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Welcome to the Spatialization and Auditory Display Environment
The Spatialization and Auditory Display Environment (SpADE) is a specialised 32-channel surround sound system designed for multi-disciplinary research. Hosted by DMARC, SpADE supports artistic and scientific investigations by faculty and student researchers from the University of Limerick. It is also open to visiting researchers.
With 32 speakers and two sub-woofers, SpADE is the largest loudspeaker array in the Republic of Ireland. SpADE is a hybrid space where practice-led arts research and technological research in or requiring spatial audio are welcome.
Researchers from the University of Limerick use SpADE to study a wide variety of fields including: auditory display, interactive sonification, music composition, musicology, music software development, psychoacoustics, haptics, interface design, and wearable computing in the sound environment. These researchers are collaborating with other musicians and scientists in Ireland and around the world in the fine arts, marine biology, chemistry, medicine, and software engineering.
Technical specifications
Hardware, software, speaker map and room details as of 10 June 2019.
Current Associates
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Kerry Hagan
Principal Investigator/Director of SpADE. Lecturer in the Digital Media and Arts Research Centre. Leader of the UL Spatial Audio Group.
Research includes: psychoacoustics of spatial audio, real-time methods for audio spatialization, multi-channel music composition, electroacoustic musicology, auditory display of data.
SpADE projects: real-time tape music III (2008), Morphons & Bions (2011), s/d (2015), nyx (2017).
Hagan, K. 2017. "Textural Composition: Aesthetics, Techniques, and Spatialization for High-Density Loudspeaker Arrays." Computer Music Journal 41(1): 34-45.
Contact: Kerry.Hagan@ul.ie
Website: www.kerrylhagan.net
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Mikael Fernström
Lecturer in the Interaction Design Centre (retired). Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group. Supervisor. PI.
Research includes: auditory display.
SpADE projects: design, implementation and evaluation of synthesized soundscapes, psychoacoustics.
Contact: Mikael.Fernstrom@ul.ie
Websites: mikaelfernstrom.ie
softday.ie
Google Scholar profile
Phone: +353 (0)86 818 8079
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Neil O'Connor
Lecturer in the Digital Media and Arts Research Centre (digital audio).
Research includes: electronics music composition, multi-channel music
SpADE projects: Noon in Seia (2017) - Spatial Music Collective Performance, FireWires (2019) - 147th Audio Engineering Society International Conference.
Contact: Neil.OConnor@ul.ie
Website: www.neilmoconnor.com
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Óscar Mascareñas Garza
Lecturer in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group.
Research includes: spatial audio composition/design, the relationship between sound and space and sound as space, sound recording, vocal improvisation and composition, performance, inter-disciplinarity, concepts of nothingness and fragmentation in sound, movement and letters, poetry.
SpADE projects: multi-channel version of Songs for Jackson Pollock (in progress). New multi-channel composition for voice, electronics and eco-acoustic soundscapes.
Contact: Oscar.Mascarenas@ul.ie
Websites: www.irishworldacademy.ie
Personal site
Songs for Jackson Pollock site
Twitter: @iOscarOMG and @songs4jpollock
FaceBook: @OscarOMG
IG: @ioscaromg
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Walter Nied
Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group (2018-2019). FYP Researcher (2017-2018). UL40 researcher (2017). SpADE Research Assistant (2017).
Research includes: Live performance & ppatialization, interfaces for 3-D audio, hyperaudio
SpADE projects: Spatial Rhythms (2018).
Contact: walternied@gmail.com
Website: www.walternied.com
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Steve Ashby
Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group (2018-2019). Masters Researcher (2018-2019). UL40 researcher (2017).
Research includes: composition for 3D audio spatialization, real-time performance with multi-channel systems.
SpADE projects: Untitled (2019) - work-in-progress exploring the Japanese aesthetic of ma in computer and spatialized composition.
Contact: ashbysounds@gmail.com
Past Associates
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David Longan
Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group (2017-2019). FYP researcher (2018-2019).
Research includes: interfaces for 3-D audio, speech recognition applications in multichannel audio, sound engineering and spatialization.
SpADE projects: FYP: Using Speech to Interact with Multichannel Composition (2019)
Contact: davidlongan1@hotmail.com
Websites: davelongan.wordpress.com
FaceBook: facebook.com/belovedlittleboat
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Malachy Ronan
Lecturer in Music Technology & Production, Limerick School of Art & Design, Limerick Institute of Technology. Member of the Spatial Audio Group (2012-present). PhD, University of Limerick (2017).
Research includes: perceptual audio, audio engineering, spatial audio production, music production workflows
Recent SpADE projects: Haigh, J., Exton, C., Ronan, M., (2018) Can Visual Priming Affect the Perceived Sound Quality of a Voice Signal in Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Applications?, in: Audio Engineering Society Convention 144. Haigh, J., Ronan, M., (2017) The DFA Fader: Exploring the Power of Suggestion in Loudness Judgments, in: Audio Engineering Society Convention 142.
