The audiovisual content landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, with emerging trends and technologies redefining the way we create, distribute, and consume media. Audience attention spans continue to dwindle, as now even minute-long videos are considered a significant time investment in the wake of TikTok and the popularization of micro-length content.
We are bombarded by an unrelenting wave of audio and video content, such as podcasts, advertisements, TV programmes and films, meaning it’s increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd and truly connect to your viewers or listeners. The solution then, is to engage with your audience in new ways, whether that be through interactive content, or immersive 3D audio that provides a wholly different experience.
Let’s take a look at six of the biggest trends shaping the audiovisual production landscape in 2024.
Human and synthetic voices working together
The past few months have seen significant steps forward for synthetic voices. Gone are the days of the ultra-robotic, ‘text-reader’ style pronunciations of the past, as advances allow for further refinement and pitch correction from audio engineers.
That said, it’s important to carefully examine where synthetic voices should be used, and where sticking with human voice artists is best: synthetic voices are an impressive way to reduce turnaround times and costs, but must be implemented through specialist audio engineers, who can carefully alter pronunciation, pitch, and tone.
At Alpha Studios, we typically suggest that mass-produced, lower visibility content is a great match for synthetic voices, as they allow time and resources to be placed with the more valuable pieces of content that truly shine with human voices.
In 2024, we might also begin to see improvements made to synthetic voices in long-tail languages. What exactly is a long-tail language? These are languages that aren’t as highly requested for localization, but might still provide access to a massive population of native speakers. As there is typically a smaller available corpus on which to train synthetic voices, they tend to suffer from lower quality when compared to EFIGS languages, for example.
Find out more about long-tail languages.
Speech-to-speech technology: A new frontier in multilingual dubbing
Presenting a breakthrough moment in dubbing technology, speech-to-speech software is enhancing employee and consumer engagement like never before.
Speech-to-speech technology, when skilfully deployed by trained audiovisual engineers, allows content spoken in one language to be transformed by applying the voice of a speaker of another.
This means that your CEO who speaks English, could deliver a video to employees in which they deliver their message in French, Chinese, Spanish, all in their own voice, and with perfect lip-syncing.
The benefits are clear: audiences are likely to engage more with your content, absorb more of your message, and feel more loyal to your brand or company. To sum up: in 2024, wider adoption of speech-to-speech technology will reduce language barriers, and create a more connected approach to business and consumer engagement.
Immersive experiences with 3D audio
3D audio is set to become a standard in the future of audiovisual content. By simulating sound in three-dimensional space, it provides listeners with a more immersive and realistic experience.
This technology is particularly impactful in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) environments, where the audio experience can greatly enhance the sense of presence and engagement. While relevant in many fields, its potential applications in the world of gaming are vast.
As developers continue to produce new and exciting worlds with ever more intricately designed systems to deliver truly immersive experiences, sound will play a vital role in ensuring credibility and achieving suspension of disbelief.
With carefully crafted 3D audio, you can make players feel more than ever before as they explore mountains, jungles, and oceans in carefully curated soundscapes.
Change inaction to interaction with personalized content
Interactivity is another trend shaping the future of audiovisual media. Platforms are emerging that allow viewers to influence or change the narrative of the content they are consuming. This level of personalization not only increases engagement but also encourages multiple viewings or playthroughs, as each experience can be unique.
One of the best and earliest examples of the current interactive audiovisual content trend is Netflix’s “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch”. Released way back in 2018, this film allows viewers to make decisions for the main character, leading to different story paths and multiple possible endings. The interactive nature of “Bandersnatch” turned traditional storytelling on its head by providing a unique experience where the audience actively participates in the narrative.
This format proved to be more than a gimmick; it engaged viewers in a way that traditional films could not, as they navigated through the story’s complex web of choices. The success of this interactive film has prompted Netflix and other content creators to explore similar formats, recognizing the potential for such personalized storytelling to increase viewer engagement
In the realm of video games, interactive audiovisual content has been taken to new heights with the advent of virtual reality (VR) experiences. Games like “Half-Life: Alyx,” released by Valve Corporation in 2020, offer an immersive experience where players can interact with the environment in a highly realistic manner. The game’s VR platform allows for a level of interactivity that goes beyond traditional gaming, with players using their hands to manipulate objects, solve puzzles, and fight enemies in a three-dimensional space.
This level of interaction not only increases the sense of presence within the game world but also encourages players to explore and engage with the content in a more meaningful way. Of course, this will only lead to more prominent dissonance if the audio is not up to scratch.
Sustainable audiovisual production
Sustainability in production is no longer a fringe concept but a central focus across various sectors, with the audiovisual industry taking significant strides towards eco-friendly practices. Cutting-edge technologies are playing a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint of productions. Virtual production techniques, for instance, have revolutionized the way we create content.
By leveraging advancements such as synthetic voiceovers and computer-generated imagery (CGI), the necessity for extensive travel and the construction of elaborate physical sets can be greatly diminished. This not only leads to a reduction in transportation emissions and material waste but also paves the way for a more efficient and resource-conserving workflow. As the industry continues to innovate, these sustainable practices are becoming more refined, offering a blueprint for how technology can be harnessed to protect our environment while still delivering high-quality audiovisual content.
A path forward for audiovisual content in 2024
The audiovisual content landscape in 2024 is characterized by innovative trends that are transforming the industry. The integration of human and synthetic voices is optimizing production efficiency while maintaining quality, especially for less common languages.
Speech-to-speech technology is breaking down language barriers, offering unprecedented levels of engagement in multilingual settings. The rise of 3D audio is enhancing immersive experiences in VR and AR, essential for the gaming industry, and interactive content is revolutionizing storytelling, allowing audiences to become active participants in narratives.
Finally, the push towards sustainable production practices is reshaping the industry’s environmental impact, with virtual production techniques leading the charge. These trends indicate a future where audiovisual content is more accessible, engaging, and environmentally conscious, promising an exciting evolution for creators and consumers alike.
Alpha Studios stands at the forefront of this evolution, leveraging cutting-edge speech-to-speech technologies and synthetic voiceover services to revolutionize the industry. As we look to the future, we can expect to see more personalized, immersive, and accessible content that transcends traditional boundaries and creates a truly global storytelling landscape. Stay tuned for more insights into the exciting world of audiovisual innovation.
Take a look at Alpha Studios’ synthetic voice services.