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summerschool

spæs lab summer school 2026: spatial practices and sonic world making

experimental spatiality in music production // tracing immersive humans, unreal intelligence and artificial loudspeakers // towards critical immersive studies

This summer school aims to examine the myth of immersion linked to 'spatial audio' and to discuss common technical and practical issues in music production involving humans and loudspeakers. We will showcase examples of both understanding and misconceptions of the concept of space in music and sound art, encouraging individual viewpoints and new directions for music's future. The course will explore music-making as a critical engagement with ourselves and technology, using it as a learning tool to better understand how we share personal perceptions.


Meet Up (coffee/tea) at spæs Lab Berlin: www.spaes.org

Introduction

  • Understanding Spatial Audio as a cultural artifact rather than a technical tool

Research

  • Introduction to a suggested catalogue of research questions from our lab, to enhance spatial practices in the sonic arts
  • Listening session from our archive of over 60 multi-channel pieces on different multi-channel systems
  • Comparison and discussion, aesthetic framework for different artistic approaches to “immersion”

Lunch break

History

Guided tour at Funkhaus Nalepastraße 18: funkhaus-berlin.net

  • Visit to Urbiks Music: urbiks-music.com
  • Meet Enyang and Jan, listening to productions, discuss processes and production facts

Suggested events for the evening, tba

Meet Up (coffee/tea)

  • Visit to Humboldt Forum: Listening Room
    Introduction to the combined Ambisonics and WFS system, meet the makers and discuss practical and aesthetical approaches for 3D Audio in museums
  • Visit to spæs Lab 2 at Taucher Studios for Sound Scenography
    Meet Johannes and learn about Taucher: taucher-sound.com

Lunch break

  • Visit to MSM Studios, meet Stefan Bock, listen to Grammy Award winning productions in 3D Audio: msm-studios.de

Also possible

Discussion

Formats, beliefs and phenomenology. Direct exchange of experiences and impressions. What are attributes of shared perceptual spaces?

Suggested events for the evening, tba

Meet Up (coffee/tea)

From the Spatial Audio Tools Catalog: spaes.org/catalog

  • Introducing and working with XP for Live, Grapes, IEM Plugins, temporary licences for course members
  • Discussion of concepts and practical consequences

Lunch break

Hands on, tests and introductions

  • 24.1 Ambisonic loudspeaker dome
  • 4-channel Geithain loudspeaker system
  • IKO
  • 393
  • Binaural production environments

Suggested events for the evening, tba

Meet Up (coffee/tea)

  • Introduction to apps and VR tools with Spatial Audio, examples from the field
  • Hands on: Odio App: odio.app
    Compose your own series of soundscapes for head-tracked headphones and publish them later with Odio
  • Personalised binaural decoding as a possible future listening reality

Discussion

Trying to understand questions of the “instantaneous real” as part and condition of the virtual, and the other way round, as a result of this virtual: the concrete space, the concrete instrument, the concrete electroacoustic setup. What role will 3D Audio play in everyday life in the near future?

Via Zoom: colleagues and partners from different countries and fields taking part in the discussion

  • Possible: visit to the Electronic Studio at TU Berlin: tu.berlin

Final discussion and evaluation

Preparations for final performances and concerts

Farewell, concerts, performances, drinks at Funkhaus



This summer school is complemented by a website with literature, software downloads, and links to online tutorials.

Note: Most of the visits have been confirmed. However, due to the timing (summer), some studios, founders, and institutions may be unavailable. In such cases, we will offer alternative options.