VASE (Virtual Acoustic Spatial Entities) is a Max-based telematic performance system which allows for for unique perspectives in a shared virtual space. The system is designed to slot into typical telematic performance tech configurations as an audio processing layer before sending individualized perspectives back to players. A binaural ambisonic mix is created for each player, which can be routed back to over your choice of networking platform (e.g. JackTrip, Sonobus, etc).
VASE places performers alongside dynamic virtual acoustic agents. These "space-agents" populate the encompassing space, allowing for unique compositional approaches to electroacoustic performance. Composers working with the system can define custom layouts and playback timed events for the position and orientation of players and space-agents, or trigger temporal jumps in the timeline itself.
Remote players can connect to the system to control their position and orientation in the space via the spatial controller. Head tracking can be toggled on to map a player's movements to their virtual perspective.
VASE's space-agents are able to listen to all incoming audio and react based on an established "behavioural genome" - a parametric weighting of particular spectral and chromatic features that a specific space-agent should "care" about. Agents are able to move toward and away from players based on their established preferences, and pick up or "adopt" players to move them around the space.
A system walkthrough with feature examples can be found here:
Installation and server hosting instructions can be found in the "host" folder README.md: Here
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VASE requires Max 9 or above: https://cycling74.com/products/max-9
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VASE uses ambisonic functionality from IRCAM's Spat 5. Please install Spat from forum.ircam (account required). Spatialisateur is an IRCAM registered trademark. The design of Spat and the reverberation module are protected under several French and international patents ([FR] 92 02528; [US] 5,491,754, [FR] 95 10111; [US] 5,812,674).
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VASE uses routing objects from the CNMAT Externals package. This can be downloaded from the package manager inside of Max. OSC-route by Matt Wright, Michael Zbyszynski. Copyright (c) 1999,2000-08,13 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
This project is developed and distributed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Digital Media, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Accompanying dissertation materials will be linked once made available online.