Episode 106 (DOK Exchange XR)
Summary
In this episode of the Immersive Audio Podcast, Oliver Kadel co-hosts the DOK Exchange XR annual podcast with its regular host and curator – Weronika Lewandowska. They are joined by a spatial audio designer and engineer – Aili Niimura and a spatial audio designer and co-founder at DELTA Soundworks – Ana Monte.
We discuss how to enhance human interactions through spatial audio and how to approach designing audio experiences that foster meaningful connections within immersive environments. Can spatial audio help create more collaborative or socially engaging XR experiences, how does the physical environment influence design choices and what are the challenges Ana and Aili face when it comes to the integration of spatial audio for immersive experiences that may involve both fully digital and speaker-based deployment and much more.
Weronika Lewandowska is the coordinator of DOK Exchange XR, a spoken word poet and performer with a PhD in cultural studies. She experiments with interdisciplinary forms of poetry, and her work has been published internationally and exhibited eg. at The Palais de Tokyo in Paris. She co-directed, wrote, and produced the VR experience “Nightsss”, which premiered at Sundance. She has served as an expert for the Committee for Innovative Film Projects at the National Film Institute Poland (2021) and mentors the Climate Challenge XR project for the European Space Agency. She curates innovative XR showcases, such as the “Embodied Realms” festival focused on XR and performance art in Poland and, the “XRossspace Showcase” in BFI London (2023). She writes and researches XR climate games for the Guest XR (AI RL Agent) research project.
Aili Niimura is a spatial audio designer and engineer dedicated to pushing the boundaries of spatial audio and AR/VR. Currently working on spatial audio prototyping as a Meta contractor, formerly driving Metaverse voice experiences at Microsoft Mesh, and spatial audio experiences and devices at Bang & Olufsen. Her focus revolves around end-to-end spatial design, aiming to bridge the gap between art and technology in these areas: Voices in the Metaverse, Spatial Audio Prototyping, Immersive Sound Design, Tuning Spatial Audio Algorithms, Audio Tooling for creators and Spatial Audio to enhance human interactions.
Ana Monte is a leading expert in spatial audio, co-founder, and sound designer at DELTA Soundworks. Ana specialises in creating immersive audio content that places listeners inside the story across formats like XR, Fulldome, and Themed Attractions. She draws inspiration for authentic soundscapes from her deep interest in different cultures and her experience as a sound recordist and sound designer for documentaries.
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Show Notes
DOK Exchange XR is DOK Leipzig’s networking and inspiration programme on interactive and immersive storytelling with a focus on XR works and the sustainable development of the international community of XR creators, producers and distributors. This year’s programme focuses on Spatial Audio and will take place in a hybrid form on 31 October and 1 November 2024. For more information follow – https://www.dok-leipzig.de/en/dok-exchange-xr#-dok-exchange-xr-conference
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Credits
This episode was produced by Oliver Kadel and Emma Rees and included music by Rhythm Scott.
