Physical controller development for real time 3D audio spatialization

Abstract

The development of space as a musical parameter can be traced back to Baroque and Classical periods where performances would make use of unusual places inside churches or concert halls to augment the dramatic impact of some works. Even so, this wasn’t enough for composers that followed, as they started to think about space as a real parameter for musical composition, just as important as for example pitch and timbre. Direction and trajectory were then in the minds of the XXth century composers, and from then on, they were aided by innovative technology and imaginative musical notation formats to take bigger steps towards present day spatialization in music. This dissertation focuses on what happens next, when computers are a common tool for musicians and composers and spatialization is surrounded by technology and software.Different algorithms and spatialization software allow for improved techniques of manipulating a virtual sound source ‘s behavior in space. This manipulation can either be programed or drawn with the aid of a three-dimensional control mechanism. It was then considered that a qualitative methodological approach would help understand some of the choices made until now surrounding this three-dimensional control of sound sources. With that in consideration, this dissertation describes the process and results of developing a three-dimensional control interface that features physical responsiveness to the user’s movement. The study is then divided and presented in three main chapters that offer an historical view and bibliographical research; an overview of the 3d controller design/construction process; and test description and result analyses on some initial behavior of the controller. The final result is a tested controller that uncovers requirements for future work to transform it into a spatialization instrument.

Date of Award	18 Dec 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	André Perrotta (Supervisor)