Spatial sound is a powerful tool for immersion and is fast becoming a must-have knowledge for many different media and technologies including cinema, theatre, sound installations, exhibitions, live performance and game sound. This module will explore spatial sound, multi-loudspeaker and surround sound formats, including an outline of the developments of spatial sound music and the work of significant composers in this field. Students will study both the aesthetics and technology of multichannel music, including live diffusion techniques, large sound distribution systems and multichannel sound installations. Students will be led to produce creative work that explores the rich potential offered by sound spatialisation techniques, which will culminate in a live performance with the Music and Audio Arts Sound Theatre (MAAST) system.
Total Contact Hours: 22
Independent Study Hours:128
Total Study Hours: 150
Main assessment methods
Level 6 students will be given separate coursework briefs which refer to more advanced compositional theories that the student is expected to engage with in their work.
Indicative Reading List
Blesser, B. and Salter, L.-R. (2007). Spaces Speak, Are You Listening? Experiencing Aural Architecture. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Born, G. (ed.) (2013). Music, Sound and Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Ewan S. and K. Lauke (2010). 'Music, Space and Theatre: Site-specific approaches to multichannel spatialisation'. Organised Sound, 15(3), 251-9.
Landy, L. (2012). Making Music with Sounds. NY: Routledge.
Roginska A., and Geluso P. (eds) (2018). Immersive Sound: The Art and Science of Binaural and Multi-Channel Audio. London: Focal Press.
Rumsey, F. (2013). Spatial Audio. Abingdon: Focal Press.
Smalley, D. (2007). 'Space-form and the Acousmatic Image'. Organised Sound, 12(1), 35–58.
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module Level 6 students will be able to:
1) recognise, evaluate and demonstrate a critical awareness of the potential use of multichannel sound in electroacoustic, computer-based composition and sound
installation;
2) demonstrate an advanced understanding of sound spatialisation developments and be familiar with suitable methods working in a variety of multi-loudspeaker formats;
3) produce advanced creative work that uses the latest sound spatialisation technologies.
On successfully completing the module Level 6 students will be able to:
4) demonstrate a systematic understanding of theoretical and aesthetic systems of thought and to relate theory to practice;
5) synthesize and deploy accurately inputs (knowledge, materials, information) in order to generate outputs in written, aural and practical format;
6) manage time, resources and own learning effectively, plan and set priorities.
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