Author: Marlon Schumacher

Funding:

NSERC/ CCA (Spatialization)

CIRMMT Inter-Centre Exchange Grant

CIRMMT/GREAT travel awards

Status:

ongoing

OMPrisma is a library for spatial sound synthesis in the computer-aided composition environment OpenMusic. In addition to the control of spatialization-processes using pre-existing sound sources it permits the synthesis of sounds with complex spatial morphologies via processes developed in OpenMusic in relation to other sound synthesis parameters and to the symbolic data of a compositional framework.
The OMPrisma system-architecture separates authoring and description of spatial sound scenes from rendering and reproduction (see the ISASA2010 paper). This approach allows a user to render alternative realizations of the same spatial sound scene using different rendering techniques and loudspeaker arrangements.

While OMPrisma 1.0 focused on compositional control of sweetspot-based spatialization techniques (such as VBAP or Ambisonics), OMPrisma 2.0 introduces new classes for spatialization techniques for non-centralized audiences (such as dbap, babo or ViMiC), allowing for arbitrary loudspeaker arrangements, e.g. on stage, between the audience, for installations, etc. The screenshot below shows a patch in which an OMPrisma class for Virtual Microphone Control (ViMiC) is used to simulate the spatialization technique employed in K.H.Stockhausen's “Kontakte” (1959/1960), using a rotational table with a mounted directional speaker (sound source) and four stationary microphones placed around it*.

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* A detailed description of this technique can be found in: Braasch, J., Peters, N., and Valente, D. L. (2008). A loudspeaker-based projection technique for spatial music applications using Virtual Microphone Control. Computer Music Journal, 32(3):55 – 71.

• Marlon Schumacher and Jean Bresson. "Compositional Control of Periphonic Sound Spatialization." 2nd International Symposium on Ambisonics and Spherical Acoustics, Paris, France, 2010.

• Jean Bresson and Marlon Schumacher. "Représentation des données de contrôle pour la spatialisation dans OpenMusic." Actes des Journées d'Informatique Musicale (JIM), Rennes, France, 2010.

• Marlon Schumacher and Jean Bresson. "Spatial Sound Synthesis in Computer-Aided Composition." (Version inc. Errata) Organised Sound, 15(3): 271-289, 2010. doi: 10.1017/S1355771810000300

• Jean Bresson and Marlon Schumacher. "Representation and Interchange of Sound Spatialization Data for Compositional applications." Proc. of the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), Huddersfield, UK, 2011.

OMPrisma has been used for the composition and realization of a number of works, most notably:

• “Cognitive Consonance” by Christopher Trapani (2010). For two plucked-string soloists, ensemble, and electronics.
  Commissioned by IRCAM. Premiered at the Agora festival, Paris, France, 2010.
  External Project Page with sound examples, score, etc.

• “Ab-Tasten” by Marlon Schumacher (2011). For Disklavier, 4 virtual pianos, and sound synthesis.
  Commissioned by CIRMMT. Premiered at the live@CIRMMT concert Clavisphere, Montreal, Canada, 2011.
  Binaural Live-Recording McGill MultiMedia Room, April 14, 2011.

• “Construction” by Richard Barrett (2005-2011). For three vocalists, ensemble, and electronics.
  Commissioned by the Liverpool Capital of Culture, produced by HCMF, supported by Sound and Music and ELISION with the friendly support of Ernst von Siemens music foundation; also supported by British Council and SIAL/RMIT University (Australian Research Council). Premiered at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, UK, 2011.
  HCMF page with interview, video-trailer, etc.
  ELISION project page

• “Re Orso” by Marco Stroppa (? - 2011). Opera, Libretto by Catherine Ailloud-Nicolas and Giordano Ferrari after Arrigo Boito.
  Commissioned by Opéra Comique, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Ensemble InterContemporain, Françoise and Jean-Philippe Billarant, IRCAM-Centre Pompidou, Paris. Premiere: May 19, 2011.
  Opera Comique page

• OMPrisma 2.1
• MultiPlayer 1.0

• OpenMusic
• OMChroma
• Csound