Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The increasing number of applications for spatial audio technologies has led to a growing interest in the subject from academic institutions and a more capillary diffusion of techniques and practices to non-institutional contexts, especially independent sound artists. However, the lack of a methodology for learning these technologies motivated our team to develop the Open Ambisonics Toolkit (OAT). Our goal is to promote the diffusion of spatial audio technologies by combining three pedagogical components: a DIY approach to hardware, a selection of open-source software, and a step-by-step introduction to Ambisonics theory through practical applications. The present article focuses on the development of a flexible toolkit and is based in our own practical experience as sound artists and teachers. We describe the process of designing hardware and selecting software components, and report results from objective measurements and listening tests conducted to evaluate different loudspeakers and spatial configurations. To conclude, we discuss future perspectives on the development of tutorials for learning spatial audio with OAT, which we are continually testing in workshop settings with students and independent sound artists.
Source: Organised Sound
Authors: Giuseppe Pisano, PerMagnus Lindborg
Institutions: Norwegian Academy of Music, City University of Hong Kong
Language: English
Subfield: Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
Funder: City University of Hong Kong
OpenAlex ID: W4410414632