Ambisonics

jtsuited

Ok thought i'd share this marvellous technology with everyone here.

You can get an ambisonic vst plugin from http://www.dmalham.freeserve.co.uk/vst_ambisonics.html

I'm doing my MA thesis compositions using this and it's really a fascinating area.
It's really spooky because you can be using just headphones and the sound will actually move up and down, and from front to back.

As far as i can figure, it's all based on using phasing, delays, and the effect of Interaural Time Difference. but the maths behind it is pretty heavy in parts.

Anywho, just thought i'd let y'all know about this and seriously recommend you give this a go.

cornbb

That sounds really cool. A friend of mine did his MSc Music Technology last year, implemented something similar - a motion sensor was mounted on the headphones, so the listener could turn his/her head left/right/up/down but still hear the sound coming from the laptop screen.

I think the pinnae (fleshy bits of the ear) also play a role in localisation, they filter sounds coming from the rear, giving them certain characteristics so we can recognise them.

mike65

I've tried a few demo vsts some work quite nicely. Pink Floyd were doing this sort of thing years ago (Final Cut jet fighter moment!).

erm how does it actually work?

Mike.

jtsuited

I originally thought it was through delays that it was doing it but it seems
it's mainly based on the spherical harmonic components of a sound. i've been using it a lot lately and it's nothing short of unbelievable.

Play something in the car and sound starts moving between the floor and the ceiling and all around the place.
truly mental!

mike65

Sorry I should have been clearer, I meant how does the vst work there are 5 files but no instructions!

Mike.

cornbb

To install a VST just drop its DLL file into your VST folder - this is usually C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VstPlugins

mike65

I know how to install into a host but its the use technique I'm asking about. Do I route the audio output through the dll? and if so do I need to use one or all of them in a chain? A walkthrough would be handy.

Mike.

jtsuited

ok this is how i did it. it's really easy and you probably wouldn't believe that it works.
put one of the ambisonic vsts as a plugin insert on a stereo track.

then fiddle with the parameters and you'll figure it out.
i recommend using the one with the nice gui which is about fifth on the dropdown menu.

good luck.
btw what audio/midi sequencer you running.

i'm using pro tools and running the ambisonics vst's through an rtas wrapper.

mike65

I have a number of hosts including Soundforge, Cakewalk and Cubase.

I'll copy the dlls into Soundforge first.

Mike.