Open Source Spatial Sound | Practical Workshop

UCL MAL is an interdisciplinary research network that explores innovative methods for conducting and presenting ethnographic research.

UCL MAL

An in-depth practical and theoretical exploration of open-source spatial audio systems, focusing on ambisonics.

20 Bedford Way

Sounding Planetary Futures: a multimodal festival

Join us  for an exciting programme of immersive multimedia performances, workshops, panels and creative exchanges, in a unique series of events that invites audiences to participate in this collaborative cultural exchange and rethink planetary futures

<h4>Open Source Spatial Sound | Course Tutor: Andrea Esther Kerecsen</h4>11am - 2pm | 20 Bedford Way - W3.01 OverviewThis 3-hour workshop is designed for people with some experience in sound production, offering an in-depth exploration of open-source spatial audio systems, focusing on ambisonics. Ambisonics is a 3D audio technique that captures sound as a full spherical field, enabling immersive sound reproduction that adapts to any speaker arrangement. Participants will engage with both theoretical and practical elements of ambisonics, learning how to create fully immersive 3D sound environments using accessible, open-source tools.TheoryParticipants will start by examining the limitations of traditional sound systems, such as stereo and surround sound, which rely on pre-defined speaker arrays (e.g., Left-Right, Center, Rear-Left, Rear-Right). These systems restrict sound placement to the horizontal plane or, in some cases, limited vertical positioning, reducing the sense of immersion.In contrast, ambisonics encodes sound in a 3D field, representing the full sphere of audio around the listener. Unlike traditional systems, it does not send signals to specific speakers, but instead creates a soundfield that can be decoded to any speaker arrangement.SoftwareThe chosen platform for this workshop is Ardour, a versatile open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) that supports a wide range of plugins (LADSPA, LV2, VST2, VST3) and offers extensive scripting capabilities. Ardour is free and runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux.For spatialization and speaker array decoding, participants will use the IEM Plugin Suite, a powerful toolset specifically designed for working with ambisonics.By focusing on open-source software, this workshop highlights how accessible these advanced audio technologies can be, making it possible for creators who may not have access to high-budget studios to still engage with immersive cutting-edge technology.PracticeIn this hands-on session, participants will:<ul><li>Build a physical sound system, configuring speakers in a customizable array to create a spatial soundfield.</li><li>Set up the decoder within Ardour, specifying exact speaker locations and discussing the theory behind spatial audio in practice.</li><li>Set up the encoder, experimenting with the placement of microphones and audio sources within the ambisonic space. Participants will be able to listen to the changing soundscape as they adjust parameters and interact with the live system.</li><li>Live Music Production: The workshop will conclude with a collaborative session where participants will create and perform music using microphones and various spatial effects.</li></ul> While the software setup will not take place during the workshop due to time constraints, a comprehensive list of open-source tools along with installation instructions will be provided to participants afterward for their personal exploration and continued practice.

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