Positive Ambisonics
Ambisonic, immersive audio residencies
on the fringe of the Scottish Rainforest
What is Ambisonics?
Ambisonic sound recording and reproduction was developed in the mid 1970's by Michael Gerzon of the Mathematical Institute, Oxford and Professor Peter Fellgett of the University of Reading. The system was designed to reproduce recordings made with a purpose-built ‘Soundfield’ microphone which was then mixed for 3-D surround, using their own technology, and reproduced over a minimum of four speakers.
Unlike traditional stereo or even surround sound, which is limited to channel based recording (one loud speaker per recorded channel), recording with a SoundField or ambisonics microphone allows sound to be recorded and reproduced independent of the loud speaker set up. Using decoding software a four channel audio recording in ambisonics format can be sent to any number of speakers or just headphones in post production. It is unique as it reproduces sound in a sphere, so you hear the sound from below and above as well as all around you.
This gives the recording a fantastic reality.
In post production it's possible for producers and sound designers to manipulate the spatial characteristics of the recording after it’s been captured meaning content creators can supply different formats without having to re-record their audio.
By capturing a full 360-degree sound field, ambisonics ensures that the listener is fully enveloped in the audio, making it perfect for immersive sound design for virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and 360-degree video projects.
You will learn the basics of ambisonic recording using a Sennheiser Ambeo microphone (pictured above) in the studio and in the field and how you can mix mono or stereo tracks within the spherical soundscape of those recordings.
Here at +VE I am very interested in showing artists including how they can use ambisonics to make immersive art a possibility for them whether using a speaker array or headphones in their final project.