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The default panning algorithm of 3D sounds implemented in Wwise is based on the ubiquitous VBAP algorithm, which maximizes sound accuracy at the expense of some variability of the energy spread. That is, the energy spread is minimal when the virtual source is aligned with a loudspeaker, and is maximal when it is exactly in the middle of a loudspeaker arc (for standard configurations) or triangle (for configurations with height channels).

In contrast, ambisonics has a constant energy spread regardless of the source direction and loudspeaker layout. The lower the ambisonic order, the greater the spread. First-order ambisonics are, therefore, very imprecise; while third-order ambisonics are relatively precise, although still imprecise compared with VBAP.

Encoding of mono sources into an ambisonics bed may be used for aesthetic reasons.