television. For instance, if I were a true crime podcaster I would love to have the ability to generate RIRs and “walk” audiences through the crime scene. Add in some environmental effects and you’ll have a really spooky podcast. The narrator could be speaking while the killer’s footsteps can be heard sneaking up behind the listener. You could get really intricate experiences on budget.
If you could eliminate one barrier to speed up innovation in spatial audio, what would it be?
The biggest impediment to progress at the moment really is the lack of a mass market consumer headphone with tracking built-in. I’m not talking about the three degrees of freedom tracking in earbuds like AirPods, but a full six degrees of freedom. If something like that existed you would see more people generating spatial audio content, but without that there are really limited ways in which the consumer can experience spatial audio at home. It’s hard to drum up hype for a product for which the consumer has no frame of reference.
When you encounter a roadblock in your work, what strategies do you rely on to push through and find a solution?
I’ve always had success with rubber ducky debugging but it really depends on the problem. Anymore a lot of answers can be found by simply asking ChatGPT. If neither of those work, then I just start talking the problem through with my colleagues and see if inspiration arises. If I still can’t find a solution then it’s time to meditate on it, stop searching and let the answer come to me. You can’t force an answer to come to you, sometimes you have to trust that it will come in time. At that point you’re relying on diffuse thinking to make the connection that your conscious can’t make.
How do you see immersive audio transforming the future of entertainment and storytelling experiences?
I think immersive audio has the potential to completely revolutionize how we consume audio. Areas like television, movies, audio-books, and podcasts will all be transformed. Imagine you’re watching a horror movie and the killer whispers in your ear, like a jump scare for audio. There are a lot of cool effects that we can do with spatial audio that many people have never experienced outside of nature, so experiencing them in artificial scenarios will make consuming media more immersive, more life-like.
Outside of work, what’s something that inspires your approach to research and engineering?
You have to stay curious. I got to where I am by being curious about different topics, if I don’t stay curious I’ll get left behind by the latest techniques. It’s easy to get comfortable with your current level of knowledge and relax, but unfortunately that won’t stop innovation. You have to keep studying.
Looking ahead, what emerging technologies outside of audio are you most curious about or excited to explore?
Recently I’ve been reading about some advancements in spherical convolution and convolutional conditional neural processes (ConvCNPs). In particular I think ConvCNPs are exciting because they allow convolutional neural networks to retain spatial relationships that wouldn’t be preserved otherwise. This would have been nice to have available when I was working on my thesis. I may go back and try performing some of those experiments again with ConvCNPs and see if I can get better results.