SIAL Sound Studios, Melbourne
Since the 1950s technological solutions for sound spatialisation have expanded yet the take-up by producers of public concerts has been limited. Impediments to this take-up have restricted the cultural benefits of spatial sound concerts flowing to audiences. This project aims to develop a new approach to spatial concert presentations and a research methodology developed in close collaboration with the industry partner. The major components of this project will be:
• research for a robust approach to producing innovative spatial sound designs and specific performance criteria for contemporary music concerts;
• research of instrument resonance and morphologies to determine their key qualities and linking these to spatialisation strategies for use in sound installations and abstracted structures with changing volumes and dimensions;
• the development of a research culture within ELISION on which to build a long term relationship with SIAL Sound Studios through action research and training of two PhD candidates;
• to produce new concert experiences for national and international audiences in theatres, concert halls, galleries and alternative performance sites using the unique qualities of spatialised sound compositions;
• development of a performance design system integrating flexible speaker locations, audience seating configuration, support for room auralisation, through to sound spatialisation system control.
The aims of this project will contribute to developing new resources for ELISION to extend their current practice and ensure their long-term position for innovation in contemporary music performance at a national and international level. The two PhD candidates, Michael Hewes and Richard Haynes, will be the primary vehicle for this innovation, as their individual research programs will contribute to new ways of linking their instruments to complex sound spatialisation in real-time performance.
For outcomes of our work, see the following projects: