OpenAUDIENCE

The OpenAUDIENCE (OA) is a free version of the software AUDIENCE for sound immersion and auralization. The program consists in a library (objects and abstractions) for Pd. Its development started within the context of theProject AUDIENCE and was accomplished under the namesake project OpenAUDIENCE. 

The project OpenAUDIENCE ocurred between 2005 e 2009, when wide calls for researchers and collaborators were issued opening the project for new members and groups desiring to contribute to the software construction, to add new functionalities and improvements. At the end of this phase a version of OA was released to the community of spatial audio application developers, so they could use the software as engine for 2D/3D auralization.

Since then the OA has been updated periodically by the AUDIENCE development team, and new works done using the library end up adding new functionalities and applications in every new version release.

Basic features of the program

The software permits the sound scene production in multichannel support and the interactive spatialized reproduction, including live. Its features include the sound scene orientation and the user-role orientation, providing working modules oriented to the semantic of the different professionals involved in the channel of music production and reproduction.

As a subset of AUDIENCE for Pd (AUDIENCE4Pd) this library also operates under the concept of the 4-layer AUDIENCE architecture: there are objects/abstractions related to the sound scene functional layer (L1); others to the acoustic rendering layer (L2); others to the 2D/3D sound scene coding layer (L3); and others belonging to the layer that controls the physical reproduction via loudspeakers (L4). There are also auxiliary blocks implementing several useful functions (such as audio input and output, volume control, etc.)

The OA is useful for anyone who wants to work independently the composition of a sound scene, its acoustic rendering, its encoding in a format for distribution, and finally its interactive playback, using 2D and 3D sound fields. Among its greatest differential highlights the independence between the creation of the sound space and how it will be physically auralized (ie, the user may want to play in stereo, 4.0, 5.1 or otherwise). The coding layer operates mainly in the native format Ambisonics (up to 3rd order).

Usage

The user builds the sound scenes virtually, independent of the configuration of loudspeakers used for playback. The library has an object to build a sound scene interface directly in Pd, or, alternatively, has resources to make the sound scene controlable remotely by other software. Different ambiences can be assigned individually to each sound source, and their positions in space can be changed in real time, even automated. The real sound field can be exported and played in support hexa-, octa-phonic, and other output formats (eg, 5.1 and stereo modes).

Distribution (downloads)

• OpenAUDIENCE v.1.0.3 (executable core) (~10.4MB)
  

Basic core v.1.0.3, release 30/03/12. Directory structure:

- audce: includes objects/abstractions for layers 1, 2, 3, 4, auxiliary objects/abstractions, libraries and binaries, images and test sounds.
- tst: test patches

• OpenAUDIENCE v.1.0.2 (executable core) *
  

Basic core v.1.0.2. Directory structure:

- aux: auxiliary objects/abstractions
- L1: layer 1 patches and externals (including L1 binaries)
- L2: layer 2 patches and externals (including L2 binaries)
- L3: layer 3 patches and externals (including L3 binaries)
- L4: layer 4 patches and externals (including L4 binaries)
- tst: test patches
- bin: binaries
- lib: libraries
- img: images used in gui blocks
- snd: test sounds
- obsolete: obsolete patches and externals

• OA_app v.1.0.2 (basic applications and demos, with audio) (~31MB)
  

Free applications, tutorials and demos.

- app: applications and demos

The following applications are included:

- SMCT2008 (patch for live spatialization of sound sources)
- Sheff (tutorials for the utilization of OA in soundscape design and applications, collaboration with University of Sheffield, Architecture school, 2010)

• OA_app_Ives (9-channel music, piece "The Unanswered Question", Charles Ives, USP, 2006) **

- Spatialization of the piece "The Unanswered Question" by Charles Ives (1906). Recorded and produced at USP, 2006.

• OA_app_kitchen (8-channel music, Kitchen Miniatures, by Fernando-Lopez Lezcano) **

- Kitchen (spatialization of the piece "Kitchen Miniatures" by Fernando-Lopez Lezcano, with sounds, produced and presented at the SBCM 2009)

• OA_docs_v.1.0.2 (documentation) (~2.7MB)
  

- doc: documentation (manual, white papers, guides and specifications)

Includes the AUDIENCE and OA Manual version 1.1.4.

Contact and support

Report problems or improvement suggestions to audience @ lsi.usp.br.

Those interested in using AUDIENCE for auralization projects or in developing new functionalities using the system, please get in touch through the same e-mail address.

* discontinued distribution
** under preparation for release