Spatial Audio Network Europe

ongoing

Spatial audio (3D audio) is the future medium of the music industry. The term describes innovative techniques for creating and reproducing acoustic virtual realities. Sharing an immersive quality, these realities allow for new dimensions of listening and experiencing concerts collectively. By immersing the audience into three-dimensional soundscapes, listeners get to enjoy a holistic experience of acoustic virtual realities. In combination with streaming, spatial audio offers a sustainable way of digitally transferring these experiences to other locations, making a particularly efficient use of resources. This innovative technology creates a new branch in the cultural and creative sector of Europe, notably by building new capacities in the field of music. This is the common goal of the Spatial Audio Network Europe (SANE). The project addresses the objective 2 – Innovation to enhance the capacity of European cultural and creative sectors to nurture talents, to innovate, to prosper and to generate jobs and growth. The project addresses the priority Digital to help the European cultural and creative sectors to undertake or accelerate their digital transition, also as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. The consortium has developed a precise project plan combining research and development with artistic and musical practice. This will include the development of common spatial audio standards for european venues, an exemplary further spatial audio training programme for musicians as well as a completely new form of immersive streaming. The creative consortium brings together experts from creative industries, cultural institutions and sciences in the field of spatial audio and from countries such as Germany (Centre for Immersive Media Art, Music and Technology, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, ECHO factory and Not A Number), Hungary (Spatial Sound Institute), Italy (Music Innovation Hub) and Austria (University of Graz, IEM).