Spatial Audio Authoring for Ambisonics Reproduction

The growing variety of spatial audio reproduction systems makes productions targeting specific loudspeaker layouts and the corresponding channel signals no longer feasible. One solution to this problem is the use of an approach, which treats every audio source as a separate entity. As a result, the mix will be transformed into a spatial audio scene representation, which does not depend on a specific playback system. During production or distribution the desired formats can be generated with appropriate reproduction modules. This contribution focuses on the spatial authoring of the mixing process, explaining the basic concept of the source oriented approach. An implementation of the concept as a software plug-in for an existing digital audio workstation utilizing first order Ambisonics reproduction is presented. The extension to higher order systems will be discussed.