Sound Design

Based on the performance concept developed by the team, we aligned on a sonic direction rooted in minimal techno with an epic, ritualistic atmosphere. The sound palette combines bells, acid-style synths, sustained strings, and a deep kick drum to evoke a sense of ceremony and power. Drawing from the theme of “period,” liquid dripping sound effects were introduced to subtly reference blood and bodily cycles.

Spatial Composition

All sound elements were designed from scratch in Ableton Live and spatialized using E4L. Rather than treating spatialization as a final effect, positioning was integrated into the compositional process, allowing individual elements to occupy distinct locations in the 7.1.2 sound field.

Audio Engineering

The final piece was rendered in multiple formats: 7.1.2 for the Audio Lab’s speaker system, binaural for headphone listening, and stereo for documentation and portability. This ensured consistency across playback contexts while preserving the core spatial intent of the work. Below is a series of MaxMSP visualizations of the multichannel format:

Experience

In the Audio Lab, listeners can perceive subtle differences between channels as sound elements move and resonate across specific speakers.