IMMERSIVE AUDIO TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES - 2027/8
Module code: TON3019
Module Overview
This module explores immersive audio, a topic that is at the forefront of research and innovation. Immersive audio is arguably the last major challenge in audio recording and reproduction - we are still unable to accurately recreate the spatial characteristics of an audio scene. The module takes a perceptually-motivated approach, investigating the psychoacoustic cues that humans use to make sense of the auditory world, and examining how these can be synthesised using loudspeakers or headphones. You will explore the fundamental technologies involved in the capture, coding, and rendering of immersive audio, covering both cutting-edge research and commercial implementations. The assessment gives you an opportunity to apply the theory by experimenting with immersive audio, either via experimentation or via a spatial audio production.
Module provider
Music & Media
Module Leader
MASON Russell (Music & Med)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 6
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 8
Independent Learning Hours: 122
Lecture Hours: 18
Guided Learning: 1
Captured Content: 1
Module Availability
Year long
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
TON1027 Acoustics and Psychoacoustics TON1028 Audio Engineering and Recording Techniques
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- The main psychoacoustic spatial cues used by the human auditory system to understand the environment
- Methods used to simulate appropriate psychoacoustic spatial cues using loudspeakers and headphones
- Methods used to code and render spatial audio using loudspeakers and headphones
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Immersive audio experiment | 100 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate and develop knowledge and understanding of immersive audio techniques and technology, and to practically implement this via experimentation.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
- Experiment: an experiment examining an aspect of spatial perception, with the results disseminated as a written report (addressing learning outcomes 1 to 4)
Formative assessment
Formative feedback will be given to you in tutorials, and in the form of regular revision questions in lectures, and in the workshops and practical sessions.
Feedback
Written feedback will be given on the coursework. Verbal feedback will be given on regular revision questions in lectures.
Module aims
- To further develop your understanding of spatial audio perception and its application in a range of systems used to capture, code, and render immersive audio.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Describe the principal auditory spatial cues used by humans to gain an understanding of their audio environment. | KC |
| 002 | Explain how the principal auditory spatial cues can be simulated by a range of spatial audio reproduction methods, including both loudspeaker and headphone reproduction. | KC |
| 003 | Describe methods used to record, code, and process audio to allow reproduction of spatial audio over loudspeakers or headphones. | KC |
| 004 | Apply your theoretical understanding by designing and evaluating a spatial audio technique, system or production. | KCP |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of immersive audio recording, coding and rendering for loudspeakers and headphones, so that you are able to take advantage of cutting-edge methods and techniques in audio research and production.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- regular lectures in which cover the theoretical background to each of the topics covered - the small cohort allows plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions to help you to develop your understanding;
- regular listening sessions to experience a range of audio production methods for loudspeaker and headphone based immersive audio; and
- a coursework assignment that encourages you to experiment with immersive audio techniques and technology.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: TON3019
Other information
Employability: the topic covered in this module is currently in great demand in the audio industry. Significant investment is being made into immersive audio, including fundamental research and development of new products, and recording and remixing audio for new immersive audio formats. The knowledge and understanding gained will assist you towards a wider range of current and future career options.
Sustainability: as part of the theoretical understanding of audio, the topics will also discuss aspects of sustainability in professional audio, such as the importance of backwards compatibility (for example when developing new spatial audio formats).
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2027/8 academic year.