As reported by MSPowerUser, Microsoft has officially released the Spatial Audio feature, which was announced in March, for its Teams desktop applications on Windows and Mac. The feature has been tested for several months and aims to create a more natural listening experience during virtual meetings. By spatially separating the voices of individual participants, it mimics the feeling of an in-person conversation.
The introduction of Spatial Audio is expected to bring several benefits. It will enable users to identify who is speaking easily and their location, reducing confusion and boosting engagement during meetings. Additionally, individuals with hearing impairments will find this feature particularly valuable as it helps them distinguish between multiple audio sources.
Users can follow a straightforward process to enable Spatial Audio in Microsoft Teams. First, go to the Settings page within the Teams desktop application. Then, navigate to the Devices tab, where the option to enable Spatial Audio can be found.
It’s worth noting that this innovative feature is compatible only with stereo-capable devices, such as wired headsets or stereo-capable laptops. Bluetooth audio devices do not support Spatial Audio due to protocol limitations. However, this limitation will be addressed with the forthcoming LE Audio featuring stereo-enabled Bluetooth devices. Additionally, Teams will automatically turn off the Spatial Audio feature if the user’s network bandwidth or PC RAM is insufficient to preserve audio quality.
With the launch of Spatial Audio in Microsoft Teams, virtual meetings are expected to become more immersive and inclusive, providing users with an improved and interactive communication experience.