For more, see SpADE in publications below.
Contact: Malachy.Ronan@lit.ie
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Ulf Holbrook
Masters student (2013-2014).
Research includes: signal processing, audio engineering, psychoacoustics, composition, sound analysis and synthesis, programming, ambisonics, multi-channel audio.
SpADE projects: dematerialisations and patterns (2014).
Contact: u.a.s.holbrook@imv.uio.no
Websites: https://www.uio.no/ritmo/english/people/phd-fellows/ulfah/index.html
Visiting Researchers
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Rosalía Soria Luz
Visiting researcher (2016).
Research includes: multichannel audio, sound synthesis using state-space models, sonification.
SpADE projects: a study of de-correlation in multi-channel sound synthesis based on state-space models.
Website: rosaliasorialuz.com
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Brona Martin
Visiting researcher (2016).
Attended the ISSTA/NAISA spatial audio workshop.
Website: Brona Martin's page on the residency
The UL Spatial Audio Group
The UL Spatial Audio Group is a collection of students, faculty and researchers who meet in the regular class term for demonstrations, discussions, research and related activities concerning all disciplines of spatial audio.
Members
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Róisín Berg
Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group (2018-2019). BSc in Music, Media and Performance Technology (2018). MA Art & Technology (2018-2019).
Research includes: durational experience in interactive digital art installation, embodiment in real-time audio and video art installation, and the observing of self in screen-reliant installation art
Contact: roisinberg@gmail.com
Website: www.roisinberg.com
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Melissa Gonzales
Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group (2018-2019). MA Art & Technology (2018-2019).
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Davide Simonetti
Member of the UL Spatial Audio Group (2018-2019). BSc Music, Media and Performance Technology.
Research includes: composing for spatial audio.
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SpADE in publications
Chronological
Torre, G. O'Leary, M. Tuohy, B. 2010. "Pollen: A Multimedia Interactive Network Installation." Proceedings of the 2010 Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME 2010): 375-376.
Ronan, M. Pigott, D. Sazdov, R. "Configuring SpADE: practical considerations influencing the design of a three-dimensional multi-channel listening environment." Irish Sound, Science and Technology Convocation (2012): 1-2.
Lynch, H. Sazdov, R. 2013. "An investigation into the perception of spatial techniques used in multi-channel electroacoustic music." Proceedings of the 2013 ICMC Conference: 116-123.
James, S. Hope, C. 2013. "2D and 3D Timbral Spatialisation: spatial motion, immersiveness, and notions of space." Proceedings of the 2013 ICMC Conference: 77-84.
Pigott, D. Walker, J. 2014. "A preliminary model for the synthesis of source spaciousness." 17th International Conference on Digital Audio Effects (DAFx-14).
Doyle, T. 2015. Spectral precedence methodologies in spatial auditory research: perceptual evaluation of spatial attributes in 2D and 3D virtual auditory display environments. PhD dissertation, University of Limerick.
Ronan, M. Ward, N. Sazdov, R. 2015. "Identifying and validating program material: a hyper-compression perspective." AES 139 Convention, New York.
Bradbury, J. 2016. Computer Creativity: An Evaluation of Three Interactive Musical Systems in Terms of Their Interaction and Behaviour. Master of Music disseration, The University of Western Australia.
Downes, T. Ronan, M. 2016. "Immersive Production Techniques in Cinematic Sound Design: Context and Spatialization." Audio Engineering Society Convention 140.
Ronan, M. Ward, N. Sazdov, R. 2016. "The perception of hyper-compression by untrained listeners." AES 60 Conference, Leuven.
Sheridan, J. Ronan, M. 2016. "The Effect of Analogue Radio Processing on Listener Preference." Irish Sound, Science and Technology Convocation 2016.
Culloo, E. Ronan, M. 2017. "Do Microphone Angles result in Audible Differences When Recording a Guitar Amplifier?" Audio Engineering Society Convention 142.
Hagan, K. 2017. "Textural Composition: Aesthetics, Techniques, and Spatialization for High-Density Loudspeaker Arrays." Computer Music Journal 41(1): 34-45.
Haigh, J. Ronan, M. 2017. "The DFA Fader: Exploring the Power of Suggestion in Loudness Judgments." Audio Engineering Society Convention 142.
Lynch, H. Sazdov, R. 2017. "A Perceptual Investigation into Spatialization Techniques Used in Multichannel Electroacoustic Music for Envelopment and Engulfment." Computer Music Journal 41(1): 13-33.
Haigh, J. Exton, C. Ronan, M. 2018. "Can Visual Priming Affect the Perceived Sound Quality of a Voice Signal in Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Applications?" Audio Engineering Society Convention 144.
Acknowledgements
SpADE researchers would like to thank the following individuals, without whom SpADE would not exist: