Bug 270517

Summary: [API+] 2D positional audio (sample cache)
Product: [Frameworks and Libraries] Phonon Reporter: Johannes Tophøj Rasmussen <johannes.tophoj>
Component: generalAssignee: Torrie Fischer <tdfischer>
Status: CONFIRMED ---    
Severity: wishlist CC: martin.sandsmark, myriam, sitter
Priority: NOR    
Version: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Ubuntu   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Johannes Tophøj Rasmussen 2011-04-09 18:15:53 UTC 
Version:           4.5 (using KDE 4.5.3) 
OS:                Linux

Hi
Maybe this idea is a bit funny but at least I have not seen it anywhere on any other system: How about making the sounds accompanying notifications and system sounds shift (in stereo) in accordance with the position of the application generating the notification. Thereby aiding the user to identify the source. Also it is a bit cool I think and unifies the audio and visual experiences (of KDE). In some situations the position of the mouse cursor could also affect the sound. In the case of multiple monitors this becomes even more useful.
Perhaps this could be used for specific application.

Reproducible: Didn't try
Comment 1 Christoph Feck 2011-04-13 05:13:42 UTC 
I am not sure if Phonon has API for positional audio, so I am reassigning to them, asking on their opinion to implement it.
Comment 2 Christoph Feck 2011-04-13 05:15:53 UTC 
(Effectively, we would need to be able to control the volumes of Left/Right channels independently, or optionally have a "balance" property value.)
Comment 3 Harald Sitter 2012-11-16 15:08:08 UTC 
Yeah, Phonon does not have API for that. If this were to be done you'd have to be able to set the balance of your N channels of output or (a lot cooler) actually have positional audio.

Now if I am not mistaken our pending soundsample API (i.e. low latency, in-memory decoded samples stuff for notification systems and games) actually features 2D positional balancing and within that usage context it makes sense to support positional audio IMO.

Assigning to Trever as he is in charge of the sample stuff.