// effects · tool 18
3D Audio Panner
Place any sound exactly where you want it in space — drag it around a head with true HRTF spatialization, or set it orbiting. Headphones strongly recommended.
Drop your audio file here
MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, FLAC and more — or click to browse
[ drop works anywhere on this page ]
Position sound in true 3D space
This panner uses the browser's HRTF (head-related transfer function) spatializer — the same filtering that game engines and VR runtimes use to make sound feel physically located around you. Drag the dot on the circle to put your audio anywhere: hard left, creeping up behind you, or drifting at a distance. Flip on Auto-rotate and it becomes a precision orbit tool — like 8D audio, but with real front/back filtering and your choice of radius.
What the controls do
- The circle — drag the glowing dot. The head in the center is you; up is in front of you. Distance from center maps to physical distance, with natural volume falloff.
- Auto-rotate — orbits the source at the chosen speed and distance, baked into the export.
- Distance — 0.5 m (whispering range) to 3 m (across the room).
Uses
- Sound design for games, animations and radio drama — position a voice or effect off-screen.
- ASMR and meditation tracks — slow orbits at low speed are deeply relaxing.
- Testing headphones and spatial-audio perception — sweep a familiar track around your head.
FAQ
What is HRTF spatialization?
HRTF describes how your head, ears and shoulders filter sound from each direction. The browser applies those filters so a source genuinely reads as "behind you" or "to your left" on headphones — far beyond simple left/right volume panning.
How is this different from 8D audio?
The 8D tool sweeps the whole mix automatically with stereo panning. This tool gives manual position control with true HRTF filtering — you place the sound exactly, or set your own orbit speed and radius.
Do I need headphones?
Yes, for the full illusion — HRTF cues need one channel per ear. On speakers you'll hear panning but lose front/back placement.
Is my audio uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser via the Web Audio API.