Spatial Audio Render

Question

How can I export B Format ambisonic audio in a render. Blender uses OpenAL, which does allow for First Order Ambisonic (4 mono channels, WXYZ) rendering. My goal is to create a stereoscopic, 360 degree video with spatial audio (audio field rotates with head).

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Here are the documentation links regarding audio in Blender (many of them just say TODO):

https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/render/audio/introduction.html

https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/preferences/system.html#prefs-system-sound

https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/data_system/scenes/properties.html#data-scenes-audio

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I assume that the 4 Channels format found in the scene properties context has much to do with spatial audio. Can someone elaborate on these options?

Demo .blend file to play with (you'll need to supply your own audio):

Answer 1

Can use the mixdown operator to create an "audio render" of the scene.

Mixdown is next to the render animation button in the latest versions of Blender (There once was a mixdown button on the audio panel)

Otherwise go to the python console and type in

bpy.ops.sound.mixdown('INVOKE_DEFAULT')

to call the operator as if a button was pressed.

Select a format that allows for the channels, wav is pretty foolproof.

I just added a simple mono wav file to your test file and selected basic old stereo. Below is the result viewed in audacity. Starts in left ear, moves to right as it rotates.

If I choose 4 channels I get a 4 channel wav file.

Which appears to be Quadraphonic ears at (facing north) NE, SE, SW, and NW. (Or speakers at Left Front, Right F, L Rear and RR) rather than W, X, Y, Z