Sonispace: a simulated-space interface for sound design and experimentation
This addresses the problem of high entry barriers in audio production for novices, though it is incremental in applying spatial metaphors to an existing domain.
The paper tackled the difficulty of audio production for novices by developing Sonispace, a simulated-space interface that uses sound-to-space relations for intuitive design, with user testing confirming its accessibility and engagement.
The world of audio production and design has long been a difficult one to break into, requiring expertise and a working knowledge of the standard digital audio paradigms. This paper describes a novel interface that makes audio production and design more intuitive for novices, using sound-to-space relations that people have learned throughout daily life, such as the roles of barriers and distance in sound perception. The spatial interface for Sonispace allows users to quickly see the relationships between sound-emitting and sound-effecting objects, and to receive audio feedback as they make changes to the space. Algorithms were developed to resemble real-world sonic physics while being efficient enough to provide a user with immediate audio feedback. A prototype of the interface was tested by a group of participants, who confirmed that the software is accessible by novices and that the spatial interface is an engaging way of mixing audio.