Recap of the ‘International Workshop of Classical Music of Immersive Recording Techniques for Classical Music Production’ with Professor Richard King
The ‘International Workshop of Classical Music of Immersive Recording Techniques for Classical Music Production’ was successfully held from May 7th to 10th. This event was a part of a research project by the National Research Foundation and was sponsored by the Daejeon Art Center, Sound Korea ENG, Audioguy, and Sound 360.
The keynote speech and sessions were led by two renowned experts in the field, Professor Richard King from McGill University and Professor Sungyoung Kim, our captain of AIRIS Lab.
Professor Richard King is a highly respected figure in the world of audio engineering. He is a multi-Grammy winner and an Associate Professor in the Sound Recording Area of the Music Research Department, Schulich School of Music, McGill Univeristy. He made significant contributions to the development of environment control room acoustics, audio quality, and multichannel recording and mixing.
Link: https://www.mcgill.ca/music/richard-king
Day 1: Keynote Session @Sound 360 Studio
The workshop kicked off on May 7th with a keynote session in Sound 360 Studio, Seoul. The session was packed with an enthusiastic audience, from professional audio engineers to students, eager to learn from Professor King.
Professor King discussed the unique challenges and considerations in capturing the rich, enveloping soundstage of classical music performances as immersive audio based on his experience. Through playback demonstrations and presentations, the attendees were able to gain a deep understanding of the technical aspects and practical processes taking part in immersive classical music recording, directly informed by Professor King’s pioneering work in this field.
Critical factors in immersive audio mixing such as optimal microphone placement, room acoustics, and post-production processing techniques were presented in details.
Sound 360 Studio is the first Dolby Atmos stereo studio in Korea, the vision of Audioguy, a professional audio engineering company with more than 20 years of experience.
Link: https://www.sound360studio.com/
Day 2: Keynote Session @Daejeon Art Center
On the second day, the workshop moved to Daejeon Art Center. This session also saw a huge turnout, including surprise guests, Professor Doyuen Ko and his students from Belmont University.
Both Professor King and Professor Kim gave an impactful session on immersive sound. In addition to the theory of the basics and applications of immersive sound, the curriculum included recording practice and mixing work in the actual Daejeon Arts Center Art Hall.
Attendees had a chance to explore how these principles can be applied in practical recording scenarios, further elevating their understanding of the theoretical foundations underlying immersive audio techniques.
Day 3: Master Class with Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra @Daejeon Art Center
On May 10th, the last day of the workshop, attendees were able to experience the ‘real’ immersive recording in action and even participate in it at the Daejeon Art Center. During the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra’s 40th anniversary performance concert of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, an immersive recording led by Professor King took place.
Attendees witnessed the techniques mentioned during the keynote session, such as the Decca tree configuration, being set up in practice throughout the concert, with Professor King explaining them during a tour of the venue. Also live recording session took place as the orchestra rehearsed, and attendees were able to view the whole process and participate in the process of refining the sound through mixing by Professor King himself.
When the main performance began, the participants were able to come and go between the concert hall and the recording location, allowing them to experience the live immersive recording workflow firsthand. This unique opportunity enabled the attendees to directly apply the theoretical knowledge they had gained over the course of the workshop.
Since substantial resources like a suitable sized venue, extensive equipment, and a large orchestra, are rarely encountered, it’s been an amazing experience for all involved.
Through the workshop, the participants including AIRIS crew members were able to engage in-depth exploration of the field of immersive audio. Professor King’s session provided invaluable insights on classical recording techniques on immersive audio and also valuable practical tips when working as a professional.
The hands-on opportunity to participate in the live immersive recording of the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance was a highlight of the workshop, allowing us to directly apply the knowledge they had gained and witness the entire workflow in action.
Through with this multifaceted learning experience, we are now ready to conduct our research and exploration of immersive sound technologies, driven by a deeper appreciation for the technical and perceptual complexities involved in creating truly captivating, three-dimensional audio experiences.
Thanks to Professor King, all the sponsors and attendees! 🙂