Parallel Spatialization in SC

The "Spatial Texture" Model

Following the work of Erik Nyström, we define space through "internal morphology". By running parallel processes with slight parameter offsets, the sound gains "mass" and "spatial thickness" without relying on virtual trajectories.

SuperCollider Implementation

Start a server with the sufficiant number of outputs (as many as loudspeakers):

(
// increase the number of SC output channels
s.options.numInputBusChannels  = 0;
s.options.numOutputBusChannels = 16;

s.boot;

// show SC meter
s.meter;
)

The SynthDef:

(
SynthDef(\spatialTextureAgent, {

    arg out=0, freq=140, gate=1, amp=0.1;
    var env, sig, mod;

    // Internal morphology: Each agent has its own local drift
    mod = LFDNoise3.kr(LFNoise1.kr(0.2).range(0.1, 0.5));

    // Synthesis: A simple resonant cluster
    sig = BPF.ar(
        WhiteNoise.ar(0.5),
        freq * (1 + (mod * 0.02)), // Micro-variations in frequency
        0.01
    );

    env = EnvGen.kr(Env.asr(2, 1, 2), gate, doneAction: 2);
    Out.ar(out, sig * env * amp);
}).add;
)

Creating 16 instances:

(
~bank = Array.fill(16,{arg i;

Synth(\spatialTextureAgent, [
    \out, i,
    \freq, 100 + (i * 50),
    \amp, 0.25
    ]);
});
)

References

2025

  • Zeyu Yang and Henrik von Coler. Zerr  autogenous spatialization in pd and max. In Proceedings of the Pure Data and Max Convention (PdMaxCon 2025). Urbana-Champaign, IL, 2025.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]

2023

  • Leo Izzo. Edgard varèse's poème Électronique: from the sketches to the sound spatialization. Computer Music Journal, 47(4):5–28, 2023.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]
  • Zeyu Yang and Henrik von Coler. Autogenous spatialization for arbitrary loudspeaker setups. IEEE, 2023.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]

2013

  • Erik Nyström. Topology of form and motion in electroacoustic music. Organised Sound, 18(1):26–35, 2013.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]

1992

  • Iannis Xenakis. Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition. Pendragon Press, 1992.
    [details] [BibTeX▼]