Sounds in the City is bringing Montreal soundscapes to the lab.
We are exploring how soundscapes recorded around Montreal can be taken into the laboratory and used for research and collaborative design purposes. The results are promising in terms of demonstrating the usability and comparability of these recordings in an indoor setting.
In the summer 2019, we used the Ambisonics technique for recording and reproduction to make this study possible. We then tested if people judge soundscapes similarly when they are reproduced over loudspeakers compared to when they are present in the actual soundscape. This technical setup was achieved with an array of 3 layers totaling 17 loudspeakers surrounding the listener, built in an acoustically treated room at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT).
Future steps include investigating the influence of visual immersion (using VR) on perception.
