AMBISONIC MODELLING
"A Nature Walkthrough"
Ambisonics is a technique for reproducing a recorded or synthesised sound field to create the illusion of hearing a true three-dimensional acoustic environment. As a result, ambisonics may support a variety of professional and research based applications including; investigations into acoustic environments of real or imagined spaces, describing the acoustic ecology of landscape design and built environments, support virtual walkthroughs of urban interiors, visual installation work, surround sound gaming, film and animation and interaction design.
In the context of spatial sound modelling, it’s interesting to explore how it can connect with our theoretical understanding of designing.
Looking at Donald Schon’s idea of ‘the reflective practitioner’, we can begin to understand how sound is interrelated with the processes of perception, cognition and notation during design.
Knowledge emerges through the sensory awareness of the design situation. The iterative process that Schon discusses, which this knowledge emerges from, is called ‘reflection-in-action’ or ‘seeing-doing seeing’. We can adapt this process to a sound context from the visual context simply by describing it as ‘listening-doing-listening’. This process can be adapted to the other three senses within other contexts.
‘Knowledge-in-action’ then describes our instinctive application of this knowledge to solve problems.
When designing with sound it is important to understand not only the physical interaction between sound and the built environment, but also our auditory perception of sound and how they are intertwined. This is essentially the combination of acoustics and psychoacoustics.
Site mapping is an important method in analysing the spatial sound attributes of a space or environment. This method is similar to the concept utilised in different forms of architecture, although sound is the main focus in this context.
You often begin by walking the space, exploring the physicality, the geometry, the composition and arrangement of materials, and how they sound during interaction. A 2D image is then created from this approach. Spatial mapping is then conducted, a subjective analysis of the sounds heard and their location. Finally, sound notes are written to describe acoustic effects that are difficult to describe through the sketch.
This project is a walkthrough soundscape exploring three environments: a city, a beach and a forest. You will be guided through each environment through footsteps that are natural to that environment, such as the sound of walking on concrete, sand, or gravel and leaves. As the soundscape fades into a new environment a climactic sound will occur. In the city, it will be a tram passing by, taking you to the beach. At the beach, a wave will crash over you taking you to the forest, and the forest will end with a fire blazing through, ending the experience.
The aim of the project is to highlight the unique beauty of each soundscape, and to display a contrast for the public.
the design process
