About Irimajiri
Immersive Audio Laboratory

Thank you for visiting the website of Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory.

The laboratory is led by Dr. Hideo Irimajiri, a Spatial Audio Creator who has devoted his career to exploring the field variously known as Immersive Audio, Spatial Audio, and 3D Audio. Drawing on decades of experience in recording, broadcasting, and acoustic research, he creates immersive sound through recording, production, and technological development.

Innovation in immersive audio began to gain momentum in 2012, with the production of films and Blu-ray titles supporting 3D audio formats. In June 2021, Apple Music introduced Spatial Audio, further accelerating its adoption.

History, however, has a way of repeating itself. During the transition from monaural to stereo sound in the 1950s—widely regarded as a revolution in audio—pseudo-stereo recordings and other productions that failed to take advantage of stereo's capabilities were produced in large numbers. This even led to debates over whether monaural sound was actually better. Today, a similar phenomenon is emerging as the industry moves from stereo to immersive audio.

Today, immersive audio encompasses many different approaches, yet few engineers have systematically organized and put them into practice. Drawing on the knowledge and experience I have accumulated over the years, I established Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory in Nara, Japan, in June 2025. My aim is to help shape the future of immersive audio and create uncompromising works.

Naramachi Studio

Naramachi Studio is the production and evaluation studio of Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory. The studio is fully compatible with AURO-3D, a high-quality 3D audio format, and has been officially certified as an AURO-3D Certified Studio after successfully passing the certification test conducted by Goer Dynamics.

It also supports Dolby Atmos, one of the most widely adopted immersive audio formats. The studio is designed to accommodate future immersive audio formats as the technology evolves.

Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory is located in Naramachi, a historic district of Nara where traditional townhouses dating from the late 18th century still remain, and even deer from nearby Nara Park occasionally wander through the streets.The studio attached to the laboratory was named Naramachi Studio, after the district where it is located.

About Our Logo

The logo of Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory was designed by Shinobu Tanabe, a paper collage artist based in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan.

Its design resembles a traditional Japanese family crest, with three bells arranged in a circular form. The three bells at the center represent the sound of "Suzu" in Japanese—small ceremonial bells that have been cherished in Japan since ancient times as symbols of dispelling what is harmful and purification.

From an acoustical perspective, bells also contain exceptionally rich high-frequency components, making them an appropriate symbol of High-Resolution Audio. The number three represents three-dimensional space and alludes to 3D Audio. The logo embodies the concept of High-Resolution 3D Audio, which lies at the heart of Irimajiri Immersive Audio Laboratory.

Professional Services

Some projects may require expertise beyond the capabilities of the laboratory. In such cases, I work with trusted partner companies and specialists to address the issue appropriately.

Please feel free to contact me for an initial consultation.