Hans Martin Buff | Sonic Days 2025 Keynote Interview

Hans Martin Buff on Immersive Music, Dolby Atmos, and Why Headphones Changed Everything. Recording engineer and music producer Hans Martin Buff shares highlights from his Sonic Days 2025 keynote, discussing his 30+ year career, his Grammy win for Peter Gabriel’s album IO (including his immersive “The Inside Mix”), and a new Grammy nomination for his own album Tearjerkers. He describes his shift from skepticism about formats beyond two speakers to embracing immersive music through binaural headphone listening and mastering Dolby Atmos, arguing that headphones make immersive music practical for everyday life. Buff notes that technology currently outpaces available music, and believes creatives must lead for formats to follow. He also values in-person community at the conference and credits an academic master’s program for giving him the freedom to experiment, take risks, and keep saying yes to ambitious projects. 00:00 Meet Hans Martin Buff 00:17 Grammys and Sonic 2025 00:49 From Skeptic to Immersive 02:06 Headphones Change Everything 02:41 Tech vs Music Debate 03:28 Why In Person Matters 03:49 Campus and Community Vibes 04:00 Masters Program for Immersive 04:22 Freedom to Experiment 05:48 Saying Yes and Taking Risks 06:34 Looking Ahead to Next Year