A Hardware-Software Toolkit for Exploring and Learning Spatial Sound

Abstract

(original application) Good quality listening is central to learning sound technologies. Currently, undergraduate students at the School of Create Media (SCM) mostly focus on content creation using ready-made tools (e.g. digital audio workstations, fixed studio setups, instruments…) and they rely far too much on cheap earbuds and headphones. The PI’s previous research has shown the large variation in price and attractiveness of commercial earbuds in relation to their acoustic performance. Generally speaking, low-quality listening equipment is inadequate to building an understanding of sound perception and cognition. Students need easy access to quality sound equipment, especially for surround reproduction, so as not tolimit their creative imagination when it comes to designing spatial sound, both in physical and virtual environments.