Autogenous Spatialization


Channel-based Spatialization for Multichannel Loudspeaker Systems:

  • Control over spatial properties of sound(s) only through the input signals.
  • Resulting moduations alter the signal (similar to AM/FM).
  • The spatial 'behavior' of sounds is deeply linked to their timbral/textural characteristics.
    • The concept merges spectromorphology5 and spatiomorphology 6.

Related Approaches:

  • Spatio-Operational-Synthesis (David Topper et al., 2002)2
  • Topographic Synthesis (Erik Nyström, 2018) 3



Avoid Object Based Spatialization

  • 99% of spatial music is based on panning of virtual sound sources.
    • Composers end up using the same movements and gestures.
    • The rotation as the I → V → vi → iii → IV → I → IV → V progression of spatial music:

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Basic Concept

Best described in the 2023 IEEE Paper1:

Example - Map Pitch to Angle:
1) Track Pitch: 2) Map to Speakers:
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Mapping Variations:

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Signal Flow

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Verräumlichung -> Zerräumlichung

  • Zerr~ is a toolbox for autogenous spatialization.
  • Objects fors Pure Data and Max MSP.
  • Details in the 2025 PdMaxCon~ Paper4:
  • Code on GitHub: https://github.com/ringbuffer-org/Zerr:

Zerr~ on github.



Demo Patch

A demo patch for exploring Zerr~ can be downloaded here: zerr_demo.pd - Works only with the externals in place.



References

  1. Zeyu Yang and Henrik von Coler. Autogenous Spatialization for Arbitrary Loudspeaker Setups. In International Conference on Immersive and 3D Audio (I3DA). 2023. ↩

  2. David Topper, Matthew Burtner, and Stefania Serafin. Spatio-Operational Spectral (SOS) Synthesis. In Proceedings of the International Conference of Digital Audio Effects (DAFx). Singapore, 2002. ↩

  3. Erik Nyström. Topographic Synthesis: Parameter Distribution in Spatial Texture. In Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC), 117–122. ICMC, 2018. ↩

  4. Zeyu Yang and Henrik von Coler. Zerr  Autogenous Spatialization in PD and Max. In Proceedings of the PdMaxCon25 . 2025. ↩

  5. Denis Smalley. Spectromorphology: explaining sound-shapes. Organised Sound, 2(02):107–126, 1997. ↩

  6. Stuart James. Spectromorphology and Spatiomorphology of Sound Shapes: audio-rate AEP and DBAP panning of spectra. In Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference (ICMC). 2015. ↩