spæs - lab for spatial aesthetics in sound Berlin

25/02/2025

UPDATE ON SPATIAL AUDIO TOOLS CATALOG
First and foremost, we want to thank everyone for their reactions, comments, and suggestions regarding the catalog. The catalog serves as an open invitation to anyone interested in working in this field and those who have been engaged in related disciplines for years. We see this endeavor as a dynamic, ever-evolving platform that can never be truly complete. Spatial audio is not a brand or a singular technology; it is a cultural process, and we are all part of it. After gathering recommendations from comments and emails, we will soon proceed with an update. Meanwhile, we will add a module on the catalog homepage for submitting tools to help us track contributions more effectively.

INTRODUCING: THE SPATIAL AUDIO TOOLS CATALOG

spæs lab proudly presents a new resource for practitioners, artists, researchers, and anyone engaging with spatial audio: the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog.

Spatial audio is a dynamic and intricate field in which tools evolve rapidly and may lead to outcomes that challenge initial expectations. This catalog aims to provide clarity and structure as a foundational resource for experimentation and critical engagement. It includes a curated selection of the most significant sound spatialization tools and an extensive Zotero archive of published literature.

This work reflects the efforts of Edoardo Cordero, who conducted comprehensive research and cataloged the tools, and Allaeldene Ilou .ilou, who curated and organized the supporting bibliography within the research archive. Their idea of working on an archive of tools with related publications emerged from their internship at spæs lab and is the result of more than a year and a half of research grounded in a shared commitment to the exploration of sound and space.

Bridging scientific research and practical application and comprehensively summarizing spatial audio's technical and aesthetic dimensions, the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog is not merely a repository but a platform for collective analysis and collaboration. We warmly invite feedback, contributions, and dialogue from diverse fields.

Access the catalog here:
https://spaes.org/catalog

17/02/2025

INTRODUCING: THE SPATIAL AUDIO TOOLS CATALOG

spæs lab proudly presents a new resource for practitioners, artists, researchers, and anyone engaging with spatial audio: the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog.

Spatial audio is a dynamic and intricate field in which tools evolve rapidly and may lead to outcomes that challenge initial expectations. This catalog aims to provide clarity and structure as a foundational resource for experimentation and critical engagement. It includes a curated selection of the most significant sound spatialization tools and an extensive Zotero archive of published literature.

This work reflects the efforts of Edoardo Cordero, who conducted comprehensive research and cataloged the tools, and Allaeldene Ilou .ilou, who curated and organized the supporting bibliography within the research archive. Their idea of working on an archive of tools with related publications emerged from their internship at spæs lab and is the result of more than a year and a half of research grounded in a shared commitment to the exploration of sound and space.

Bridging scientific research and practical application and comprehensively summarizing spatial audio's technical and aesthetic dimensions, the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog is not merely a repository but a platform for collective analysis and collaboration. We warmly invite feedback, contributions, and dialogue from diverse fields.

Access the catalog here:
https://spaes.org/catalog

11/02/2025

WHAT IS SOUND?

Sound is one of the fundamental concepts of spæs lab. But what does it refer to? The physical sound source, the listening experience? Do sound waves carry meaning? Does it even require sound waves to perceive sound?
We all develop our individual understanding of what the term sound means to us. Now, we find it's time to share our take, and we invite you to read the article that reflects the result of countless conversations, spatial practices, listening sessions, and readings:

sound — a dynamic, emergent, and contextual phenomenon
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sound-dynamic-emergent-contextual-phenomenon-spaes-berlin-ebqwe

As we continuously think about and refine concepts at spæs lab, the text should be read as a working definition subject to change. For this reason, we welcome you to share your thoughts about it in the comments below. How is spæs lab's definition of practical use to your work? In which ways can you connect—or not?