HOA (Higher-Order Ambisonics)
Less than 1 minute
HOA (Higher-Order Ambisonics)
HOA represents sound fields using spherical harmonics, enabling flexible reproduction on arbitrary speaker layouts.
Features
- Multiple Orders: 1st (B-format), 2nd, and 3rd order
- Flexible Layouts: Support for any speaker configuration
- Standard Presets: Stereo, 5.1, 7.1.4, and Cube layouts
- Buffer Processing: Efficient multi-sample decoding
Usage
use audio_ninja::hoa::{HoaDecoder, AmbisonicOrder, DecodingMode};
// Create a 1st order decoder for 5.1 layout
let decoder = HoaDecoder::new(
AmbisonicOrder::FIRST,
DecodingMode::MaxRE,
create_5_1_hoa_layout()
);
// Decode ambisonic channels to speaker feeds
let ambisonic_input = vec![1.0, 0.5, 0.0, 0.3];
let speaker_gains = decoder.decode(&ambisonic_input);Comparison with VBAP
| Aspect | HOA | VBAP |
|---|---|---|
| Representation | Spherical harmonics | Vector panning |
| Best For | Ambient soundfields | Localized objects |
| Speaker Count | More is better | Works with any layout |
| CPU Cost | Medium | Low |
| IAMF Type | Scene-based | Object-based |
When to Use
✅ Scene-based audio streams
✅ Ambient soundfield rendering
✅ 5+ speakers available
✅ Natural spatial sound needed
✅ Medium CPU available