Sound II Reading

1.5. Space

The perception of space is the impression of the physical location of the sound source in an environment, together with the modifications the environment itself places on the sound source's timbre.

The perception of space in audio recording is not the same as the perception of space of an acoustic source in a physical environment. In an acoustic space, listeners perceive the location of the sound in relation to the three-dimensional space around them: distance, vertical plane, and horizontal plane. Sound is perceived at any possible angle from the listener, and sound is perceived at a distance from the listener.

In audio recording, illusions of space are created. Sound sources are given spatial characteristics through the recording process and/or through signal processing. The spatial information is intended to complement the timbre of the music or sound source. The spatial characteristics may simulate particular known physical environments, or be intended to provide spatial cues that have no relation to our reality.