Youtube now has the capability to livestream videos with a 360-degree field of view and spatial audio. This is technically no different from the 360-degree videos that are already available on the site; aside from fact that the broadcast is live.
The 360-degree videos have been around since March 2015 – with Google going as far as partnering with GoPro to release a rig that to record the videos. The company seems to think that throwing livestreaming into the mix will provide even more opportunities for content creators to show off what they can do.
Additionally, spatial audio will provide an additional layer of immersion of these videos. Spatial audio is where the depth, quality, and volume of sounds depends on where the camera is pointed. This will be particularly noticeable for music videos where the band is play all around the camera. It will also add an additional layer of realism for those watching Youtube in virtual reality.
Sadly, the spatial audio feature doesn’t quite work on a work laptop with headphones on. Google’s press release indicates that it is best viewed on an Android device, and has supplied a playlist for people to try out.
