What is octaphonic spatialization?
In the case of Sound Travels octaphonic refers to the fact that eight channels of input are being distributed to an array of eight loudspeakers. This is unlike earlier practices of electroacoustic diffusion where commonly a two-channel source was projected on mass to a multiple array of loudspeakers. The major difference here is that multiple voices occurring simultaneously in a work can move or be positioned in space independently. The performance practice at Sound Travels relies on the computer automation possibilities of the Richmond Sound Design Audiobox. Automation in this sense involves programming computerized commands so that sounds move in space hands-free. This allows the composer to concentrate completely on listening, which is important, because octaphonic spatialization is a tricky business psychoacoustically speaking.
