ICST Kompositionsstudio — Guide for Residents

Planning a residency or studio visit at the ICST Kompositionsstudio? Follow these four steps to arrive prepared and get the most out of your time with the 31-speaker Ambisonics system.

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Read steps 1–2 before you arrive. Steps 3–4 are for your time in the studio.

  1. 1

    Get to know the studio

    The ICST Kompositionsstudio at ZHdK houses a 31-speaker Ambisonics system, a large format mixing console, and a dedicated listening room. Read the overview to understand the space, the technical setup, and who to contact.

    Studio Overview →
  2. 2

    Prepare your laptop before you arrive

    Install drivers, REAPER, the ICST plugins, and required extensions before your first session. This saves you setup time in the studio and ensures a smooth start. Includes macOS and Windows checklists.

    Pre-Installation Guide → Plugin Installation →
  3. 3

    Load the speaker settings and decoder presets

    The ICST studio uses specific speaker coordinate files and decoder presets configured for the 31-speaker layout. Load these into REAPER at the start of your session to get the correct spatial output.

    Speaker Settings → All Downloads →
  4. 4

    Studio terms of use

    Read the studio usage guidelines before your first session — booking procedures, equipment handling, session hours, and responsibilities. Required reading for all residents and visitors.

    Terms of Use →

Want to go further? Once you’re set up in the studio, the tutorial library has in-depth guides for OSC automation, controller integration, and advanced session techniques — all developed from real ICST studio practice.