Sounds in Space 2014 – Video, Pics and Feedback

Sounds in Space happened on 30th June this year and was an excellent day (the programme and details of the day can be found here).  There are always things which could be done better, and hopefully we’ve got all these noted ready for next year (fingers crossed).  If you weren’t able to make the event, then the details below may give you a glimpse of what you missed and whether you’d like to come next time!

The 27 speaker 3D surround sound setup was the best we’ve ever had, made possible with the help of recent graduates from Sound, Light and Live Event Technology and Richard and Mark, technicians in Electronics and Sound.  Alex Wardle (graduate from Music Tech and Production) also created a video of the event which can be viewed at:

http://youtu.be/iK9rnn743hc 

Simon Lewis, Creative Technologies Research Group member took a few pics of the day which you can find at the bottom of this post. Continue reading “Sounds in Space 2014 – Video, Pics and Feedback”

Rosetta Surround Performance Binaural Stream – 7.30pm 7th June

The surround sound Rosetta performance by Sigma 7 (at Derby Theatre, 7.30pm 7th June) will be streamed live with Binaural Audio (wear headphones for 3D audio) at http://sigma7rosetta.co.uk/ .  Multi-channel Videos will also be available after the show, and they’ll also be a Sound on Sound article about the event in the future too!  If you can’t make the event, the stream will be the next best thing!

Sigma7
Sigma 7 Performance at Derby Theatre in 2012

Sounds in Space Draft Programme – Looking to be a great day. Please RT.

The Sounds in Space research symposium is really coming together.  The excellent keynote from Chris Pike on new experiences in Broadcast sound, the various Auro 3D, Ambisonics, TiMax and 5.1 demonstrations along with bone conduction headsets and multi-channel Guitars are all pointing to what promises to be an excellent, and FREE event.  There are still places available, details on how to sign up are on the Sounds in Space webpage (http://tinyurl.com/SinS2014).

Rosetta – Sigma 7 Surround Show 7th June 2014

John Crossley, programme leader for the MA in Music Production (at University of Derby) is putting together a not-to-be missed sound audio-visual experience during the BIG SHOW on June 7th at the Derby Theatre.

‘Rosetta’ is an original music suite inspired by the Europeans Space Agency’s ‘Comet Chaser’ satellite as it attempts to meet up with and investigate the 4.6 billion year-old comet; Churyumov-Gerasimenko Presented in 16 channel ‘Super- Surround’ the music will be performed live by Sigma 7, and will include live instruments, voices and electronics. The audience will have a totally immersive, aural and visual experience.  There will also be an opportunity before the show to meet some of the team and to find out about the technology involved in putting together a show of this complexity.  You’re invited to lose yourself in sound and space!

Supported by The European Space Agency and Funded by the Arts Council.

This is the third show of it’s type, and he’s using 16 channels to achieve the surround effect (using TiMax).  It will be a great show, and you can’t grumble at the price!  More details and info when I get it  – follow @johncrossley01 on twitter for updates 🙂Rosetta Surround Flyer

Sounds in Space 2014 – 30th June

Our yearly Sounds in Space symposium is shaping up to be a great event.  We have a talk from the BBC’s Chris Pike confirmed as the keynote (on object-based broadcasting with examples played over our 20 speaker 3D rig) and further talks on subjects such as surround bone conduction audio, multi-channel internet streaming and live, large scale surround sound composition and implementation.  We still have spaces for more talks, so please send short abstracts to b.j.wiggins@derby.ac.uk by 5pm on Monday 19th May 2014.

Sounds In Space Poster 2014

Live demos and surround works are actively encouraged (we’ll have a 20 speaker 3D rig available in the presentation room – I can provide a Higher Order Ambisonic Decoder if necessary).

We’ve also got plenty of spaces left for attending this free event.  If you’re interested in attending or presenting at what’s always a great day, please see this page for more details.

Visualisation Test


Below this should be a visualisation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd order Ambisonics (click the mouse to change order).  This is showing the velocity and energy vector analysis of a velocity vector optimised decoder, but you’ll still notice the energy vector magnitude improving with rising order.

White blob is the source (size equates to amplitude) and red blobs are the speakers (which go blue when they’re out of phase). The orange and green ‘blips’ are the energy and velocity vectors respectively. Buttons to start and stop the animation at underneath…


Play Controls :

These controls currently aren’t working as WordPress is stripping out some of my HTML (it didn’t when I originally posted it)…… not a massive issue, so I’m not fixing for the moment!

OSX and Mavericks Fixed Plug-ins

I’ve uploaded two plug-ins which should fully work with Mavericks (on a side note, the old plug-ins still work fine with Plogue Bidule, it’s just Audiomulch and Reaper that exhibit identical issues.)

A 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th order 5.0 ITU decoder is available and should demonstrate the fix (and I’ve made it available for PC too!)  Available on the WigWare page, or below!

  • [Download not found]
  • [Download not found]

OSX Mavericks and WigWare

As has been reported around the interweb, OSX Mavericks update stops the GUIs from a number of VST plug-ins functioning correctly (they don’t update when they should).  The WigWare plug-ins are also affected by this issue.  I have developed a fix, and will try and update all the software when I get a chance.  In the mean-time, if there is a plug-in or two that you really need updating first, just let me know!

Buxton to Derby Sponsored Bike Ride

On Friday 12th July I’ll be doing a sponsored bike ride from Buxton to Derby in aid of Dogs for the Disabled. As I did a couple of years ago, my progress can be tracked in real time on the page below, or instructions on how to keep tabs in google earth too! If you fancy sponsoring me, instructions are also on the page below 🙂 My public location won’t update much except for testing until the day!

http://tinyurl.com/whereswig