Spatial Audio Tidepool
The 2025 Spatial Audio Tidepool
Learn how to create immersive sound and music at the 2025 Spatial Audio Tidepool, featuring the world-leading high-density loudspeaker arrays at Virginia Tech.
The Spatial Audio Tidepool is a two-session immersive gathering for audio professionals to learn the techniques of sound spatialization.
Session One (June 2 – 4) is focused on experiential instruction, covering stereo, quadraphonic, 5.1, octophonic, and then onto high density loudspeaker arrays (HDLAs) including the 24.4 channel Perform Studio, the 32 channel Tesseract, and finally the 140 channel Cube.
Session Two (June 5 – 7) is for participants to realize their own immersive sound projects on Virginia Tech HDLA systems, with individual guidance from the instructors. Session Two is limited to a maximum of 10 participants.
Participants may enroll in either, or both sessions, subject to availability.
All participants in the Spatial Audio Tidepool will receive a complimentary NFR license to the Space Controller plug-in by Sound Particles. Participants will also receive a 12-month license for both Max 9 and RNBO, provided by Cycling ‘74.
Sponsorship
The Spatial Audio Tidepool is sponsored by Sound Particles and Cycling ‘74.
Important Dates
- Enrollment opens December 2, 2024
- Early Bird Deadline April 15, 2025
- Session dates June 2 - 7, 2025
Fees
- Session One $750 early bird, $900 standard ($300 for Virginia Tech faculty members, and students at any educational institution)
- Session Two $1350 early bird, $1500 standard
- Corporate Sponsorship, $500
Sponsorship
The Spatial Audio Tidepool is sponsored by Sound Particles.
Contact
Please email ericlyon@vt.edu or upty@vt.edu with any questions.
Eric Lyon has worked in immersive audio since 2004, often developing custom software to create new spatial audio effects. His multichannel compositions have been performed worldwide at conferences and festivals such as the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), the Sound and Music Computing conference (SMC), and BEAST FEaST. In 2024, Lyon delivered a keynote lecture on spatial music and computer audio display at the International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD). In 2018 Lyon was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition to create new works for acoustic instrumentalists and the high-density loudspeaker array in the Virginia Tech Cube. In 2015-16, he architected both the Spatial Music Workshop and Cube Fest at Virginia Tech to support the work of other artists working with high-density loudspeaker arrays. In 2011, he received a Giga-Hertz prize to create a major work for the Klangdom at the ZKM Center for Art and Media. His audio signal processing software includes “FFTease” and “LyonPotpourri.” He is the author of “Designing Audio Objects for Max/MSP and Pd,” and of “Automated Sound Design,” a book that presents technical processes for implementing oracular synthesis and processing of sound across a wide range of audio applications. Lyon is a Professor of Practice in Composition and Creative Technologies in the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech and is a Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology.
Tanner Upthegrove, MFA in Spatial Audio and Technical Direction, thrives at the intersection of arts and technology as Immersive Audio Engineer for Virginia Tech's Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology. Tanner designs audiovisual systems with a focus on immersive experiences and network technologies. Tanner composes and designs sound experiences for multichannel audio systems. Tanner has presented spatial audio at the Audio Engineering Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the International Congress on Sound and Vibration, and Moogfest. Tanner is published by the AES, the ICSV, the IEEE, and the Computer Music Journal. Tanner has collaborated with Sound Artist Stephen Vitiello, and Trey Spruance of Secret Chiefs 3.
Why Tidepool?
A tidepool is an isolated, nutrient-rich body of water where specialized ecosystems can flourish. Given the still relatively small (but constantly increasing) number of HDLA systems like the Virginia Tech Cube, the tidepool feels like an appropriate metaphor for bringing together spatial audio enthusiasts, engineers, and creatives at one of the few places in the world where immersive audio for HDLAs can be deeply explored.